Red Pine Lap Steel - DIY

[Guvna19]

Hey all, last night a work mate gave me a very unusual stringed instrument after me talking up my lap steel build.

never seen anything like it? bit oldish and incomplete, with some rather nice mother of pearl inlay, least i think.

any one here have any idea what it is? my google search suggest maybe koto or zither?? cant seem to find out for sure? 17 strings

sorry if its of topic

im thinkin - sellit / pimp it / burn it?

[Fretworn]

Hey all, last night a work mate gave me a very unusual stringed instrument after me talking up my lap steel build.

never seen anything like it? bit oldish and incomplete, with some rather nice mother of pearl inlay, least i think.

any one here have any idea what it is? my google search suggest maybe koto or zither?? cant seem to find out for sure? 17 strings

sorry if its of topic

im thinkin - sellit / pimp it / burn it?

Definitely a koto style instrument (and there are different variations on this theme throughout Asia). I'd be looking into what it would take to get it up and running. Then it will probably be easier to offload if you decide you don't want it. Of course it might just be glorified firewood, but only you will be able to tell the condition.

[Guvna19]

Fully sanded the Timber now, put a thin coat of oil on just to keep it clean and splinter free while trace a design on it, then start some cutting soon.
Been wondering if I may run into trouble with the strings going through the body if the red pine is too soft. Could it mean the ferrules might move affecting tuning? Correct me if I'm wrong but a Tele bridge would mean running strings through body?

Thanks
Guvna