Cantareel is a new invention by Keizo Ishibashi, the developer of Logic Wave, in 2025.

Now, the violin is the most famous of all the stringed instruments that produce sound by rubbing the strings, but there are still a wide variety of instruments in the world.

For example, there is the hurdy-gurdy, an ancient musical instrument that originated in Europe before the 11th century.
The Cantareel is strictly a different principle attachment, as it does not directly rub the strings with the wheel, but rather uses the wheel as a power source to move loops that touches the strings.

Anyway, it can be said that the Cantareel was born because of the hurdy-gurdy, a product of history.
In other words, the Cantareel is a renaissance that pays respect to the wisdom and history of our predecessors and revitalizes them with modern ideas and technology.

It is perhaps because of this background that we feel both “newness” and “nostalgia” toward Cantareel at the same time.

For steel strings, it is best to install them as close to the soundhole as possible.
If it is too close to the bridge, the sound will be harder and unwanted overtones will be more likely to appear.

For nylon-string guitars, it is best to place it between the soundhole and the bridge.

Regular guitar strings will work fine.

However, we do not recommend “coated” strings such as Elixir, as they are difficult to produce sound.

For acoustic guitars, a light gauge string of about .011-.052 is recommended, and for classical guitars, a string with a higher tension than usual is recommended.

The sound of Cantareel can subtly change depending not only on the condition of the strings and rosin, but also on temperature and humidity. Because of this, achieving exactly the same tone every day may be difficult.

But that’s also part of what makes Cantareel special.
Embrace the daily variations, and enjoy a dialogue with your sound.
Each day brings a unique resonance, a one-of-a-kind story waiting to be told.

If the tension of the loops is too weak, there will be insufficient friction and no sound will be produced. Conversely, if the tension of the loops is too strong, the pitch will become unstable.

If the loops are too loose and there is no friction on the strings, use an adjustment plate or something to raise the height.

1. Apply rosin properly

Most cases where no sound is produced are caused by “rosin not being applied properly.” First, make a new cut with a cutter, then apply rosin thoroughly.


2. Remove rosin from the strings

The next most common cause is “rosin sticking to the strings and causing them to slip.” Carefully remove any clumps of rosin stuck to the strings with a cloth. Do not use oil or polish at this time.


3. Degreasing rosin and oil

If it still does not produce sound, the rosin adhering to the loop may be slipping. Additionally, lubricating oil adhering to metal parts may have transferred to the loop. Clean all metal parts, the loop, and the strings thoroughly. If using lemon oil or polish, leave the rosin unapplied for at least half a day until it is completely dry.

If you are applying rosin properly but it does not stick well to the loops, the rosin itself may be the cause.
The condition of rosin is affected by temperature and humidity. We recommend using dark-colored rosin for Cantareel, but dark rosin does not perform well in high temperature and humidity environments. Store rosin in a cool place. Using light-colored rosin only during the summer is also an option.

Since the Cantareel is mounted directly on the guitar's body surface, noise may occur depending on its compatibility with the guitar and its installation point.

・Increase the tension of the 6th and 1st strings and secure them firmly.
・Attach anti-vibration cushions to the bottom of the Cantareel legs.

It is possible to play more than five strings if they are secured in some way without hooks.
However, in that case, at least three loops are needed, and the pressure on the strings will be unstable because of the angle.

Also, if all six strings are played, the sound becomes muddy and the melody is often buried.

We did not abandon the 6th and 1st strings by choice, but rather made a proactive choice to prevent excessive resonance and to serve as a stabilizer.

Note that the 6th and 1st strings cannot be played as rubbing strings, but they can function as resonant strings and can be played by pizzicato.

Loops, like strings, are consumables, but do not need to be changed very often.

Replace them if they break or stretch in any way.

Otherwise, depending on how often you play, it is recommended to replace them every six months or so.