Sansulas, the Most Magical-Sounding Kalimbas

With only 9 notes, the Sansula seems underpowered. But the real strength of the Sansula lies in its simplicity and its beauty. It is very easy to make absolutely enchanting music with the Sansula, because of the high German engineering standards of the instrument and its materials, because of the simple and intuitive tuning, and because of the mind-blowing special effects.

When you play the Sansula, you don’t really need to worry about which notes you are playing – you just twiddle your thumbs and out comes enchanting, mystical music. The flip side of this: if you try to make your Sansula play a song you know such as “Home on the Range” or “Happy Birthday,” you will likely have difficulties. Get the Heart-17 for those songs… the Sansula plays its own music… organic, intuitive, ambient and spontaneous.

So – it is a great tool for someone who wants to make mind-blowingly beautiful music with the very cool wah-wah effect, but doesn’t want to put in the effort to learn complex music.

While the Sansula’s tuning is a large part of its flavor, there are actually many alternative tunings available for the Sansula. Each tuning uses a different color pallet and creates different emotional shades of music. These tunings are documented at Kalimba Magic, and you can accomplish the retunings yourself. Or you could have us do the retuning for you.

Pocket Sansula (B9)

The Pocket Sansula is the same kalimba as the other Sansulas, but it is not mounted on the resonant frame drum. It is available in any of the possible Sansula tunings. If you are not sure you want to take the plunge into the Sansula world, this instrument is a very good way to wade in gradually.

Listen to the four different types of Sansula.

Purchase B9 Sansula

Renaissance Sansula

The Renaissance Sansula has the basic Sansula kalimba mounted on a frame drum with a Remo synthetic drum skin. I don’t recommend that you actually slap the skin of the drum – it is not made for this, and its sole purpose is the augment the Sansula’s resonance. This Remo membrane is much more resilient than the original paper skin (which we do not carry because it breaks too easily), but you still need to be careful with it.
Most people don’t hear much difference between the Renaissance Sansula and the Deluxe Sansula. I find the Deluxe Sansula to have a darker sound that I like better.

Listen to the four different types of Sansula.

Purchase Renaissance Sansula

Deluxe Sansula

The Deluxe Sansula is similar to the Renaissance Sansula, but its membrane is made of goat skin. This one costs a bit more and is more robust – I’ve seen one drop from 5 feet and survive just fine.
Most people don’t hear much difference between the Renaissance Sansula and the Deluxe Sansula. I find the Deluxe Sansula to have a darker sound that I like better.

Listen to the four different types of Sansula.

Purchase Deluxe Sansula

Sansula Twin

One Pocket Sansula is nice, but two together lets you and your partner make sweet music together. Also called the Sansula Double.Purchase Sansula Twin

Consider the Moon-10 Kalimba in Ake Bono Tuning

The Moon-10 Kalimba is a new 10-note instrument inspired by the Sansula. When you get it in Am Ake Bono tuning, it is a great companion to the Sansula.

Sansula Case

These Sansula cases, made by Richard Bowring, are sturdy and protective of the delicate Sansula.

Sansula Bag

Form fitting protective black bag, with zipper and shoulder strap. These are really nice bags. Purchase Sansula Bag