Wood sueng yai, 'One Heart'

This beautiful four-stringed strumming instrument from northern Thailand is a sueng, while yai describes it as large. Somboon Gavichai shapes the body from jackfruit wood and adds steel strings; the knobs are crafted of Burmese rosewood. In the past, men would play the sueng to flirt with women. At present, the instrument is used in festivals and ceremonies. A typical band may be made up of the sueng, a sa-lor, drums, a flute and cymbals.