Stoessel lute

The Stoessel lute is a string instrument invented by Georg Stössel in 1914 in Cologne, Germany. Its steel strings are fingered not by putting one's hand round the neck, but over the end of it. To this end, most Stössel lutes have very short necks. It is, in effect, a hybrid between a necked string instrument and a zither making it a Lute Zither.
The instrument was very popular in Germany and elsewhere in the early 20th century; it was frequently used in German and Austrian schools in the inter-war period. The Second World War put an end to production and the instrument never regained its former popularity. However as of 2024, this instrument has been resurrected in an Electrified Version w/ Pickups, & also a version w/ Nylon strings for musicians w/ hurt hands. The tuning of this instrument is 2 sets of 5ths "interleaved together". E.G. for the 9 String Stossel Lute the strings are tuned in 5ths like a Five-string violin & then a 2nd group of 5ths is inserted starting w/ the Minor Third of the lowest note.
C3, Eb3, G3, Bb3, D4, F4, A4, C5, E5
C3/C4, Eb3/Eb4, G3/G4, Bb3/Bb4, D4/D5, F4/F5, A4/A4, C5/C5, E5/E5
Some Instruments have 12 or 13 Open Strings to the Right of the Fretted Strings which provide accompaniment to the Fretted Strings
Bass Stossel Lute Accompaniment Strings
, G#2, Eb3, Bb2, F3, C3, G2, D3, A2, E3, B2, F#3, C#3
Contrabass Stossel Lute
, G#1, Eb2, Bb1, F2, C2, G1, D2, A1, E2, B1, F#2, C#2