Hopkin Instrumentarium: Handsome Dan

Handsome Dan is a Kontakt instrument that captures a one-of-a-kind stringed zither invented by Bart Hopkin. Its 14 strings are split by a center bridge, with a magnetic pickup on one side while the other side is played with a slide or plectrum. When played frequencies match harmonics of the unplayed segment, sympathetic vibrations ring through the pickup, producing a dreamy, ethereal tone with a floating, swelling character. Soundiron sampled plucks, slides in various intervals, and glisses across four layers, with up to 8x round robin and 6 velocity layers, plus two stereo mic positions (contact and mixed). You also get custom FX presets and ambient sound-designed content. Ideal for ambient, cinematic, and experimental music, it suits producers seeking evocative, textural strings for FL Studio, Ableton, or Logic.