ABSTRACT
Ivor Darreg is a writer, composer, theoretician, and instrument builder from Southern California. In his long and active life, he has done everything in his power to advance the cause of microtonality, broaden our musical horizons all around, and generally serve as a thorn in the side of the classical music establishment. This chapter presents the vital information on Darreg's Megalyra family of instruments and gives the thinking behind the designs. Three instrument types make up the family: the Megalyra, the Hobnailed Newel Post, and the Drone. All are steel-string instruments with electric guitar pickups. For the Megalyra Contrabass, there should be from three to five strings for the principal “courses” as some luthiers call groups of strings. The Megalyra strings should be one inch (2.5cm) above the board, allowing for striking them with wooden or metal bars, and for playing with mallets if the regular steel is used.
