Bolivia/Peru
Maker: Benito Tito of Peru

Pinewood, jacaranda and breadnut wood, nylon and metal strings
Early 21st century
Length: 31.5 in; Width: 9.5 in
Chordophones – Lutes

Andean ‘ronroco’ made by Benito Tito of Peru, with the Inca ‘Chavin Sun’ emblem engraved on the back side of the body resonator.  This stringed mandolin-like instrument of the Andean regions has a distinctive angular shape and sound.  Unlike the ‘charango,’ a similar string instrument that dates back to the time of the Spanish Conquistadors, who brought over an early relative of the guitar, called the ‘vihuela da mano,’ the ‘ronroco’ has only been around since the 1980s.  

The exact origin of this instrument is uncertain, but the most common design called the Kjarkas body design, was invented by Gonzalo Hermosa of the Bolivian folk music group, “Los Kjakas” (pronounced los key-ar-kas).  This design seems to comprise a polygonal shape with some hard angles.  The 10 strings of the ‘ronroco’ are generally tuned in unison with the strings of the 3^rd course tuned an octave apart,   however, there are a number of different tunings based upon regional practices.

– Argentine Tuning (a fourth below the Charango – D G B E B)
– Bolivian Tuning (a fifth below the Charango – C F A D A)
– Bolivian/Chilean/Peruvian Tuning (an octave below the Charango – G C E A E)

Reference:  https://www.fretexpert.com/ronroco-vs-charango-difference/  –  https://ronrocoreview.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/01-15-the-ronroco-a-contemporary-instrumental-invention/