Thailand
Lisu people

Woods, snakeskin, steel strings, fiber rope 
Mid 20th century
Length: 19 inches
Chordophones – Lutes

The subu (Lisu subu or sung Lisu) is a long-neck lute with a snakeskin head used by the Lisu people, a small minority group living in the hills of Northern Thailand and often referred to as one of the hill tribes.  The Lisu people can also be found throughout Burma (Myanmar).  This small fretless lute has three metal/steel strings and an open sharp curved peg head at the top.  The body consists of a small wooden bowl-shaped resonator with pierced holes on the back side. The strings run over a small loose bridge, to a wooden pin which goes through the body of the resonator. Attached is a small wooden plectrum used for playing the steel strings.  This subu measures 19 inches in length, but they appear in a variety of sizes.  It mainly represents instrumental music and is played as a solo and/or ensemble instrument sometimes used together with the julü flute and the fulu mouth organ.