Description
The Bolivian ronroco is an instrument that differs significantly in shape and tuning from the more well-known Argentine instrument (you can find a lot of information about it in this article). This ronroco comes from Aiquile, Bolivia, a town that is also the epicenter of South American charango production.
It is an instrument tuned exactly one octave lower than the charango, but it is also traditionally tuned in “temple diablo”: in practice, the high E string is removed, and only two E strings in unison remain. This choice is motivated by the fact that the ronroco’s function is to accompany singing or other instruments. However, it is also possible to derive very interesting melodies or harmonic solutions from it.
The instrument was purchased in 2017 in Aiquile from a luthier in the San Pedro community. The wood is naranjillo, and the soundboard is cedar with a jacaranda middle top. The vibrating length is 44 cm, and the sound is very deep and warm, typical of the ronroco.