On his recordings Edward plays a wide range of instruments; some are traditional from various countries, and others are unique, original, and self-constructed. Here is a brief list...

"Edward's original instruments" (self-designed/built):

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"Fretless guitars" fall into three basic categories: electric, acoustic nylon string, and acoustic steel string. Electric fretless guitars are what most people are playing today. Nylon string fretless guitars are very common in Turkey. Steel string acoustic fretless guitars are rare because (unlike electric and nylon) they do not sound good played normally with the tips of the fingers contacting the strings. An acoustic steel-string fretless guitar requires the "sarod technique" of using the fingernails of the left hand to 'stop' the strings...

...read more about fretless guitars

The "sitar" is the most famous musical instrument of India. It's sound tends to immediately trigger thoughts and feelings of the sub-continent. It's exact origin is unknown but it is believed to have evolved into something like it's present form in the 1700's, as a marriage between the Persian setar, the South Indian vina, and with the characteristically resonant bridge of the tanpura...

...read more about the sitar

The "oud" is the ancient form of the "fretless lute" which is in common use in the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa. Although virtually unknown to Westerners the oud is as common in the Middle East as the guitar is in Europe and America. The oud originated centuries ago in Asia Minor and eventually made it's way, along with Islamic rulers, across North Africa to Morocco. Subsequent Muslim conquerors brought it into southern Spain where it evolved into the medieval lute. In fact, the name "lute" is Spanish for "the oud", = "l'oud", = "lude", = "lute". The lute then, of course, slowly evolved into today's Spanish nylon string guitar...

...read more about the oud