Instruments of the Bards

A wise and powerful bard named Falataer reportedly created the first of these instruments, using them to test and reward the students of the seven levels of his bardic college. Others have since copied the designs, honoring Falataer by keeping the names he gave them. Each instrument has its own set of unique powers that can be activated automatically by anyone with sufficient ranks in the appropriate Perform skill, but for a character without the requisite skill, some instruments bestow one negative level as long as the instrument is carried. This negative level never results in actual level loss, but it cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the instrument is held.

• Fochluchan Bandore: This three-stringed masterwork lute grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +1 competence bonus on bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. The instrument can be played by anyone to produce light once per day. Any character with 2 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can also use the bandore to cast flare, mending, and message each once per day.
  Faint transmutation, faint evocation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, flare, light, mending, message, creator must be a bard; Price 1,900 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Mac-Fuirmidh Cithern: This pear-shaped masterwork lute grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +2 competence bonus on bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. The cithern can be played by anyone with 4 ranks in Perform (string instruments) to cast cure light wounds, mage armor, and sleep each once per day.
  Faint various; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item; cure light wounds, mage armor, sleep, creator must be a bard; Price 2,900 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Doss Lute: This masterwork lute grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +3 competence bonus on bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. A character with 6 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the instrument to cast delay poison, hold person, and mirror image each once per day. When held, a doss lute bestows one negative level on any creature that doesn't have at least 6 ranks in Perform (string instruments).
  Faint various; CL 5th; Craft Wondrous Item, delay poison, hold person, mirror image, creator must be a bard; Price 9,800 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Canaith Mandolin: This eight-stringed masterwork mandolin grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +4 competence bonus on a bard's bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. A character with 8 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the instrument to cast cure serious wounds, dispel magic, or summon monster III each once per day. When held, the instrument bestows one negative level on any creature that doesn't have at least 8 ranks in Perform (string instruments).
  Moderate various; CL 8th; Craft Wondrous Item, cure serious wounds, dispel magic, summon monster III, creator must be a bard; Price 23,400 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Cli Lyre: This masterwork lyre grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +5 competence bonus on a bard's bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. A character with 10 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the instrument to cast break enchantment, dimension door, and shout each once per day. When held, a cli lyre bestows one negative level on any creature that doesn't have at least 10 ranks in Perform (string instruments).
  Moderate various; CL 11th; Craft Wondrous Item, break enchantment, dimension door, shout, creator must be a bard; Price 37,600 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Anstruth Harp: This masterwork harp grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +6 competence bonus on a bard's bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. A character with 12 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the instrument to cast control water, mass cure light wounds, and mind fog each once per day. An anstruth harp bestows one negative level on any creature that doesn't have at least 12 ranks in Perform (string instruments).
  Strong various; CL 14th; Craft Wondrous Item, control water, mass cure light wounds, mind fog, creator must be a bard; Price 60,000 gp; Weight 3 lb.
• Ollamh Harp: This masterwork harp grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks and a +7 competence bonus on a bard's bardic music checks for countersong, fascinate, and suggestion. A character with 14 ranks in Perform (string instruments) can use the instrument to cast control weather, eyebite, and repulsion each once per day. The instrument bestows one negative level on any creature that doesn't have at least 14 ranks in Perform (string instruments).
  Strong various; CL 17th; Craft Wondrous Item, control weather, eyebite, repulsion, creator must be a bard; Price 83,600 gp; Weight 3 lb.

Source: Complete Arcane