DIY acoustic instruments

[Engel]

I have probably mentioned this on here before but I am starting to get into making my own instruments.  I have always wanted to work with wood and I love playing stringed instruments so I figured I would give it a go.  My first creation is currently in work.  I am making a thumb piano or mbira.  It is a really simple instrument that can easily be made with anything but I am making this one out of quality parts.  I have to get it done before Christmas because I am going to give it to my sis as a gift.  I am going to get my woman to paint it all nice and girly for her, stuff she would like.  I just ordered some other misc. acoustic musical instrument parts and accessories from www.musikit.com.  They have all kinds of cool shit on there and now that my friend just finished his woodshed I will probably be over at his house a lot more.  He is an amateur woodworker but he has a good bit of equipment and a lot more experience at woodworking than myself.  He doesn't mind helping me because he is getting experience.  I should have the mbira done by next week.  I will post some pics and an audio recording of me playing it.  My next project I want to attempt is a zither.

Does anyone else here build acoustic stringed instruments?

[Crazy Swayze]

Does anyone else here build acoustic stringed instruments?

Yes:


Three of my dozen or so guitars, with a semi-side view of my personal acoustic I built from scratch in center. OM-body style with X bracing, Spruce top, Bolivian Rosewood (aka Pao Ferro) back and sides, Mahogany neck, ebony bridge built from scratch, ebony fingerboard and binding and peghead overlay, and abalone inlays.

[Engel]

damn man that's awesome.  Just curious but how long did it take you to build the acoustic and how much did you spend on it?

[Crazy Swayze]

damn man that's awesome.  Just curious but how long did it take you to build the acoustic and how much did you spend on it?

I built it when I went to school to learn the luthiery trade. It took me about 4 months, but that's because they wouldn't let us progress faster. I could probably knock one out in a couple weeks if I was outfitted for it.

[Engel]

damn man that's awesome.  Just curious but how long did it take you to build the acoustic and how much did you spend on it?

I built it when I went to school to learn the luthiery trade. It took me about 4 months, but that's because they wouldn't let us progress faster. I could probably knock one out in a couple weeks if I was outfitted for it.

Awesome man.  I will have to keep lutherien in mind now that I am starting college soon.

[Valentin Zukovsky]

Dobro

[Engel]

Dobro

pics?

[Valentin Zukovsky]

Dobro

pics?

Nah, I just suggested it. My Music History teacher built one and commented on how easy they are to make so I thought I'd pass that on in as few words as possible. I've never built an instrument, but I want to make a washtub bass or something of that nature.

[Crazy Swayze]

Dobro

pics?

Nah, I just suggested it. My Music History teacher built one and commented on how easy they are to make so I thought I'd pass that on in as few words as possible. I've never built an instrument, but I want to make a washtub bass or something of that nature.

Dobros are pretty easy to make, since you don't really have to worry about acoustics. You simply build the box like a brick shithouse and drop your cone in it.

[Engel]

I have changed my mind about making a kalimba.  I'm going to take it a step further and make a psaltry similar to this one:



I ordered a bunch of supplies from musikit.com because even though I am making this for my sister... It will be hard to give it up when I am done.  Now at least I can build hers and then build one for myself.

[Engel]

I have been building a homemade plucked psaltry for my sister.  I am a little late because it was supposed to be a Christmas present and I am just now getting it done!  This thing was completely designed from my head and built in my buddies woodshop with his help.  I know little about woodworking and he knows little about music but together we did it!  I figured I could paint it or at least stain it but I'm going to leave it el naturel.  Definitely going to put some dot inlays on it and paint the notes beside each tuning peg as it was intended to be tuned to.  15 strings for the plucking from C4 to C6.








I will post some audio of it as soon as I learn to play something on it.

[Crazy Swayze]

I figured I could paint it or at least stain it but I'm going to leave it el naturel.

I'd say give it at least a tung-oil finish. It's easy to apply, and will give it at least minimal protection from the elements.

[Engel]

Here is some messing around... The strings still haven't stretched fully so the darn thing falls out of tune alot but today it has been staying in tune pretty good.  Thanks for the advice swayze, I probably will put some tung oil on it... either that or just let my sister do it (taking all those strings off and back on doesn't seem too appealing at the moment).  My old lady has some caligraphy pens and can write really good with them, I'll have her write the notes beside the tuning pegs before anything else gets put on it.

[Engel]

Nah, not anytime soon.  I cut the strings and put a coat of tung oil on it.  It darkened it up slightly and brought out the wood quite a bit.  I used the high gloss stuff so it looks awesome.  I'm going to put a couple more coats on then I will restring it and take pics.   

[Valentin Zukovsky]

I have been building a homemade plucked psaltry for my sister.  I am a little late because it was supposed to be a Christmas present and I am just now getting it done!  This thing was completely designed from my head and built in my buddies woodshop with his help.  I know little about woodworking and he knows little about music but together we did it!  I figured I could paint it or at least stain it but I'm going to leave it el naturel.  Definitely going to put some dot inlays on it and paint the notes beside each tuning peg as it was intended to be tuned to.  15 strings for the plucking from C4 to C6.








I will post some audio of it as soon as I learn to play something on it.

Very cool, I want to see the final product.

Your sig is phasing in and out of sync with music I'm listening to.