Tools and materials I propose:
In this video I make a bowed instrument that uses a small drum as a body and has a basswood neck. You can find similar instruments in several cultures of the world. My inspiration came from instruments like banjo, yaylı tambur, erhu and Iranian kamancheh.
I begun by working on the small drum. Basically I cut off it’s tail using my rotary tool so I can move it around while playing. I then removed the burrs.
Then I drilled the holes I needed to connect the neck.
While the neck was still a square piece I drilled the hole that would receive a threaded rod.
I then cut the neck on the bandsaw. I removed most of the material for the tuning pegs using a forstner bit. I finished shaping using a chisel and files.
Because the instrument is played with a bow I rounded over the fretboard using a block plane.
I shaped the neck using files and a spokeshave.
I used 5 minute epoxy to glue the threaded rod on the neck.
I made a string holder using a piece of sheet metal. I used a file and my angle grinder.
I made the bridge out of a piece of mahogany. To make the neck I used a piece of plexiglass.
The distance from nut to bridge is 42cm. So I used an online fret calculator to find the fret positions. Although I didn’t add frets on the instrument, I used my pyrographer to add the fret lines so I know where to put my fingers when I play.
I added rosin on the strings and on the bow and my instrument was ready to play.
I am not much of bowed instrument player but I think you get an idea of how it sounds. It’s actually pretty loud. I used nylon classical guitar strings and I tuned it like so: 1st 5th 1st.
I hope you like my bownjo, because that was it. See you soon with a new project video.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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