Gourd Banjo

[Irish]

Been working on this project forever and finally got the wood burning stage completed. I am going to add lots of color using oil paints before I add the steel strings. It's a composite piece with the barrel of the "banjo" made from one half of a kettle gourd. The neck is basswood and the face is birch plywood. The two bridges at the top and bottom are walnut. The fret wire and steel strings were purchased from a musical kit supplier.

It's not meant as anything but a decorative piece ... I have absolutely no musical ability. Sorry that the photos are not that good, I'm getting a lot of shine from the fret wires!

And, please, I am not trying to intimate anyone ... just wanted to share what I have been working on with wood burning.

Susan

[Irish]

Oops ...

Forgot to say, it's 30" tall, 9" at the widest section of the face, and 6" deep. It will have four strings.

Susan

[Colin-Partridge]

"WOW" that is absolutly amazing I admire people with your talent Susan now that is what I call a work of art. Thanks for letting us see it.
Colin

[squbrigg]

What a super idea, I love the interlaced dragons. Definately a keeper Susan. Keep up the great design work, it's stunning!

Bob

[Irish]

Thanks Guys! I have been putting off burning the banjo as it took so long for me to figure out how to make the studip thing that I didn't want to ruin it.

Susan

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

thats neat! reminds tho of another instrument.....I think its called a bouzouki? nice job wherever you call it! lol

[Lightningbolt]

Originally Posted by Irish

Thanks Guys! I have been putting off burning the banjo as it took so long for me to figure out how to make the studip thing that I didn't want to ruin it. Susan

You couldn't have expressed better how I sometimes feel when going on to the next step with some projects... just scared to death that something isn't gonna work out and this is especially true with those carvings or woodburnings that have taken a long time to complete.

Once again a really wonderful job Susan! This instrument would fit in very nicely around my parts where Appalachian mountain music is alive and well! I know that you're done with it but I still can't help but to imagine it with color added to that dragon design. Your sticks are just so powerful with the color even if that is only my personal and biased opinion. Smile It's really fantastic!

I can just barely whistle so music isn't my thing either, but back in the 1980's I build a dulcimer from a kit and that was one of the best experiences that I ever had with music. I got pretty good at it too and even ended up writing my own song. Had a lot of fun with that dulcimer and I was regularly in demand to play and sing at the camp where I worked. Fortunately the dulcimer was loud enough to drown out most of my voice!

Once again, great job and one more finished project!!

[S-Shamrock]

fantastic job on the banjo and the wood burning!!! did you make it from a kit? my dad and I made a couple of harps last winter, I was going to do some sort of design on the sound board of mine but never got up the courage to do it so I left it plain.
It does kind of look like a bouzouki.
silas

[wade clark]

Wow! Very nice!
I've meant to ask, did you carve the animal in the corner of your posts? It's incredible! I'd love to see a bigger picture!
Wade

[Irish]

Hi Silas, Hi Wade,

No, it's not a kit.

I do a little bird house gourd painting so I was at a site to purchase some more gourds. At the site they had a thumb drum posted made from a kettle gourd ... that's the one that looks like a giant Hersey's Kiss. Well, that started it! I have two thumb drums done and am working on this stringed instrument. Eventally I want to do a small hand drum. Because each gourd is naturally unique you have to the design work. The fret patterning is worked from my son's gitar.

I didn't do any carving on this one ... it was hard enough just to figure out how to make the neck and get that neck to attach to the gourd! As this is a first for any type of construction like this I didn't have the expertise to add extra wood for carving in the planning stage.

Susan