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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on June 29, 2015 at 6:48am

I saw those on youtube, it looks like you could play something like that with 2 slides to stop the notes instead of bare knuckles

From my limited experience of building (less than 1 year, but an experienced competent woodworker), I would say dont be in awe of luthiers etc, dont try and over think everything. Not every rule is necessary....Have some fun!!

I would build a first version from a floor joist or something, save the mahogany until you know the form.

I would build a simple version from scrap, use a router to make the chambers (or a brace and bit and chisels) And I would start out with a piezo type pickup fastened over the sound board, you get sound quick with very little need to cut holes and stuff

Check out the jouhikko blues from Finland

https://youtu.be/kyWCPmiCwQg

https://youtu.be/EoCIgS7UVBs

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 29, 2015 at 7:57am

I've made a Welsh Crwth, which is reasonably closely related. Make your own bridge it's not that hard to make one from a scrap of maple. I used real gut fiddle strings and zither pins, the body was cherrywood with a cedar top and walnut fittings. It was fitted with a piezo pickup and a graphic EQ preamp - it was designed to be used on the stage for a professional theatre production, so I was under a lot of pressure to get it right, despite never having made one before.

Here it is in action ...http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/lady-gogo-goch-teaser

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Permalink Reply by Uku on June 29, 2015 at 11:13pm

I was thinking solid body. I need to know over all length, bridge placement and strings length from bridge to tuners. 

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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on June 30, 2015 at 1:52am

they dont have solid bodys, they have hollowed out chambers inside

That is what produces the rather nice resonating sounds

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Permalink Reply by Uku on June 30, 2015 at 7:04am

I know that. I was thinking to make solid body or sligthly chambered body.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 30, 2015 at 9:37pm

You can get plans from the man who made that one in the video (Michael King). I had some plans for the Crwth form him, but to be honest they were not very good (just basic dimensions and fairly crude hand-drawn sketches with no proper constructional details, so I  ended up drawing my own using  various references.

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Permalink Reply by Uku on June 30, 2015 at 11:49pm

I also did myself dimensions using various references from internet.

I made template. I used scale length of 17" viola.  Measured from center of tuning pegs.

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