Comment

Comment by Alex Scott on October 22, 2010 at 7:22am

hey, that is a great looking instrument. thanks for the info on the lacing. i am building a gunbri, and have been really apprehensive about the hide and lacing part..

Comment by Fitzhugh on September 10, 2010 at 8:10am

Thanks for the details. I never thought of looking for bowls at good will, great idea. I'll try that lacing, it looks better than other ways of attaching a hide.

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on September 10, 2010 at 5:20am

hey fitzy thanks mate.
the lacing is pretty simple arrangement really, just punch an ODD NUMBER of holes evenly around the edge and lace to a small ring in the centre of the bowl and back, when u return to the hide, skip one hole and lace thru two holes from the last one and thus make ur way around the hide. I found the lacing tore this hide quite a bit, so next time i'd double the hide back on itself, folding the edge back under, and maybe look for a grommet riveting type thing to set tarp or curtain grommets or similar in there. If u google native american drum lacing u will find a lot of material, if it talks about lacing to another skin on the bottom of a drum u can always substitute for a steel or maybe even wooden ring on the bottom of a bowl. I also laced to this ring to secure the neck down into the bowl believe it or not, theres no screws or glue, just a snug fit in the slots at both ends and a bit of leather doubled back through that ring, this was before the hide was laced on obviously. Good luck with it

oh and try ur local second hand charity store whatever u call it, i can get solid lathe turned bowls like this very easily for a dollar or two.. They are in fact much easier for me to find than cigar boxes

Comment by Fitzhugh on September 5, 2010 at 8:11pm

Could you point me to some description of the way you laced that up? Along with the rest, even the lacing is beautiful.

My girlfriend has this perfect salad bowl... only it was a present from her brother. oh well.
Still, a banjo is next on my list and that lacing approach just appeals to me.
Thanks

Comment by The Phrygian Kid on June 22, 2010 at 11:02pm

Neck is spotted gum & ash
Roo hide laced on with dyed roo leather thong + upholstery tacks

Piezos in bridge (western red cedar), and in body (also laminated into little cedar blocks)+ hidden bouzouki humbucker inside = 3 sounds

String guide and saddle from buffalo horn - cheers Glenn!

Strap from goat hide