Homemade Instruments

[seisporocho1]

I thought I'd start a forum that I don't think is here. If it already exists let me know!
This forum is for those aficionados like me that other than playing the instruments, also like to get creative and make them!

I thought it would be nice to inspire each other by posting pics of your own creations! So all you artisans and crafty people join in!

Here are the few things I've done. It isn't much but it's a start.

This is my attempt at making a 'bomba-sounding' drum. Its an old matador tumba that had started to warp at the top so I cut the upper half off and re-installed hardware (had to add another plate & hook-making it 7 in total). Buffalo skin. The head is 15.5" and it's 21.5" tall.

Shekere made by my wife! Burned design on the neck.

[Sakuntu]

Great idea for a thread! I've been really getting into making instruments and puttering around. Heres some stuff

Guiros: the upright is from a tropical gourd and the resting is from a upstate NY "goose neck" gourd

Heres some drums I made for my little guy for Christmas

that I made:

Small Haitian Style Drum (a prototype for a bigger one I'm working on now)

[Sakuntu]

heres some other stuff...I love making instruments, i just wish i had the right tools....tools can be just as expensive as buying the instruments that your trying to make. My next project is to finish a larger haitian style drum and i'm even working on a small djembe. (if only i had a large lathe )

[bongosnotbombs]

I really enjoy making my own instruments and I also like sell some to people,
I find it adds to my enjoyment of the music to play instruments I have made and
I also like listening to other play instruments I have made, it is very rewarding.

[bongosnotbombs]

I am planning on making my own drum later this spring. Congalou has inspired
me to make a conga drum from a wine barrel. Here in Northern California we have a
lot of wineries and barrels are easily available.

[burke]

I made a berimbau once from a stick found in the back yard, a coconut, scrap wire, a beach stone and twine.

What a cool and very easy instrument to make!

[Mike]

Here are my wooden bongos.

[seisporocho1]

There's some cool stuff going on! Keep posting as you make progress on your current project!
I wish I could afford a heavy duty lathe to make drums. I've got tons of ideas.
Keep on creating!

[akdom]

Hi all

Nice thread.

I already know some who will post their creations... Galou will be in here soon lol.

Here are a couple of pics of one of the drums I made:





















Here it is.

The shell is an old wine barrel bought in a flee market in France. The skin is an X ray, it works perfectly.

This drum is a Gwoka, used in Guadeloupe, a French carribbean island.

Enjoy

B

B

[Joseph]

I've finally got around to making some wood blocks from pieces of hardwood I've had kicking around for years.
The blocks are glued (no fasteners) and "biscuit joined" to give them strength.
Construction detail showing "biscuit" in first pic.

I call this Driftwood Collection, as all the wood pieces (except for beater tops) are from assorted tropical hardwoods that wash up on nearby beach after ocean storms. The tops are made of Honduras Mahogany.

Sizing boxes for tuned interval sound with each other was just a guess, but they pretty much turned out about a fourth apart.

Set now broken up as I've given a couple away.

[Joseph]

This was my first attempt at a wood block.
Glued, no fasteners, no biscuits.

Wood is Teak
Salvaged by me 25 years ago from the wreckage of a large and very old yacht.
I got quite a bit of recycled teak from that old boat. This is the last of it.
The wood in that block has to be at least 80 years old.

I made an adapter bracket to clamp it onto pedal mount from leftover Monel strap.

[bongosnotbombs]

Those blocks look great Joseph, especially that teak one, very sweet.
How does it sound?

[seisporocho1]

the wood blocks look really nice. Any of them for sale?
I dig the winebarrel drum too. What r the dimensions?

Members: if you are selling any of your instruments, make sure you mention it!

6x8

[Joseph]

especially that teak one, very sweet.
How does it sound?

A very pleasing "THWOCK" to it.
It's loud, I've got the felt beater on it for home use.

the wood blocks look really nice. Any of them for sale?

Never really thought of that, 2 are gone already, one's out on "loan"
The teak one is my keeper.
Maybe I'll see if I have the wood to make another batch.

Here's a couple of Marimbulas I made last year.
First pic is first attempt with happy new owner RaRa from Haiti (lives in Miami).
He called the instrument a Manoumba.
He had to have it....so i sold it to him.
Second pic is second attempt, slightly improved, which I traded to him.

For in depth discussion of Marimbula see following thread:
http://www.mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1256

[seisporocho1]

Joseph, how much for the marimbula!? Great stuff! Congrats