Hi Folks,
Cut up some burls last week and thought this one might make a stringed instrument. Hey they use spruce for sound boards don’t they?
Interesting how the grain of the tree swirls around the center, almost like it was blocked by the burl and grew around it.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Replies
Bob,
That is a unique piece of wood. I read about it in another thread. Someone asked you to post a photo. Glad you did.
I was wondering what I would do with such a piece of wood, and your idea of a banjo is right on. I have seen photos of wood-faced banjos in the past. I just plugged "wood top banjo plans" into Google, and found some. Here is one:
http://dwaynesthisandthat.org/musicalinstrumentsone.htm
Here is a reference on how to build banjos
http://books.google.com/books?id=Hnuhs2g1ISkC&pg=PA9lpg=PA9&dq=wood+top+banjo+plans&source=bl&ots=HBlCxHG2ZU&sig=18Xs2Ue_X-0KjXvfM-lNqclMdME&hl=enei=sWyWSr-jGse1lAeOt7W5DA&sa=Xoi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=f=false
It is a book named: Constructing a 5-string banjo: a complete technical guide by Roger H. Siminoff and it is on Google books
There are good places to get luthier tools parts on the web. If you are actually going to make an instrument, I'll send you some of the best places.
Making it into a banjo as a single piece would be a woodworking experience. You need a thin top but a thick neck which is attached at an angle. Do-able, but quite challenging.
Another thought would be to cut the bottom from the top, and to then cut the top and the back of the banjo from that piece, and to make the neck from the other piece, but separately. That would allow you to add trusses up the neck.
I would trim the bottom so that it had a half circle on each side, very close to its current shape. THat way it would be easier to make the tone ring for the bottom -- in four parts, two half circles and two small straight sections. You could glue this up in overlapping layers to be a single unit.
What a great project. I hope you build it. I wouldn't go for a "formal" banjo, but rather an informal wood-topped instrument. It would be an instant classic.
Have fun.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
BOB,
I just had another idea. Much better than the last. Les Paul just died. He invented the solid body electric guitar. Why not build a solid body electric guitar and use the piece of wood as it is !! THis would be much easier than an acoustic instrument. It fits the 'nature' of the piece of wood you have. Making an electric guitar is not that hard. The placement of the frets is the hardest part. If you think you are going to have trouble with that, any luthier would do it for you, and the price wouldn't be bad.
Heck, you might want to contact the Gibson guitar company. They may want to buy that piece of wood from you for a lot of money. You also might find out where the electric guitar builders hang out on-line and post photos. You might sell it for a good price.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Bob,
Looks like a wooden double bitted axe to me, not a banjer.
Instead of going to all the trouble of learning a new set of skills, then using them in making a useful thing like a banjo ( no-one is doing that sort of thing anymore), why not cut out and minimally shape this into a wooden axe, then "bury" it into a block of steel? You can call it "payback" and sell it to an art gallery for big bucks. Sort of like the song, "Cows With Guns".
Ray
Ray,
That's brilliant! I have tears in my eyes. Thanks for the good laugh!
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolton,
OK, then let's just er, bury the axe, so to speak!
View Image
Mebbe the beginnings of a new add campaign for Delta?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Kidder,Am I the only one that is thinking you should be contacting HotPorn. com....geezs...make a decision quickly please...lol
BG,
I'm shaking in my boots thinking about Lataxe seeing the photo. Please don't add fuel to the fire for I fear this discussion could wind up in the uh, drink.........
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
That pic makes me think you simply got tired of the tiny little tack hammer Taunton gave you, and you went out and found yourself a real hammer!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Ray,
Good idea! I was thinking I could slice it up for pizza paddles. Then I looked at the other side.
View Image
Now should I alert the dogs before you respond? :-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
Under no circumstances should Lataxe be allowed to see this photo. The Knots propriety police's delete button would melt...
Ray
Ray (of sunshine),
"Under no circumstances should Lataxe be allowed to see this photo".
He he - too late!
Now, I wish Bob to produce the troll from which he took the appendage, as that patikular bridge-dweller would shurely be a candidate for the Guiness BoR. Also, it may have offspring that have inherited the gene; there are fellows in Miami and LA who will wish to offer contracts.
Meanwhile I have been feeling inadequate so must go off to prove a thing or two to the ladywife. I need to attempt once more to prove the theory that "size doesn't matter".
Lataxe, who cannot help but gawp at such wonders of nature.
Lataxe,
It wood it be just like you to see the phallusy of Bob's..er.. post. One of the ancient Greek philosophers, Pericles or was it Damacles? No I believe it was Testicles- had something pithy (he thpoke with a lithp) to contribute to the subject. No doubt you and the good lady (but when she's bad, she's better) will have things well in hand, to make a long story short.
Ray
I know a gentlemen (well that may be a bit of an stretch) that builds banjos and restores them for museums, does museums shows etc. Great guy even if he never finishs a song when playing. He has web site you can track him down through. He will likely only want a small piece of the wood for his own creations. http://www.wunderbanjo.com
Spruce? I didn't know that was a nut-bearing species. %],,,,,,,
Keith,
Where is that nazard guy when I need him!?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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