Kalimba first build

Saved the upper half of a gourd to make this thumb piano.Grounding bar, welding rod, oak plywood sound brd, Paduk scrap under bar. Just needs clear coat.
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  • Larry,
    I buy gourds in the fall and dry them myself. I've been doing this for years, but now I have a purpose.
    I used them in school for still life, now I'm making instruments with them. I even surprise myself.
  • A local woman just advertised a bunch of dried gourds like yours for sale. Thought about buying a few for diddley bows, etc. but thanks to you I've got yet another reason to pay her a visit. Nice build! 

  • nice, would you believe i never even heard of these till yesterday!

    pretty cool!

  • Going to have to try the welding rod tines. Got some flat ones from http://www.kalimbamagic.com/ . They were  nice and pretty cheap. $1.00 per foot.

  • Thanks guys! The grounding bar, I got the idea from Make magazine. Looks cool and works like a charm.
    It's harder to tune these than make them lol.
  • Neat idea. I am starting to like these things. Just got back from the hardware store with another ground bar.

  • Yup.

  • Wicked cool!
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