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One of these days I will have to finish these projects! Seriously. Fiddle is on the cusp. Hopefully next week for that one. Nickel Seegar parlor guitar parts are mostly here. Should be an "easy" build. And now:

The Monkeypod Elven Lute!

(maybe TWO lutes)

Ok, so they'll probably be 3/4 string dulicimer strummers that LOOK like lutes. Watched "The Court Jester" with Danny Kaye this week and was intrigued by the lute he had with him. It was a three string and looked to be dulcimer-fretted. He didn't really play it but I got the itch to try and make one. I go to ren faires every year and it would be a cool thing to bring.

So I searched eBay for project bowl-back mandolins or lutes. Too expensive. Then I thought I might try searching for 'walnut bowls' because those are turned on a lathe and might make a good lute body. Well I found a gem! (And for just $22 including shipping).

This is a hinged bowl made from monkeypod wood. It's just SHAPED like a walnut. Perfect for a woodsy/elven instrument. It's 16" long x 8" tall so each half is probably around 3-4" deep. The top will definitely be an instrument and if the bottom isn't permanently affixed to the base in a weird way, it will become one too.

I just need to clone myself to make all of these things. There's a Wizard of Oz themed art collective show coming up and I thought I might make a few themed guitars for that too. Keeps me out of trouble I guess.