Crafts

[baddbob]

We had a thread for art work I would like to share a couple of my craft pictures.I got into macrame and wild vines over the summer,the one that looks like an eye represents universal consciousness


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[baddbob]

Does anyone have any crafts to share with us ? the above another intrest is finding natural art. This is my animal stick and my one eye one arm frog

[benevolentcrow]

What a great idea, I am sure there are a lot of creative people here!

[RMorgan]

Great thread! You made some beautiful works with wood, my friend! I really loved them all!

Check out these instruments I´ve made this year! :)

The first is a fretless five string gourd banjo, with capivara skin, mahogany and ebony.

The second is a seamstress box four string slide guitar, with a Ipê box, a mahogany neck and aluminum fretboard. This seamstress box used to belong to my grandmother, which was the sweetest person I´ve ever met...I´ve made this guitar as a tribute to her. It sounds as good as her sweet voice. I miss you grandma! :)

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0451.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0449.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0448.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0445.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0446.jpg

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/rafaelmorgan2/banjo/Imagem0447.jpg

Sorry about the picture quality. I´ve just shot them with the cell phone, and the lighting conditions aren´t the best right now as well!

Cheers,

Raf. :)

[baddbob]

Those are awsome. I love the sound of a banjo does it have the same sound. I love the mahogany ebony very traditional

[RMorgan]

Those are awsome. I love the sound of a banjo does it have the same sound. I love the mahogany ebony very traditional

Thanks Bob! Yep, it sounds like a banjo, it plays like a banjo! However, the sound is very organic and rich in low and mid tones. The strings are made from nylgut, which is a material that simulates all tonal characteristics of the old traditional gut strings...So I guess it sounds more like a banjo from 200 years ago, not the contemporary banjo.

The guitar sounds like a classic slide guitar, but it plays different, because it has only four string and use a non-conventional tuning. I´ve made the electric pick-up as well and it sounds pretty good plugged to an amp. The aluminum fretboard glued into the mahogany neck makes a important part of the set-up. Aluminum is great conducting sound; much better than many expensive woods.

I´m glad you liked them! Your work with the woods is pretty cool as well!! Very organic and spiritual!! Working with wood is not for everyone...It´s a spiritual thing. :)

Cheers,

Raf.

[Cartomancer]

I have just finished the body to an electric guitar I am making. It has a telecaster style body and is hollow w/ a central core of ash. I'm ordering a neck w/in the next week. Will post pics as soon as its done in about a week. I'm trying to work up the nerve to build an acoustic guitar. While unemployed so far I have written a book and now building guitars. Nice post. :cool:

[RMorgan]

I have just finished the body to an electric guitar I am making. It has a telecaster style body and is hollow w/ a central core of ash. I'm ordering a neck w/in the next week. Will post pics as soon as its done in about a week. I'm trying to work up the nerve to build an acoustic guitar. While unemployed so far I have written a book and now building guitars. Nice post. :cool:

Good to know that! Don´t forget to post some pics here!! There´s nothing like making your own stuff (instruments, furniture, decorations, etc...)!

Now I´m making only rustic instruments, because I want to connect with the roots of music, but I used to work on a very good custom guitar shop, and I´ve built many electric guitars, including some telecasters. Ash is a great tonal wood. I bet it will sound great! :)

Cheers,

Raf.

[bodhii71]

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A Regency Harp which is much further along, hoping to be done this week and a 17/16 Hammered Dulcimer. Just started woodworking this year, always wanted to try my hand at building.

[RMorgan]

A Regency Harp which is much further along, hoping to be done this week and a 17/16 Hammered Dulcimer. Just started woodworking this year, always wanted to try my hand at building.

Wow!! What a challenge to build a concert harp!! You´re doing very well!!! The dulcimer is looking great as well (the only thing I don´t like about these guys is this damn tuning pegs)!! Well done!!

[bodhii71]

TY RMorgan. They have both been head scratchers, lol. Damn near ruined the harp a couple of times. The dulcimer was for my sister, I did the initial tuning, now it's her problem :-)
If i may, how did you attach the neck to the gourd?

[RMorgan]

TY RMorgan. They have both been head scratchers, lol. Damn near ruined the harp a couple of times. The dulcimer was for my sister, I did the initial tuning, now it's her problem :-)
If i may, how did you attach the neck to the gourd?

Oh man!! Tuning that dulcimer must be pretty hard, specially until the strings settle properly! :)

If you look carefully, you can see that the neck goes trough the gourd by two holes. It´s a one piece solid, hand sculpted, mahogany neck. I´ve left a 3cm space above it, so the skin could vibrate freely. In fact, the neck is not attached; it´s held in place by string tension. Once you remove the strings, you can take off the neck for maintenance. ;)

The ebony bridge is also held in place by string tension. It just rests above the skin, which allows fine tuning for the correct intonation.

Cheers,

Raf.