Minggu, 28 Maret 2021

Making a bownjo - experimental DIY bowed instrument using a drum as a body

 



























Tools and materials I propose:

Mini drum

Drill press

Cordless drill

Bandsaw

Forstner bit set

Chisel set

Block plane

Flat file

Flexcut starter carving set

Wood burner

Round file

Spoke shave

Cabinet scrapers set

Rotary tool

Mask Respirator


In this video I make a bowed instrument that uses a small drum as a body and has a basswood neck. You can find similar instruments in several cultures of the world. My inspiration came from instruments like banjo, yaylı tambur, erhu and Iranian kamancheh.


I begun by working on the small drum. Basically I cut off it’s tail using my rotary tool so I can move it around while playing. I then removed the burrs. 


Then I drilled the holes I needed to connect the neck.


While the neck was still a square piece I drilled the hole that would receive a threaded rod. 


I then cut the neck on the bandsaw. I removed most of the material for the tuning pegs using a forstner bit. I finished shaping using a chisel and files. 


Because the instrument is played with a bow I rounded over the fretboard using a block plane. 


I shaped the neck using files and a spokeshave. 


I used 5 minute epoxy to glue the threaded rod on the neck. 


I made a string holder using a piece of sheet metal. I used a file and my angle grinder. 


I made the bridge out of a piece of mahogany. To make the neck I used a piece of plexiglass. 


The distance from nut to bridge is 42cm. So I used an online fret calculator to find the fret positions. Although I didn’t add frets on the instrument, I used my pyrographer to add the fret lines so I know where to put my fingers when I play. 


I added rosin on the strings and on the bow and my instrument was ready to play.


I am not much of bowed instrument player but I think you get an idea of how it sounds. It’s actually pretty loud. I used nylon classical guitar strings and I tuned it like so: 1st 5th 1st.


I hope you like my bownjo, because that was it. See you soon with a new project video. 




Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, that at no cost to you, I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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