Making your own intruments... (56K warning) - Here's a few pics of ones Ive made

[ABAKUA]

I was wondering if anyone on here has made their own intruments? I normally mould my own skins, have made some nice sounding claves at a mates wood fabrication place, Ive had some failed attempts at making some cencerro/bells in the past, but what has come out really good are my guiro's and chekere's.

Feel free to post your pics up, here are some of mine...

The gourd plant below, eventually took over most my backyard.. I took a digital pic of this photo cause I didnt have a digi cam at the time of shooting this pic originally...



Edited By ABAKUA on 1118568280

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... Gourds.JPG

[ABAKUA]

one still in early stage of progress... This one is now fully dried out, I will be cleaning it up and scooping out all the insides and making it into another monster guiro.. will post pics of its progression as I continue to work on it in the next few weeks...



Edited By ABAKUA on 1118570087

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... _dryin.JPG

[ABAKUA]

And some that are finished, others in various stages of progress.. The finished guiro on the left, is surprisingly light to hold due to the way ive made the handle in its rear.
Percussionists both local and international have loved the sound and look of my guiro. The one from above will look similar to this one.
The Cubanismo boys wanted to take this one back to Cuba with them!

The one in the middle will be turned into a guiro and the one on the right will be made into a Chekere.



Edited By ABAKUA on 1118570150

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -Guiro.JPG

[ABAKUA]

Here is a little gourd which survived the drying process, so I decided to make it into a mini chekere for decorative purpose, but also, to use as testing for the beading/weaving I will use for the gourd still green that will be turned into a chekere...
Red and white beads in honour of Chango will be used for the chekere. (Using the green gourd pictured to the right of the other 2 dried ones above)



Edited By ABAKUA on 1118562942

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... eckere.JPG

[windhorse]

Abakua, I'm so glad you're on this forum!!

Thanks for sharing your gourd pics!

Here's mine,, but I didn't make them:

[JohnnyConga]

Hi guys ..anybody know a good gourd farm here in the states??.. I need a bunch of gourds. I've been making chekeres for over 20 years, and it's been awhile since I made any....Windhorse those are some nice gourds, where did u get them?...peace..."JC" Johnny Conga.....

[maSSivdrums]

Aloha JC,

At one point I was in the process of making my own chekeres and researched gourd suppliers. You might want to check out these sites:
http://www.welburngourdfarm.com or http://www.californiagourds.com

Keep on Poundin',

maSSivdrums

[ralph]

i just starting to make cajones, but since i have not much to go on, i am still at the trial and error stage, its just tough trying to put them together, i stopped using nails when possible, since it breaks the plywood, i just glue them together and they hold good, but the toughest part is clamping them together so they hold...so far i have made two, and working on a smaller quinto cajon now...
PEACE
by the way abakua, nice looking guiro, nice and fat too, peace



Edited By ralph on 1118611449

[windhorse]

Thanks Johnny!
They came from Joe Platz at Platz percussion..
Clave from him too..

[Tonio]

JC,
I live somewhat close to Welburns farm. I used to go out there every year to buy some guiro, chekere and fun stuff material.

Its a good 1 hr drive, but if you want I can pick them out for you.

I haven't been there in a while, since I stopped making instruments. I'd rather play them :;):

Don't know if it would be advantageous to you or not. e.g. They are familiar with guiro's, chekere and the Hawaiian gourd instrument--what was it called maSSivedrums? I often am there that the Hawaiin crowd comes. They probably can get better shipping rates, since they do it proffessionally-so doubt I can help there. The sell them by diameter size and have a template to use. If you tell them what exactly what you want them for and shape etc, it may help. But if you feel you are not comfortable with their "picks", I can help to pick them out for you -as a liason or whatever.

I need to go for a road trip out there again anyway. They have 2 seasons, spring and fall. can't remember exactly when the harvest was. Right after harvest and drying is the best time. I think they are ready in spring from the winter crop, and fall/winter for spring crop. I faintly recall the spring crop were always better.i.e. bigger, thicker and smoother.Must be due to when we get rain...in winter.

They litterally have rows about 100 feet long on pallets-it can take almost half a day just going thru them.

Abakua- nice crop you got there buddy!! Do you use glass or plastic beads for chekere?

T

[Tonio]

working those gourds are alot of work!!, scooping out the inards, scrapping the outter skin. Then finally work on the
actual instrument.

With Welburns gourd, they are nice and dry, the whole thing is still intact so inards are left. That stuff smells awful phew e The outer skin is still there. But with the proper tools, it makes things easier.

T



Edited By Tonio on 1118878432

[maSSivdrums]

Aloha Tonio,

The Hawaiian gourd instrument is called a "Ipu", used for Hula dancing and Hawaiian chanting. Hope that helps.

Keep on Poundin'!

maSSivdrums

[Ivan]

Hey All, great pictures Abakua...

I have yet to try making my own instruments, but I have hired a local Carpentar to make one of the cajitas I own.

I wanted to share the following site with you all - this is a cajon maker in Peru. A friend of mine brought one back for me and I have to say that the sound of it is great!

Don't forget to check out the tumbadoras...

Atiempo Percussion

Chow
Ivan



Edited By Ivan on 1118932723

[akdom]

Hi there
I don't know why but my last post is not showing...
lemme try again then

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -drums.jpg

[akdom]

I guess it worked now
so, of course I didn't make the djembe that comes from ivory coast.
The big drum in the centre is a secunda drum from the garifuna people who descent from african slaves and settled on the coast of central america and the caribbean.
the smaller drums are also garifuna and are made out of bamboo.
the medium size ones come from Belize in central america and are creole drums made out of coconut drums.
then the barrel drum was the very first drum I made about 10 years ago. it is a gwoka from guadeloupe.

enjoy

B