Check out my GOURD! - Just finished making a shekere!

[bongosnotbombs]

Took a long time a lot of beads and a lot of patience. At least I got a lot of music listening done while putting it together. I'm inspired to play it now after watching AfroCuba de Matanzas the other day. It's my first one, I may be making a second smaller one later.

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[bongosnotbombs]

next



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1186463157

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[bongosnotbombs]

last one.

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[blango]

Bombs!

Yea,

those look fat!

I have one i need to string up. Please share any tips you may have discovered, if you will.

Tony

[109-1176549166]

bongosnotbombs,

Cool!!! I have the fiberglass LP Pro Shekere. I got it for half the price, brandnew, so I can't complain about that.

I've often wondered if I should get a natural one as an alternate but have often worried if it'll project well in loud band situations. (Ditto with the natural guiro. I've got the plastic LP Super Guiro.) Then, again, that's what the mic is for, right?



Edited By mjtuazon on 1186464184

[korman]

Wow, your shekere looks very beautiful!
I bet it does not have any problems with projection, so big and fat!

[Amber]

Hi Bongosnotbombs,

fine work, looks great and will be pretty loud I think.. Anyway loudness is not all I think...such a beautiful natural instrument with so much work put inside has a "soul"!

:p Amber

[109-1176549166]

...such a beautiful natural instrument with so much work put inside has a "soul"!

:p Amber

Amber,

I'll drink to that!

[Diceman]

Cant compare the sound of a natural guiro or chekere with a fibre plastic one, they are more fragile but each has its own unique sweet sound.

Your new baby looks great, look after it brother.

Suave
Diceman

[Jongo]

That was the perfect gourd you had there and it looks like you did a great job with it. I am sure that baby has a really good sound to it. I am impressed!

[zumbi]

i love that shekere, man
where did you got such a lovely gourd?
peace&blesing!



Edited By zumbi on 1186499574

[bongosnotbombs]

Thanks for all the compliments guys...I really appreciate it.

This shekere is plenty loud, I think the size
gives it a nice big resonace chamber, it has a good bass
thump too.

The gourd was like $8 on ebay, then I bought the beads
here in downtown SF, they are very cheap. It uses two different types of string.

The best pointer I have is patience, that and do the beading in phases, it uses a lot of beads. I saw there are many ways to bead the shekere, I decided to use 2 beads per diamond. Thats the hardest part I think, trying to get all the little diamond shapes of string even in size and shape, some of mine are lopsided, but I don't mind, its handmade, and looks it.

I coated the gourd with linseed oil before beading to give it some strength, I also like how it gave the natural colors more contrast.

Anyways, you can get all the info to make one of these from internet sources

http://sekere.com/

is one of the best, other sites have more photos of skekeres being made.

Like mounting your own heads and such, making my own instrument really adds to the enjoyment of being a musician for me. Hearing compliments from other musicians on my work is very appreciated, so thanks guys!



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1186505955

[bongosnotbombs]

I'm going to be making a guiro next, stay tuned.....

[windhorse]

Nice job! Your first???
Are those Ogun colors?

[bongosnotbombs]

Nice job! Your first???
Are those Ogun colors?

hey dave,
You saw this one unfinished when you came over a while back.
yeah its my first one, I have another smaller gourd waiting for my second.
The colors are from the brasilian flag, I love brasilian music as well as cuban, I know it doesnt make a lot of sense, cuban instrument brasilian colors, buts thats the way it is! :p