Official Luthiers Forum!

Here's my latest Bandura, number 4 for me (4.5 if you count the re-top of number 1). Top is Sitka, rim is maple laminate and back is curly maple. Trim and bridge is EIR. Finish is USL for most everything, trim is oiled. First sunburst.

I tried a few tricks in this one to keep the top from collapsing under string tension. On all of my prior instruments, the top has collapsed until the top rests on the internal structural braces. The instrument remains playable but there are still some problems with this. Banduras 2, 1.5 and 3 all used a solera type of arrangement to dome the top but the rims were flat. For numbers 1.5 and 3, I put a little post under the bridge where it crosses one of the structural braces and this did keep it from collapsing, but the sound thinned out on those strings.

On this instrument, I used a 25' dish to shape the top and profile the rims. I had just done this with my first real guitar build (stewmac kit) and man, it's much easier to do on a guitar! I also added a diagonal brace capped with CF (see pics) So far, the thing's been strung up for a few hours and unfortunately, the top has deflected probably about 3/32 but I'm hoping it will settle in there. It seems to be kind of holding tune now so I've got my fingers crossed!

So far it sounds pretty good. The highs are really nice as are the basses. It's interesting to hear a family resemblance between the instruments I've built. The mids are pretty good too but I think I like #3's mids better. Hard to compare though as #3's strings are a year old. I'll change them some time this week or next to better compare.

The sun was setting when I finished so the pictures aren't great. I'll try and take some more tomorrow.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

That's pretty cool Andy. How many strings are on that thing? Do you tune it similar to an auto harp?

_________________
Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Waaay cool Andy! It's beautiful. Record something so we can hear what it sounds like (I've never heard one).

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Mine have 57 strings (I had to go count em!)

I don't know how an autoharp is tuned but banduras are tuned with a diatonic row (right now mine is tuned to Gmaj) and a chromatic row underneath for accidentals. This makes it technically a fully chromatic instrument, but practically speaking, you can't play fully chromatic stuff on it because you have to "dig" for the chromatics.

I have chromatic strings for every diatonic string (e.g. there is a B# string and an F# 'below' the F# on the diatonic row) so that you can tune it in every key. Concert instruments have a re-tune mechanism kind of like a pedal harp but I haven't gotten around to that yet. All current re-tune mechs for instruments of the style I build suck and it's going to take a big effort to make something that works.

p.s., the kids are asleep right now but I'll try and record some stuff tomorrow. Anyone know of a site that will host the files for me?

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Great job Andy, does it sound as good as the one you brought to Ann Arbor last fall, I really liked that one. You should bring it to one of our Michigan Fingerstyle picking sessions, the guys will be impressed.

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

That is really a cool looking instrument Andy!
Very clean work inside as well.
Look forward to the sound clip!

Joe

Are these top issues typical for Banduras, or is it a problem that you have had with yours? Given that substantial bracing, I'm surprised. I'm sure that you'll figure it out and get great results!

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Douglas,

That is indeed a common issue with banduras. Typcially, they're built so heavily to avoid this that they have no bass response what so ever.

In looking at the way the top is deflecting though, I'm thinking that most of the deformation is happening where the ends of the braces are thinned to go into the peg block (toward the lower left on the picture of the bracing).

Right now, the peaks of the braces are right under the bridge and they're quite high. I'm now thinking that perhaps I might be better off if I lower the peaks some but not thin the ends of the braces so much, and possibly add some short braces that go from under the bridge to the tail piece.

My worry would be that it would stiffen up the sound board too much and I'd again lose bass & mid response, but perhaps with the main braces not so beefy, I'd gain back what I lost....hmmmm....

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Holy [bleep]...that is a fine looking instrument. Well done!

Beautiful job all around Andy ! Great job on the burst also. Each one looks better than the last. I'm impressed with the bracing sections... nice work!

You'll have to bring it by, I'd love to hear it. What did you end up using for the bridge? Was it the IRW you originally wanted?

_________________
Peter

HERE is a soundclip I recorded the other day. The recording doesn't sound quite right but I'm still figuring out how to record solo bandura. The song is an arrangement of a theme from the opera "Red Poppies" (Червоні Маки) by Glier I believe. Arrangement is by Hryhory Kytasty. From what his brother says, there's much Kytasty in the song and not too much Glier! Let me know what you think.

Pete, I will bring it by some time but it might be a few weeks, I've got tons of things going on. As to the bridge, it's funny you ask. I bought something labeled as EIR from e-bay but it sure doesn't look like it up close. The wood is beautiful, I just doubt it's EIR though it might be some sort of rosewood. On top of that, I had ordered some EIR neck blanks from LMI a while back for bridges and I just got them the other day - look totally different than what's on the instrument.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

First time I ever heard a bandura. Very cool. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if anyone performs in my area, I would love to hear one live.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

First time I've heard of a Bandura too, darned nice job and instrument, looking forward to hearing a sound bite from it.

Wow! Fancy looking fancy thing you have there, nice work, and really nice work on the sunburst.

_________________
Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Wow! Thanks for recording that! It was beautiful.....the high notes sound very piano like.

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Now, that is really nice. I don't think I have ever heard one before, and it is a really melodic instrument. Beautiful!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Really nice Andy! Congratulations.

_________________
Ken

Thanks guys - I've apparently done a great job of covering up my mistakes!

BTW, I've got some new pictures that came out much better. If you're interested, you can check out my blog (in my .sig) or I suppose I could post them here too.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Very nice sunburst. Gorgeous instrument.

_________________
http://www.casperguitar.com