source file: mills2.txt Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 18:42:07 -0800 Subject: RE: building an mbira From: "David Worrall" On Jan 9, 8:42pm, Adam Silverman wrote: > Subject: building an mbira > This is a question for all of you master-craftspersons out there. I have > decided to have a fancy mbira custom-built for my music, and before I jump > into it, I would like to know if anyone here has done this and can offer > any advice regarding design specifications. I would like to have a > double-level style like those found in Zimbabwe (do we say Rhodesia?) but > probably a second tier on either side. I don't know why they usually are > only double-tiered on the left. I am also wondering if a fine-tuning > mechanism could be devised, better than just wiggling the tongues back and > forth while hoping for the best. > > Any advice? > > -Adam > abs22@pantheon.yale.edu >-- End of excerpt from Adam Silverman I've built plenty of single layer mbira (and we don't say "Rhodesia", just like we don't say "thumb-pianos" :-) ) the way they do in the bush - with packing cases and bicycle spokes -if that's any help then I can describle the process. Tuning is not to bad - two variables. David. -- ___________________________________________________ Head, Australian Centre for the Arts and Technology Australian National University GPO Box 804 Canberra Australia 2601 'phone: +61 6 249 5640 Fax: +61 6 247 0229 email: David.Worrall@anu.edu.au http://online.anu.edu.au/ITA/ACAT/drw ___________________________________________________ Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Sat, 11 Jan 1997 03:45 +0100 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA21961; Sat, 11 Jan 1997 03:48:45 +0100 Received: from eartha.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA21910 Received: from by eartha.mills.edu via SMTP (940816.SGI.8.6.9/930416.SGI) for id SAA27039; Fri, 10 Jan 1997 18:48:43 -0800 Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 18:48:43 -0800 Message-Id: <9701111348.ZM6288@simba> Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu