Walnut Kalimba Necklace (Semi Acoustic)

Step 6 Finishing up.

Now that the glue on the bottom of the topplate has fully dried you can now start fitting the tines.
6tines is usually the best for such a small instrument but it really depends on the size of your nut!
Place your top tube between the wire bridges and pass the bolts through the hole in the tube and the topplate until it reaches the affixed metal nut on the bottom side.

Screw in the bolt 2-3 turns and start sliding your tines in. They should go over the wire bridges but under the tube.
When you have them in the desired position tighten down the bolts evenly until the tines start making a clear tone when you strike/pluck them with you thumb nail. Don't tighten them too much and don't worry so much about their tuning at this stage. you can do that later.

If you have a piezo pickup installed affix it to the bottom of the topplate with some double sided tape. You may need to trim it if its too big.

Use some good quality PVA wood glue to glue the topplate to the walnut base.
If you can clamp it with a bull clip or wrap some string tightly around it the glued joint will be much stronger.

Wait 12-24hours before unclamping.

Filing the edges will give it a finished more professional appearance.

You can tune each tine with a guitar tuner. Sliding the tines in and out adjusts their tone. Further out (long) is a lower tone, in (short) is a higher tone.

Now plug it into your Hifi, stereo or dock and make some necklace noise.



If all of this is too much you can always visit our Etsy Store and purchase a readymade!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NakagawaGakki

Thankyou.

Comments

[nickodemus]

I like the idea, although it looks a bit hard to hold and play. But aside from that, great job on the 'ible.

[zascecs]

A little out of tune, but still, this is pretty cool! I like how you can plug it in like a guitar, gee, my brother would just love to have one of these! 


Nut in disguise!!!