Jon Mac.Spoon Carving First Steps: The Ngombi harp...

Friday 8 April 2011

The Ngombi harp...

Last week my friend Ben asked if I could make some new tuning pegs for his Ngombi harp. This harp is made by his friends in the Bacha tribe of the Pygmy/Bameto people, who live in the jungles of The Gabon, West Africa...

I set too carving the pegs from some seasoned Chinese Ash that Ralph.H had given me last year.

First I split some wood down and carved it into a uniform bar shape...

And then carved the peg shape at the end...

From time to time I offered up the peg to make sure it was a good fit. The original pegs were made a little to thin, which made it difficult for Ben to tune the harp...

When the peg eventually fitted with a nice interference, I partially cut through the other end...

And snapped the peg off...

I made eight pegs in total.

All fitting beautifully...

Here is the finished harp...

I asked Ben if he would play the harp for me, and he kindly agreed...

I think he plays it beautifully...
Enjoy...
J

5 comments:

Martijn Top8 April 2011 at 13:34
GREAT!!!
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Joel8 April 2011 at 21:06
Lovely instrument, visually and the sound is gorgous! I enjoyed that, thank you por posting it.
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Tim9 April 2011 at 13:32
Very nice! Tweeting birds in the background too, just like the rainforest. T
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FishBird Freed-Man15 September 2011 at 00:36
I LOVE this Ngombi.
I'm a harp player/maker and would love to make a Ngombi myself. Can you give me some basic guidelines? it's would be so appreciated!!
Btw: beautiful work!!!!
my mail is bird777 at g m a i l dot c o m

Cheers!
Eyal
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Jon Mac23 October 2011 at 10:01
Hi hi Eyal.
I have sent you an email with Ben's address.
He will fill you in on all the details of the harp...Cheers...J
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Jon Mac.

Folk Artist.

Photographer.

Jon has worked with his hands all his life. He has learnt many traditional working skills, from construction to carving beautiful wooden spoons and drinking vessels. He has spent much time on Dartmoor teaching outdoor pursuits, such as Ten Tors team training and working with private companies providing team building/survival resources. He is a retired member of Mountain Rescue and spent seven years on the active call out list with his local team.

( D.R.G.Ashburton).

He has spent many years exploring the Devon countryside perusing his other interest in photography, industrial archaeology and local history. He recently used his local knowledge and field craft skills to great advantage when acting as field assistant to researchers investigating bat habitats and behaviour here on Dartmoor.

Jon runs tailor made courses both here in Devon and occasionally in Scotland, for anyone interested in spoon carving and woodcraft skills. Using traditional hand tools, Axe, hook knife and knife, he teaches the techniques for the fast and safe removal of waste wood, shaping and designing. He also teaches how to attain a super sharp cutting edge with the use of Japanese water stones.These skills are key to making anything you wish out of wood.

He is also a knife designer and has had his designs fabricated by top blade smiths.

Jon believes passionately that the skills of both using and maintaining knife and axe blades are ones which need to be shared, in order that we do not loose these important techniques. Jon particularly enjoys sharing these skills with those who have little or no experience of using edge tools.

Friday 8 April 2011

The Ngombi harp...

5 comments:

Carving a Dragon Kuksa.