Post #789891 by Bam Bam on Tue, Sep 11, 2018 8:26 PM

I thought about making a new thread for this, but I suppose it kinda fits the tiki-on-a-budget theme.

Sometimes you sit down to record and realize that, you just don't have an instrument or even a household object that makes the sound you hear in your head. In this case finding that sound came down to building an Ipu Heke:

Start with two clean, large dried gourds. Ideally one should be rather tall. These were not exactly ideal gourds.

Slice off the top of the larger gourd. This becomes the base. The other gourd has holes cut in both ends, such that one end fits tightly over the mouth of the first gourd. Clean out the seeds and papery membrane.

Glue the two gourds together. I found I needed a form to hold them in place while drying.

Once dry and cured, tie a decorative cord around the neck as a handle. In this case, I finally found a use for those honor cords that have done jack squat for me since graduation.

If desired, the Ipu can be sanded and sealed, and decorated either by carving into the skin, or painting.

You Ipu is now ready to play!

Total cost for gourds: $6 at a fall flea market.
Gorilla wood glue and cord: on hand.