Pipa Reconstruction 6. New Soundboard.

Now, the update. Cutting away the existing binding was the only way to go. Otherwise, patching the cracked remainder would not look right or be structurally sound. Here's a shot of the body after I planed the binding edges flush with the body. You can also see the replacement crossbeams I rebuilt from pawlonia.

The sticks have to be precisely level with the rim, since they will glued to the underside of the soundboard. I used a straightedge to check that. The new soundboard is in the background.

Here's the new soundboard lined up for attachment to the body. Now the binding has to be formed and attached.













Using a cardboard template I built from a trace of the original, I'm clamping thin long strips of mahogany to fit the form. I steam-bent them to the general shape, and in this photo they 're drying.













Another rim shot, close-up. That's it for now.


















Last few months I get TWO monster gigs playing guitar. First I joined the praise band in our church. Another great break happened when the Pennyloafers band of Sugarloaf took me in. In the praise band we play Christian standards, and hard-rockin' hymns. In the Loafers I get to fulfill my longtime dream of 'comping' Jazz standards. We play for charity. My compensation for these adventures = PIE (Payment In Experience).

Here We Go!

More about the PIPA reconstruction coming very soon! (I've been on sabbatical.)