Traditional Kora Restoration and Conversion to Machine Tuners

Рет қаралды 502

2 жыл бұрын

This video is a glimpse into a Kora restoration and conversion job that I recently completed.
The traditional kora came to me with broken and mis-aligned parts and, I completely restored it with as many original components as possible, while re-working the neck to accept machine tuners.
It's tuned to F Silaba, and the finished kora itself provides the soundtrack to the photos and videos within.
I'm still learning restoration and conversion techniques, and this kora was an absolute pleasure to work on. The sound, ease of tuning, ease of replacing strings - all are fabulous.
I can't wait for the next one, and I'll try to be better at documenting that one ;)

Пікірлер: 15

@Old_Shoe 2 жыл бұрын

Loved every second

@nnamdijenkins-johnston7956 Жыл бұрын

Great video and playing. I would love to see more detailed documentation of your conversions - what size and depth the holes should be, distance between the holes, tools to use etc. I'm thinking of doing something similar with my kora as I can't afford to pay someone to do it, but don't know where to start!

@willridenour Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! It wasn't too long ago that I also couldn't afford to pay someone and didn't know where to start... but I just experimented and tried stuff out. Basically there are too many parameters / variables at play from kora to kora to be able to give exact directions at the moment. I'm still doing a lot of trial and error and R&D on the process anyways; trying to make jigs and other tools in order to make things easier and faster. Right now it's very slow and very careful.

@Bounestaang Жыл бұрын

Well done! Thanks I will do that with my Kora! The cost is around 80.-€ only! Ordered the machineheads already.

@willridenour Жыл бұрын

Good to hear! Best wishes and hope it turns out well.

@fadenyaba8650 2 жыл бұрын

Nice job, Will! Love your kora playing, too. I listen to keme bourema and simbon almost every day. Could you break the simbon down? It's tough to learn it just by ear...

@willridenour 2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear! At the moment I'm not creating any tutorials of kora music for public consumption, but I make them for all my students. If you might be interested in that, don't hesitate to get in touch here: willridenour.com/lessons

@111sparkle111 Ай бұрын

looks and sounds great! Are the large holes in the back of the neck necessary for the string windings, and for access, i guess? do you think they could be smaller? thanks!

@willridenour Ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment / question! I think on this kora, I tried smaller holes but found that when the strings wind on the tuner rods, they tended to bind up once the string wrapped on itself over and over (an issue with the thicker strings much more than the thinner, naturally). So that's why the holes seem bigger than necessary, visually.

@kellysturgeon6727 Ай бұрын

Did you use fishing line for the strings? Could you give me an idea of what gauges you used? I have a sad Kora I need to refurbish as well, and I don’t have any idea what size fishing line/ weed eater line would be best. Thanks for a wonderful trip through the restoration. You play very well.

@willridenour Ай бұрын

Thanks! And yeah, fishing line. Berkley Trilene monofilament to be precise! I recommend against weed-eater line. It can have ridges (makes cutting grass / weeds easier) and also be of inferior sonic / resonant quality. The lb. tests I use are 30, 50, 80, 100, 130, 250, and a twisted string for the bass (or a 300-350 lb test monofilament)

@kellysturgeon6727 Ай бұрын

@@willridenour thank you. They do make a round weed eater string, but I could try braiding. Which two strands would you braid?

@willridenour Ай бұрын

@@kellysturgeon6727 It's more of a twisting / winding technique than a braid, although it looks like a braid! It's hard to describe the process, and I'm not great at it myself (yet!). I usually use 150 or 250 lb test for the twist, depending on how think I want the finished bass string to be and what key the kora will be in.