$100 Challenge at the Musical Instrument Maker's Forum

[Bill Snyder]

I thought there might be someone on this board interested in the $100 Acoustic Instrument Challenge at the Musical Instrument Maker's Forum.
In a nutshell it is a challenge to build an acoustic, stringed instrument in two months and not exceed $100 in cost.
This is the second year for the challenge and whether you participate or not some of the build threads are wonderful. Some of the occasional posters to the Mandolin Cafe participated last year including Mario Proulx and Arnt Rian. It is amazing what can be built out of "substandard" material.
Link to the challenge rules is H E R E.

[Bill Snyder]

Just a reminder to anyone interested. It is still not too late to take part in the challenge. I am still on the fence whether to join in and build an Army/Navy style mando or not.

[Darren Kern]

This is a really cool idea, I hope you decide to do it. I am interested in seeing everyone's results.

[fatt-dad]

I think you can get an IV kit for under a c-note.

f-d

[Bill Snyder]

That would be cutting it close once you added the few other things needed such as glue and finish. Plus it sorta takes away from the spirit of the challenge which is to see how creative some of the builders can be with inexpensive or salvaged materials.
You should have seen what Mario Proulx built last year. The build threads are definitely worth following if you have any interest in the build process.

[Bill Snyder]

Here is a link to the forum with the Challenge threads. L I N K .

[Jim Garber]

I read a lot about previous challenges and it is amazing what these folks come up with.

[thistle3585]

It is impressive to see what they come up with and you realize how much building is about the builder and not the materials.

[Arnt]

Its a lot of fun! I've participated in the two last ones, and although I got disqualified in the previous "electric challenge" for misinterpreting (or not really reading...) the rules, I've taken these happenings as an opportunity to do something different. This time I'm building a classical guitar, another first for me, mainly to test out the process and try some new construction methods (I usually make steel string guitars and the occasional mando-thing). Since it has to be inexpensive, it has also prompted me to use woods that I've been reluctant to try on more "serious" instruments, mostly locally grown stuff with little or no track record as tone-wood, that I've been curious about. Other participants have been far more adventurous, we've seen a two-bodied harp guitar, Halloween style Les Paul, a burlap tele, several ones from salved parts etc., the list goes on. I'm sure lots of folks here could build some wonderfully interesting instruments within this format.

Jump in Bill, there is still plenty of time left! The rest of you too, the more the merrier! We're still low on mando content over there...

[Rodney Riley]

The 2010 Alan Carruth harp guitar is featured on the last page of the February 2011 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine. A very beautiful creation.

[Bill Snyder]

You can see the mandolin that Mario Proulx built for last years in t h i s t h r e a d. It is the tenth post.
You can see a bit about the Carruth harp guitar H E R E.

[Kerry Krishna]

The Carruth guitar is... I am lost for words here.. Amazing. I absolutely loved the construction pictures. Mindblowing!!!

[Tavy]

The Carruth guitar is... I am lost for words here.. Amazing. I absolutely loved the construction pictures. Mindblowing!!!

Yeh, but just try getting a case for it

Totally nuts, in a really awesome kind of way!

[Kerry Krishna]

It also would not really be actually playable unless it was played like a cello, or someone made some kind of stand for it ( I have seen that before for spinal injury folks)