Lee Connah's Instrument Photo Gallery <

Below are photos of INSTRUMENTS built largely from salvaged and recycled lumber, construction debris, found objects, and unorthodox materials such as beer cans and tree bark.. Many of the instruments have been featured in exhibitions of green-themed art and craft. Some are in private collections, some are currently for sale. I am also happy to build custom pieces on commission. (Note there are links to audio and video for the Baltimore Resophonic 6-String and Lady Luck 12-String guitars below.)

People sometimes assume that the necks and tops of the more recent pieces especially have been taken from old "factory made" instruments. Not true. But it should be no surprise that a home made instrument that plays well shares some characteristics with factory made instruments--which are, after all, the result of centuries of player feedback and construction and materials evolution. i want the instruments to "play well", to feel comfortable in the hands, and to rest well on the leg or hip or shoulder of the player. The more i experiment with instrument design the more i understand why they take the forms that they have, and how form influences volume, tone, playability. i also see areas ripe for sonic experimentation, artistic interpretation, and "green" alternatives to factory made parts and hardware. So stay tuned!

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  Still under construction: "Six Ball" hollow body electric guitar. the green enameled Masonite panel of the top came from a 50's or early '60's kitchen cabinet. the neck is from locally sawn cherry and antique salvaged walnut. The fret board is from that rare piece of tiger maple that inexplicably shows up in the bin at Home Depot! This guitar will soon have a home made pick up.
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  "Six Ball" back made from old bathroom panelling with spray paint sunburst.
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  "Lady Luck" Twelve-String Resophonic Guitar (2009).

  Click here to see and hear this guitar played.

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  Close up of top with Annette Funicello surrounded by, er, "fans".
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  Close up of head stock.
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  "Get Lucky" resonator visible from the rear.
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  "Baltimore Resophonic Guitar" (2009). Made with old panelling from my bathroom renovation and featuring a light switch and cover plate, maps of Baltimore, and a vintage Natty Boh bottle cap.
Click here to see and hear this guitar played.
• Baltimore Resophonic head close up.
• Baltimore Rez #3.
• Purple and Orange Jumbo 5-String Ukulele (2009). All recycled and salvaged woods. Beautiful vintage cookie tin resonator.
• Another perspective.
  
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  "Prince Albert Guitar" (2009). Cookie tin resonator, 2X4 neck, salvaged Luan plywood top and back, spray paint sunburst. The figured Maple for the fretboard was a rare find in the ordinary maple bin at Home Depot!
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  The Prince Albert's throat is longer to make slide playing easier.
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  "Walnut Banjo 2" (2009). A traditional-style walnut banjo commissioned in the likeness of an earlier piece made in 2007, the wood for this instrument came from the same damaged piece of antique furniture believed to have been used for church ceremonies. The buyer requested his instrument be fretted, however.
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  The two Walnut Banjos together.
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  "Fluke" (2008). This is a unique 5-string Ukelele. It uses a round fruitcake tin for the resonance chamber, and was designed to be light, heavy duty, and quick to construct. It's top is made from scrap Luan plywood, the neck from 2X4, and fretboard of some scrap Mahogany wood. The Fluke also conveniently stands on its own. 8^)
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  Fluke back.
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  Close up of the tin top and "down bridge".
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  "Domino Upright Bass" (2009). The body is built up from layers of scrap plywood, the neck is a piece of handrail stock, and the headstock utilizes bike quick releases as tuners. The frets are made from 10 gauge copper electric wire. Still some decorating to do!
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  Detail of electronics: home made pick up in "Fisherman's Friend" tin, with volume control and output jack.
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  "National Bohemian Resophonic Guitar" (2007)--salvaged 2X4 neck; unknown tropical hardwoods from woodworkers' scrap for headplate, bridgeplate, and fretboard; salvaged luan plywood top and back; National Bohemian Beer can resonators; spray paint sunburst, oven knobs and automobile nameplate.
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  Detail of nameplate and resonators.
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  "Chick Feeder Fiddle" (2008)--galvanixed chick feeder (original tag still attached) found in abandoned hardware store; neck from plywood laminated to heart pine flooring; Jotoba flooring fingerboard; cork floor sample square chin rest; stock hardware tuners; found mirror pieces, spoon, and Mardi Gras beads.
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  "Chick Feeder Fiddle"--detail of headstock.
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  Two Icons Travel Guitars painted by Gordon Anderson . From salvaged 2X4's, Plexiglas, Douglas Fir fencepost, and antique Heart Pine; egg tempera paint.
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  "Virgin Hogiditria" (2007, private collection)
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  "Pantocrator" (2007)
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  "Foster's Cello" (2007) Spine: salvaged 1X6 lumber. Fingerboard: discarded Jotoba flooring. Bouts: scrap plexiglas, aluminum flashing, scrap fake fur, beverage can resonators. Bridge: salvaged old growth Redwood. Also: cheese slicer, bicycle quick-release wheel skewers, paint roller extension handle, scrabble pieces, yardsticks, chopsticks, dice, mardi gras beads.
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  "Fretless Walnut Banjo" (2007)--The wood for this piece came from a damaged piece of antique furniture believed to have been used for church ceremonies. Note the unusual rectilinear engravings in the neck and head; and the delaminating walnut burl veneer and the original routing on the body.
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  Fatima Travel Guitar (2007)--salvaged 2X4, Luan plywood, and Douglas Fir; bicycle cog, spoon, Our Lady of Fatima prayer card, acrylic paints and glitter glue.
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  Fatima headstock detail.
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  "Tulip Poplar Banjo 2" (2006)--Poplar bark head, salvaged Chestnut neck, top pot ring from scrap local quartersawn "wormy" White Oak, and locally sawn Poplar fretboard with "tiger" figuring.
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  "Tulip Poplar Banjo 2"--Detail of pot: middle and back rings from salvaged Poplar lumber from a discarded pallet, compensated bridge from scrap Curly Maple and Walnut.
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  "Tulip Poplar Banjo 2"--Detail of Hickory Nut fretboard inlay.
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  "Scotch Tape Travel Banjo " (2007)--Neck from discarded Jotoba flooring, pot from antique Tulip Poplar (stained) from a ruined piece of furniture, plus new poplar from a shipping pallet. Resonator is an old Scotch Tape can. All hardware is "stock" from the hardware store.
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  "Scotch Tape Travel Banjo "--detail of original headstock.
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  Mahogany Backpacker Guitar (2006, private collection)--Top made from mahogany wood salvaged from the sides of a discarded desk drawer; mahogany fretboard from woodworker's scrap.
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  Mahogany Backpacker Guitar --Bridge, nut, and tailpiece from Cocobolo scrap, back from old growth western softwood (Spruce? Fir?) from a rotted fencepost, neck from construction waste 2X4, Walnut position dots, and sides from discarded local Cherry wood.
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  "Sashimi" travel guitar (2007)--scene of mortal combat beneath the waves.... Body/neck made from scrap 2X4 and paneling, fretboard from salvaged tropical hardwood of unknown specie, top from plexiglas.
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  "Sashimi" travel guitar (2007)--headstock detail.
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  "Maccaferri-style" Backpacker Guitar (2006)--maple syrup can internal resonator, plexiglas, recycled and salvaged woods (Jotoba flooring fretboard, Cocobolo tailpiece, old growth western softwood back, construction-grade 2X4 neck and sides).
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  Body close up, maple syrup guitar. The temporary bridge has since been replaced with a nicer one....
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  Mountain-style Banjo(2006)--Construction-grade pine body (with unusual "bird's-eye" figure), neck from antique Pine flooring, salvaged Chestnut fretboard, scrap Mahogany tailpiece, and deer hide head.
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  I decided to use stock banjo tuning hardware instead of carved friction pegs on this one.
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  Teacan Guitar (2007)--Stock 2X4, scrap Lauan Plywood, salvaged Oak flooring fretboard, iced tea cans, acrylic paints and sparkles.
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  Teacan Guitar (2007)--Detail of headstock.
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  Two "canvases" prepared for Gordon Anderson's amazing painted icons...coming soon!
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  Plexiglas Guitar (2004)--Marc H. picks some delta blues.
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  Recycled cans give that resophonic sound.
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  Poplar Banjo (2006, collection of Gordon Anderson)--Tulip Poplar bark top; salvaged Heart Pine flooring neck; spoon tailpiece, beer cans, plexiglas, and fake fur. Note: the body is the shape of a Tulip Poplar leaf.
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  Poplar Banjo--back detail.