High Tech Gourd Speakers

This is a very creative gourd craft and we had to go across the Pacific to find this little story – and it’s fantastic.  We believe you can recreate these on your own.  – and you’ve got to see this speaker in action! Check out the Video

Source: The Japan Times

Using a bottle gourd, Japanese artist Akira Takahashi has merged cutting edge sound with traditional gourd artwork.  Takahashi, 67, came up with the idea of using bottle gourd after realizing the potential of natural products in re-creating sound. (Source)

 

As shown the bottle gourd is hollowed out and two speakers are inserted to make them look like eyes.  Finally two small legs are added to the gourd to make it look like yurukyara (mascots).

Takahashi noted that the thick skin of the gourd makes for a low sound that can travel a long distance.  “It is especially good for string instruments”  Source

The speakers vary in price between ¥160,000 to ¥230,000 – (yeah that’s Yen) in American dollars you are looking at between $1,500 and $2,160.

Can you DIY this?

We think so.

If you don’t have the extra $1,500 lying around – with the proper skills, gourds, and speakers we believe you can make your own set of customized speakers.

The Gourd

Now the article reference using a bottle gourd, but we think a canteen, bushel or pear shaped gourd may work just as well, if not better.  Keeping in mind that you could customize these speakers anyway you’d like, but if you are going for a similar look to above – you’ll want one with a decent diameter, so as to provide room for the speakers.  A minimum of 12 inches should suffice.

When you hollow out the interior, make your cuts in the bottom, so they are hidden when the gourd is finished.

The Speakers

Bluetooth!  We highly recommend going Bluetooth here.  This will allow nearly any smart phone or tablet the ability to connect to your speakers.  There are a plethora of bluetooth speakers around.  Here are a few great choices:

LINGYI V9 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

A nice round shaped speaker with quality sound.  The battery will last between 12 and 18 hours before it needs to be recharged.

The diameter of the circle is 3.7 Inches – keep that in mind as you are planning your gourd speaker.

This is an extremely highly rated product on Amazon.

 

Playground, PlayStereo Wireless Speakers, Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The nice thing about this set is that it provides two speakers instead of just the one.

The diameter is 3.4 inches.

These speakers don’t hold quite as long of a charge – lasting only about 8 hours.

Yantouch EyE Portable 3-in-1 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Please notice that the word “eye” is in the title!

This one is stunning – you really need to check out the video as well.  These beautiful speakers light up when they are in use.

This is the highest quality speaker we’ve listed as well, and provides 10 hours of life.

The downside is that it may be to large for the craft we are suggesting it for – using two of these would just be two large.

That being said – we think that this would be just great in a gourd luminary.

Find other great articles here