Whamdiddle Unfinished Walnut Bones

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Whamdiddle Walnut Bones, Unfinished

Do-it-yourself Whamdiddle bones.

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FREE illustrated instruction pamphlet packed with each shipment: If you want more pamphlets (for example, 3 pamphlets or no pamphlets), then just enter "3 pamphlets" or "0 pamphlets" in the Order Comments text box during checkout (step #4).

Handcrafted Product: No two are exactly alike.

Thickness and length of each bone might differ slightly.

Style pictured: Classic Long (reg width).

Your item may vary from photos.

Welcome to the only store on the planet where you can get Whamdiddle bones in 3 lengths, 3 widths, and now - by popular demand: Whamdiddle Thin Bones.

Whamdiddle Length
Short: 7" (18cm)
Traditional: 7-1/2" (19cm)
Classic Long: 8" (20cm)

Whamdiddle Width
Narrow: Less than 1-1/16" (27mm), min 7/8" (22mm)
Regular: 1-1/16" to 1-1/4" (27mm to 32mm)
Wide: More than 1-1/4" (32m), max 1-3/8" (35mm)

Narrow Whamdiddle bones are usually around 1" (25mm) in width. Some pairs measure as little as 7/8" (22mm) wide. These bones are perfect for smaller hands or players who prefer narrow instruments.

Regular Whamdiddle bones are around 1-1/8" (29mm) in width. Width varies from 1-1/16" to 1-1/4" (32mm). They are great for most hand sizes.

Wide Whamdiddle bones are more than 1-1/4" (32m) in width. They feel quite bulky and are usually available by special order only.

Whamdiddle Thin Bones
These are thinner than standard Whamdiddle bones and they have a flat face. The thin flat-face design enables you to produce a remarkable dynamic tonal range.

Why shop here?

Unfinished Whamdiddle Walnut Bones
Fun do-it-yourself project - just sand and rattle away!

My first pair of wooden bones were walnut. They produced a relatively warm tone and were heavy enough to provide the kinetic force I needed to make them click with ease. The wood is pleasing to the touch and the mellow sound is perfect under many situations. An excellent choice for both new and experienced players.

Walnut wood is warm and inviting. The color varies from light grayish brown to deep chocolate brown to an almost black purplish brown. The grain is slightly open and usually straight, but can also be wavy or irregular. The texture is somewhat coarse but uniform. The surface is generally dull, but it may develop a lustrous patina after years of use.

Fine woodworkers enjoy working this chocolate colored wood that emits a pleasingly distinctive aroma.

Just Half the Price of Finished Bones
These unfinished bones are manufactured from Walnut hardwood by Rick Fogel, a master luthier with a graduate degree in Physics. His finished walnut bones sell for $15.97. So finish them yourself and save eight bucks.

Finishing Instructions

Sand with medium sandpaper (100 grit).
Sand with fine sandpaper (150 grit).
Sand with very-fine sandpaper (220 grit). (Rick scrapes them smooth in step 3 with a very sharp hunting knife instead).

Your bones are now ready to play. If you want a durable protective finish, then follow additional steps below.

Rub with commercial woodworking oil or paste wax such as Minwax, carnauba wax, beeswax, shellac, butcherblock oil, or other vegetable-based wood preparation. Follow manufacturer's directions or ask your local woodworking store for advice. Rick rubs Whamdiddle bones with marine spar varnish, lets them dry, and calls them done.
If desired, buff for high gloss finish. Use soft rag or buffing wheel with tripoli polishing compound.

Look what you get:

One pair of unfinished Whamdiddle bones
Three 2" x 5" sheets of sandpaper (medium, fine and very-fine).
Simple finishing instructions

Finishing wax, oil, varnish or other surface preparations not included.

Whamdiddle Styles

Item#	Item Name	Only	Qty	Add
110-27-CLR-U	Whamdiddle Walnut Bones, Classic Long: 8" (reg width), Unfinished	$9.97
110-27-TN-U	Whamdiddle Walnut Bones, Traditional: 7-1/2" (narrow width), Unfinished	$7.97
110-27-TR-U	Whamdiddle Walnut Bones, Traditional: 7-1/2" (reg width), Unfinished	$7.97
Check the items you wish to purchase, then click

Features:

Solid Walnut Hardwood: Excellent for musical bones.
Proven Shape: Designed by master luthier.
Quarter-sawn Lumber: Creates stable tone, won't warp or crack.
Includes Playing Instructions: Shows how to hold and play bones.
Unfinished Pre-cut, Rough Sanded Hardwood: Fun & easy do-it-yourself project.
Includes Sandpaper: Saves you a trip to the hardware store.

Technical Specs:

Figures are approximate (but pretty darn close)--

Length: Short, 7" (18cm)
Length: Traditional, 7-1/2" (19cm)
Length: Classic Long, 8" (20cm)
Width: Narrow, less than 1-1/16" (27mm), min 7/8" (22mm)
Width: Regular, 1-1/16" to 1-1/4" (27mm to 32mm)
Width: Wide, more than 1-1/4" (32m), max 1-3/8" (35mm)
Thickness: Thin, 1/4" (6.5mm)
Thickness: Regular, 3/8" (9.5mm)
Composition: Domestic walnut hardwood
Camber (arc): 28 degrees
Weight: 2 oz
Color: Chocolate brown
Specific Gravity: .59
Density: 40 pcf
Hardness: 1010 Janka
Sandpaper: Medium (100), Fine (150) and Very-fine (220)

The Inside Story...:

Handcrafted By a Master Luthier with a Graduate Degree in Physics

Whamdiddle bones are magnificent instruments. They are handcrafted from domestic and exotic hardwoods by Rick Fogel. Rick is a master luthier in Seattle, Washington who holds a master of science degree in Physics. This winning combination of top-grade material, brilliant artistry, and scientific expertise explains why Whamdiddle sound as good as they look.

Great Looks, Solid Design, Superior Tone
Take a close look at the marvelous color and fascinating wood grain of Whamdiddle bones. The standard design is less oval than minstrel style bones. The shape fits especially comfortable in your hands. But the first thing you notice when you grab a pair is their substantial heft. Even the lightweight bones feel full in your grip. Best of all, Whamdiddle bones deliver a rich full range of tones when you rattle them.

New!
Whamdiddle Thin Bones
These are thinner than standard Whamdiddle bones and they have a flat face. The thin flat-face design enables you to produce a remarkable dynamic tonal range.

Crafted From Quartersawn Lumber, the Prime Working Stock for Quality Musical Instruments
Why do Whamdiddle bones reveal spectacular grain patterns, warp less, and generate better tone? "Because," Rick explains, "they are made from quartersawn lumber."

Rick described the technique to me but it is a bit complex. So I looked up the term in a technical report from the U.S. Forest Service. They indeed confirm that quartersawn lumber "shrinks and swells less...splits less...and figure patterns and wavy grain are brought out more conspicuously." Another source reports that quartersawn wood "helps prevent warping and also provides the best vibration patterns acoustically." And yet another source tells us "quartersawn wood helps ensure that an instrument's sound remains as invariable as possible."

So yes, musical bones made from quartersawn lumber are decidedly prime quality instruments. But the ultimate test, of course, is to try them yourself.

Largest Selection of Whamdiddle Bones on the Internet
...plus those Famous Laminated Bones!
On this website is the largest selection of Whamdiddle bones on the internet. No other store offers you a larger choice of Whamdiddle bones that you can view and purchase by simply clicking a button.

Please note that each carefully matched pair is expertly hand-crafted, but no two pairs are exactly alike. (i.e. Some pairs might vary slightly from another in width and thickness.)

Where does Rick find the exotic, rare, and domestic species of wood for these gorgeous bones? "It's scrap wood left over from the dulcimers I make," he says. So if you see something you really like, get it now. Because when a species of Whamdiddle bones get sold out, they might be gone forever.

Can't Decide Which Bones to Choose?
Check out this handy guide: Bone FAQs

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