How to build a Vetzal Bandura

I spent a week in September 2022 with Bill Vetzal documenting his Ukrainian bandura build process. This video focuses on his fiberglass banduras, but gives explanations for what adjustments would be needed for a wooden model.
wikibandura.com/

[@SuperMuzeum]

Як приємно, що Ви продовжуєте справу великих майстрів українського походження Гончаренка, Вецала - майстрів виготовлення музичних інструментів.Це така складна, майже ювелірна робота з деревом а у вас з пластиком. Велике захоплення Вами, і Вашою відданістю корінням вашого роду! Браво! Продовжуйте цю шляхетну справу!

[@MaryJ-M]

Thank you for sharing this amazing process - such a labor of love!

[@user-mi5nj8gj5p]

Dan I was taught by Vasyl Hlad from Gloucester in the 1990s he was helpful but very secretive he gave me plans but not the crossections for thickness of back and sound board . He also used soundposts which he never showed me . Bill Vetzal helped me and sent a manual for Bandura making and it was written by Sklar Ukraine. Ive made 3 bandura the first one was wrong shape and the second was too weak and my third one taking my time unfortunately its a long process to understand and also wood is expensive in UK .The quick change mechanism I do not like because it kinks the string and under tension can snap while playing so my instruments will be chromatic . Dan its nice KZbin clip could you give my regards to Bill Vetzal .

[@DanyloCentore0]

Hi Roman, I would be very interested in connecting with you and asking some questions about Hlad and getting scans of the plans he did give you! I'd be happy to trade any resources and knowledge I've gained. I built my first instrument last year and it plays well, currently working on my second. I actually own a Hlad bandura and have photographed the inside to use for reference as well. My email is [e-mail]

[@user-mi5nj8gj5p]

@@DanyloCentore0 Thanks for replying I only have top plans that I transferred onto a aluminium sheet profile with holes for string attachment over a bridge and in the next few months I'm preparing myself to do this full-time so I need to build a shed and various machines like a bandsaw and planer and extra sash clamps and g clamps so that I'm able to glue all the wood in one go , I'm going for a laminated frame being two one inch thick and glue it together and cut the middle carefully so using old newspapers so that the two frames are not glued together accidentally. This way I will be able to make two banduras a month so 24 instruments a year these Bandura makers only make limited numbers a carving machine by Gemini I've seen costs over 9000 dollars and it's from New York. The wood is a problem one luthiers supply shop doesn't store meter length by 8 inches wide by 1 inch thickness so if I find a timberyard I would have to order in bulk . Dan the fibreglass Bandura that you made has one weakness it can shatter without warning when in continued tension so there is that to see . When I made my soundboard I used guitar tops but at 6mm thickness I thought it is too weak I've seen a KZbin clip of Honcharenko brothers with their sound boards of creeping during long tension you can see buckling of the board so I'm thinking using 8mm thickness instead of 6mm with these instruments it is a long time to get it right . Hlad himself confessed to me it took 10 years to get right his instruments are sort after .

[@DanyloCentore0]

@@user-mi5nj8gj5p I am building mine from wood using a CNC machine for the carving. I do not plan on making any more from fiberglass. You can follow my progress here: instagram.com/centore_bandura Wood from the store is far too expensive for this, I have been purchasing maple slabs from a sawmill a few hours from me

[@user-mi5nj8gj5p]

@@DanyloCentore0 Unfortunately I'm not on Instagram but if you could transfer it onto KZbin that will be helpful just take your time over it , do not rush things try making it enjoyable experience but I warn you if you have a wife or girlfriend seeing a man spending his time more in a shed than the loved one can come to arguments my first wife being Ukrainian was not too pleasant so I'm telling you this . Nevermind which Hlad Bandura do you have because the plans I've got is for a 36 string instrument,Hlad did make a 65 string instrument but as I said he was secretive about it. I think he only made 3 of those 1 was kept by the family but I think today's market it will be expensive and rare .

[@user-mi5nj8gj5p]

@@DanyloCentore0 Dan a good tip Hlad showed me when drying his maple blocks he used to glue newspaper across the ends of the wood to prevent it splitting and keeping the wood 0.15m away from the radiator and he seasoned his wood during winter time .

[@samlamingluthier]

Thank you so much for sharing. I don't think the Mechanism Banduras are lighter however with all the extra metal work... But again, thank you so much for this video!

[@DanyloCentore0]

Some sample weights of instruments I own: 8.7 lb - Hlad Diatonic Poltavka with mechanism 12.4 lb - Kyiv factory instrument, no mechanism 15.4 lb - Kyiv factory instrument with mechanism That being said, lighter Kyiv instruments have been built (though they almost always experience soundboard collapses within a decade) and heavier Kharkiv instruments have been built too

[@samlamingluthier]

@@DanyloCentore0 but that is highly likely the thickness of the back causing such, not the mechanism, as adding a mechanism is only adding weight/there's no subtraction from such? Unless I missed something.

[@DanyloCentore0]

@@samlamingluthier well yes, that's exactly my point. The only time I mentioned weight in the video was to say that instruments with fewer strings were typically lighter because they needed less bracing. The additional bracing in Kyiv banduras almost always weighs more than the mechanism on a Kharkiv bandura.

[@SamLamingWingsuit]

@@DanyloCentore0 interesting, that you Danylo.

[@ricktorzynski1794]

Thank you for sharing the history and constuction techniques. Do you have any plans or measurements available?

[@DanyloCentore0]

Not for Vetzal's designs, but I have digitized the Honcharenko plans at wikibandura.com/wiki/Poltavka

[@DanyloCentore0]

Vetzal's banduras are based on the Honcharenko designs so the measurements will be very similar. The main differences are that Vetzal used a wider neck without a double scroll, he included chromatic bass strings, and his internal bracing was completely different