About the Instruments

My name is Bruce White, born 1947, and I live on the Australian east coast near Newcastle. I started making stringed instruments from palm fronds in 2004. I am not a musician nor a luthier. After making a few primitive instruments, I went searching on the web thinking someone must have done this before and they might give me clues to solve some of the early problems I had. I could find nothing on the web showing instruments built from palm fronds though offline I have heard there are instruments made from palms in Vanuatu (but I cannot find them on the web).

I have a few hundred palm trees of two main types. Queen Palm also called Cocos Palm which began in Brazil and is now said to be the most widely distributed palm in the world. Queen Palm fronds and seed pods are heavy and strong and used for the back of the instruments. Bangalow Palm is a native to the east coast of Australia. Bangalow palm fronds are thin, crisp and strong and are used for the front of the instruments. There are palms similar to Bangalow in other parts of the world, especially Asia.

I have tested many construction techniques and a few have shown themselves to be reliable,meaning instruments I have built a few years ago are still going fine. I am not in the business of making instruments for general sale but I do enjoy making the occasional commission to keep my hobby going.

If you have any questions about the instruments please send a message.