This is my entry for the #monomad challenge by 
One of the cool things working several projects at the same time is that it will come a moment when some on them reach their conclusion. Last Thursday, I finished two instruments that had been almost ready for quite some months. Once the finish work was ready, it was just a matter of making some small pieces and gluing them in place, setting tuning machines and strings.
But having these elements on the instrument doesn't mean work is done. That's when some interesting challenges might arise. Checking the tuning, misplaced frets, saddle compensation. A lot of fine work is only doable once the strings are on. It can be frustrating to do so much work and needing to do this fine tuning. I believe everything crafts has good bits and some that are not exactly boring, but not our cup of tea.
Tacking these issues is a what separates luthiers from artisans. Going over some slight definition that around here, artisan make lots of instruments during a month while the former takes months to work on just one. The difference is on the details. I think it isn't a good way to explain it, but that's the only kind is explanation given around town. It's not worth much, though. Making instruments even at that level takes some effort.
And here some close ups of these instruments which I'll present by their names.
Number 8 of the first run is known as "Ask". This is the pair of my own Venezuelan Cuatro, which is called "Embla". This is a reference to north mythology and the creations of humans. The gist is that they were carved out of wood. This one has a floral design painted on the sound board. The drawing was made by a friend who wanted to take part of this project. I mean, why not? Collaboration art is really cool! The flower and leaves change with the filters and that's an even cooler effect only achievable in black and white photography.
One of my twins number 10. For the last project of the first run I decided to make two instruments. The reason is simple. I had some help making Embla, so I wanted to make up for that. This is one of them. Both are called "ten", in different languages. I wasn't at my best creative streak with names while I was making them. But alas, the results were good. Just like Ask, that sound board is made of White Cedar (simarouba amara). They other features these instruments share and the purpleheart present on both the fretboards and bridges.
The other twin is "Dis". This one has a Gmelina arborea sound board. And like the previous one displays a beautiful flamed pattern on its back. That's local Cedar (cedrela odorata). Unlike the Ju, this one has 17 frets. Ju only have 15. That just means there are more notes. However, both instruments are in the White Series category, i.e. they are basic tier. I just went a bit fancy on the fretboards and bridges.
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