Abstract:
Novel apparatus and methods for making acoustic musical instruments from gourds and the musical instruments made therefrom are described. The invention teaches molds for shaping and molding immature gourds as they grow for the specific purpose of using the molded gourds, of portions of them, in the construction of the musical instrument&#39;s resonant cavity. The method of the invention produces musical instruments, particularly stringed musical instruments, from a gourd that has been molded while growing. The present invention also describes the stringed musical instrument, such as ukuleles, guitars, or violins, that result from using said described apparatus and methods.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention describes methods and apparatus for making acoustic musical instruments, including, but not limited to, ukulele, guitar, violins, and banjos, from gourds. More particularly, this invention teaches methods and molds for molding gourds to be used as sound boxes in acoustic musical instruments and the musical instruments that are made therefrom. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Prior Art 
         [0003]    Gourds, also known as hard shell gourds [Cucurbitaceae of the genera  Lagenaria  and  Cucurbita ], have been traditionally used in many cultures in the world. Immature gourds are used as an ingredient of many cultural dishes. In addition, various uses for the mature gourds also exist. Uses for cleaned, dried, and hollowed gourds include making bird feeders, decorative hats, bowls, or for food and water storage, known as calabash or water gourds. 
         [0004]    In the Hawaiian culture, the gourd is used, among other ways, to make percussion instruments known as the ipu-heke and the uli-uli. These instruments are often used for chanting and dancing in festivals and celebrations. Both of these musical instruments are made by cutting at least one mature gourd off at the neck and hollowing the gourd out. 
         [0005]    The ipu-heke is a double-chambered percussion instrument made with two of these hollowed gourds attached by the necks with a hole cut in the top gourd which allows the sound to escape. The uli-uli is a traditional Hawaiian rattle, made by inserting seeds or beads into hollowed-out gourd, which is then covered with a feather cap that prohibits the seeds from escaping. While gourds are used to make these musical instruments, the shapes of the instruments are dictated by the shape of the mature gourd. 
         [0006]    The ukulele is a small guitar-like stringed musical instrument that is associated with the Hawaiian culture. Ukuleles are commonly made of hard-woods such as koa, maple, mango, or pine. An example of a ukulele created using Hawaiian-hardwood and coconut shells is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,931 to Baker. 
         [0007]    One disadvantage of manufacturing ukuleles from hard-woods is that hard-woods are difficult to shape, texture, and form. Because mature gourds do not naturally take the shape of a ukulele, much less a violin or guitar, ukuleles are not made out of gourds. Ukuleles can also be made from plastic materials, but the use of plastics is attached with a stigma of using an unnatural material made from petroleum. The sound quality of the instruments may also suffer by using plastic materials. The present invention teaches a method for making stringed musical instruments out of gourds, a renewable material which is easy to shape, texture, and form. 
         [0008]    French Patent No. 2625361 to Beltan details methods for manufacturing stringed musical instruments from gourds. However, similar to the ipu-heke and uli-uli, Beltan illustrates that when the resonating box is made from the gourd material, the shape of the instrument is dictated by the shape of the gourd used. Hence, musical instruments made using this method have a rounded gourd shape, making the instrument difficult to hold against the user&#39;s body. The gourd shape, which varies from plant to plant, determines the quality of the sound emanating from the instrument so made, rendering it impossible to achieve instruments offering consistent tonal qualities. 
         [0009]    Methods and apparatus for molding gourds during growth have been described for purposes other than the fabrication of musical instruments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,096,507 to Czeszczicski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,639 to Ono, and Japan Pat. No. 1252230 to Aoyama, disclose methods and apparatuses for shaping immature gourds or fruits during growth for decorative purposes, and to facilitate fruit storage. The apparatus disclosed include two-part removable molds that rigidly enclose the growing fruit to produce decorative details on the fruit surface. Because these methods rigidly enclose the growing fruit, they do not allow overgrowth, requiring that the methods and apparatus be carefully watched as the fruit grows and fills the mold. Otherwise, compression damage to the fruit surface will result, or the fruit will rot if allowed to grow in the mold after the fruit fills the mold and begins to press the mold surface outwardly. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,666 to Tweddell attempts to address the overgrowth problem by teaching molds made from flexible materials that allow the mold to expand outwardly by bulging if the fruit is left in the mold after it has filled the mold cavity. Because the entire mold expands as the fruit grows, the size of resulting molded fruit will vary depending on how long the fruit is allowed to grow after it begins to press against the mold surface. 
         [0011]    The prior art fails to offer a method of making acoustic instruments from gourds shaped in a manner conducive to sound boxes or resonating cavities, and that all for the fabrication of musical instruments that are comfortable to hold, easy to play, and produce tones that are of high quality and reproducible. 
         [0012]    2. Objects and Advantages 
         [0013]    The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing stringed musical instruments made from gourds that are molded during growth to a desired shape and size. Being able to mold gourds to any desired shape has several advantages. These advantages include having more flexibility to select and specify gourd shapes that, when used as a sound box in an acoustic instrument, produce better and more reproducible sound, tone, or quality, are aesthetically pleasing, and facilitate easier handling in a user&#39;s arms while the musical instrument is played. 
         [0014]    The present invention also describes apparatus that provide a solution to the overgrowth problem when molding gourds during growth while still allowing those portions of the gourd within the mold to maintain a uniform size and shape. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, among the several objects and advantages of the present invention are: to provide a novel method for creating musical instruments from hard shell gourds; to provide new apparatus for shaping and molding immature gourds to be suitable for use as sound boxes in acoustic musical instruments; to provide a new acoustic musical instrument made of gourd having a molded flat back; to provide a new acoustic musical instrument with a superior tone and quality; to provide a new acoustic musical instrument that is aesthetically pleasing. Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0016]    This invention describes apparatus and methods for making acoustic musical instruments from gourds that have been molded during growth. 
         [0017]    One aspect of the present invention is a method of molding gourds during growth in order to shape the gourds to be suitable for use as resonant cavities or sound boxes in acoustic musical instruments. 
         [0018]    A second aspect of the present invention is apparatus, molds or forms, useful for molding gourds during growth such that the mature gourds are correctly shaped for use as resonant cavities or sound boxes in acoustic musical instruments. 
         [0019]    A third aspect of the subject invention is acoustic musical instruments wherein the resonant cavity or sound box of the instrument is made in whole or in part from gourds that exhibit specialized shapes due to molding during growth. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the proposed method for making musical instruments from a gourd molded during growth. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an example of a mature water gourd cut in half horizontally. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a three-part mold of the subject invention containing an immature gourd. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the middle section of the mold in  FIG. 3A  containing a mature gourd prior to harvesting. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the molded gourd after being harvested from the mold depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of molded gourd depicted  FIG. 3C  after being finished for incorporation into an acoustic musical instrument. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-section side view of the three part mold with immature gourd depicted in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-section side view of the three part mold with mature gourd. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4C  is a cross-section side view of the three part mold with mature gourd demonstrating overgrowth. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4D  is a side view of the mature gourd with overgrowth shown in  FIG. 4C  after harvesting and removal from the mold. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 4E through 4G  are perspective views of the different pieces of the molded gourd depicted in  FIG. 4D  after the finishing for incorporation into an acoustic musical instrument. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 5A through 5C  are cross-section side views of an alternative embodiment two-part mold with gourd illustrating the growing steps of the method of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of the resultant finished molded gourd harvested and removed from the mold depicted in  FIGS. 5B and 5C . 
           [0034]      FIG. 5E  is a perspective view of the molded gourd piece depicted in  FIG. 5D  with top portion removed and finished for incorporation into an acoustic instrument. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  shows in exploded perspective view a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention comprising a four-part mold. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment two-part mold shown in  FIG. 5A  thorough  5 C with immature gourd shown within. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 8A through 8C  are top views illustrating three embodiments of mold presses that can be used during the drying portion of the finishing step. 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  depicts alternative shapes of the inner cavity of the mold from the top. 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the stringed musical instrument constructed from the finished molded gourd depicted in  FIG. 3D . 
           [0040]      FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the stringed musical instrument of  FIG. 10A  taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10  wherein the instrument sound box is constructed from a single piece of molded gourd. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the stringed musical instrument of  FIG. 10A  taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10  wherein the instrument sound box is comprised of three pieces at least one of which is molded gourd. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11C  is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the stringed musical instrument of  FIG. 10A  taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10  wherein the instrument sound box is comprised of two pieces at least one of which is molded gourd. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   10 
                   Growing Step 
                 
                 
                     
                   12 
                   Mature Gourd 
                 
                 
                     
                   14 
                   Woody Exterior 
                 
                 
                     
                   16 
                   Fleshy Pulp Interior 
                 
                 
                     
                   18 
                   Gourd Plant 
                 
                 
                     
                   20 
                   Immature Gourd 
                 
                 
                     
                   22 
                   Mold Cavity 
                 
                 
                     
                   24 
                   Mold 
                 
                 
                     
                   24a 
                   First Mold Part 
                 
                 
                     
                   24b 
                   Second Mold Part 
                 
                 
                     
                   24c 
                   Third Mold Part 
                 
                 
                     
                   24d 
                   Fourth Mold Part 
                 
                 
                     
                   26 
                   First Mold Side 
                 
                 
                     
                   28 
                   Second Mold Side 
                 
                 
                     
                   30 
                   Excess Growth 
                 
                 
                     
                   32 
                   First Molding Panel 
                 
                 
                     
                   34 
                   Second Molding Panel 
                 
                 
                     
                   35 
                   Elastic Material 
                 
                 
                     
                   36 
                   Molded Gourd 
                 
                 
                     
                   38 
                   Open Conduit 
                 
                 
                     
                   39 
                   Stem 
                 
                 
                     
                   40 
                   Harvesting Step 
                 
                 
                     
                   42 
                   Hole 
                 
                 
                     
                   44a 
                   First Cut Line 
                 
                 
                     
                   44b 
                   Second Cut Line 
                 
                 
                     
                   44c 
                   Third Cut Line 
                 
                 
                     
                   44d 
                   Fourth Cut Line 
                 
                 
                     
                   46a 
                   First Flat Surface 
                 
                 
                     
                   46b 
                   Second Flat Surface 
                 
                 
                     
                   46c 
                   Curved Surface 
                 
                 
                     
                   48a 
                   Top Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   48b 
                   Middle Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   48c 
                   Bottom Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   50 
                   Finishing Step 
                 
                 
                     
                   52 
                   Mold Press 
                 
                 
                     
                   54 
                   Desired Shape 
                 
                 
                     
                   56 
                   Outer Mold 
                 
                 
                     
                   56a 
                   Left outer mold piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   56b 
                   Right outer mold piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   58 
                   Outer mold cavity 
                 
                 
                     
                   60 
                   Clamps 
                 
                 
                     
                   60a 
                   First Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   60b 
                   Second Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   60c 
                   Third Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   60d 
                   Fourth Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   60e 
                   Fifth Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   60f 
                   Sixth Clamp 
                 
                 
                     
                   62 
                   Inside mold section 
                 
                 
                     
                   62a 
                   Left Inside mold section 
                 
                 
                     
                   62b 
                   Right Inside mold section 
                 
                 
                     
                   64 
                   Desired Finish 
                 
                 
                     
                   67 
                   Finished Molded Gourd 
                 
                 
                     
                   67a 
                   Finished Top Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   67b 
                   Finished Middle Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   67c 
                   Finished Bottom Molded Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   67c′ 
                   Alternative Finished Bottom Molded 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                   Gourd Piece 
                 
                 
                     
                   68a 
                   First Edge 
                 
                 
                     
                   68b 
                   Second Edge 
                 
                 
                     
                   69 
                   Spreader 
                 
                 
                     
                   69a 
                   First Spreader 
                 
                 
                     
                   69b 
                   Second Spreader 
                 
                 
                     
                   69c 
                   Third Spreader 
                 
                 
                     
                   69d 
                   Fourth Spreader 
                 
                 
                     
                   70 
                   Constructing Step 
                 
                 
                     
                   72 
                   Acoustic Musical Instrument 
                 
                 
                     
                   74 
                   Resonant Cavity 
                 
                 
                     
                   75 
                   Neck 
                 
                 
                     
                   76 
                   Bridge 
                 
                 
                     
                   78 
                   Strings 
                 
                 
                     
                   80 
                   Tuning Nuts 
                 
                 
                     
                   81 
                   Line 
                 
                 
                     
                   82 
                   Aperture 
                 
                 
                     
                   84 
                   Texture 
                 
                 
                     
                   86 
                   Logo 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    The present invention is described below referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding elements throughout. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description relating thereto are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to the particular form or embodiment disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       Method for Molding Gourds During Growth for Use 
       [0044]    One aspect of the present invention is a method for molding gourds during growth in order to make the gourd suitable for use as a resonant cavity of an acoustic musical instrument. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a flow chart of the method for making musical instruments is presented in five steps: a growing step  10 , a harvesting step  40 , a finishing step  50 , and a constructing step  70 . Each of these steps is further explained below. 
       Growing Step 
       [0045]    The first step of the present invention is growing step  10 . Growing step  10  begins with selecting the appropriate variety of a gourd plant  18 , which will produce a mature gourd  12 . In general, plants in the gourd family produce mature gourds that have a woody exterior  14  and a fleshy pulp interior  16 . Mature gourd  12  can be cut open, hollowed of fleshy pulp interior  16 , and dried to leave woody exterior  14  measuring from about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch in thickness. When mature, the gourds of the different gourd varieties are available in a variety of sizes and shapes.  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of gourd plant  18  with mature gourd  12  that has been cut in half to show its woody exterior  14  and its fleshy pulp interior  16 . 
         [0046]    When selecting the appropriate variety of gourd plant  18 , the anticipated mature gourd&#39;s size and shape must be matched with the intended use. For example, when making a tenor ukulele, a gourd variety that produces round mature gourd  12  with a volume and surface area larger than the expected body or the resonant cavity  74  of the ukulele should be selected. 
         [0047]    Once the variety of gourd plant  18  is selected, gourd plant  18  is grown until an immature gourd  20  is produced.  FIGS. 3A through 3B  and  4 A through  4 C illustrate the progression of growing step  10  using one preferred embodiment of a mold  24  of the present invention.  FIGS. 5A through 5C  illustrate the progression of growing step  10  using another preferred embodiment of mold  24  of the present invention. 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  4 A,  5 A, and  7 , gourd plant  18  is grown until immature gourd  20  is produced. Prior to reaching full maturity, immature gourd  20  is inserted into a mold cavity  22  of mold  24 . Immature gourd  20  should be inserted when it is smaller than mold cavity  22  so that immature gourd  20  is not damaged during its introduction into mold cavity  22 . 
         [0049]    After immature gourd  20  is inserted into mold cavity  22 , immature gourd  20  is allowed to continue to grow in mold cavity  22 . As immature gourd  20  grows, immature gourd  20  fills and conforms to the shape of mold cavity  22 .  FIGS. 3B ,  4 B, and  5 B depict a molded gourd  36  of gourd plant  18  that has grown to fill and conform to the shape of mold cavity  22 . 
         [0050]    After immature gourd  20  fills and conforms to the shape of mold cavity  22 , molded gourd  36  can be harvested immediately using harvesting step  40 . Alternatively, molded gourd  36  can remain in mold  24  and be allowed to continue to grow on gourd plant  18  before harvesting. As shown in  FIGS. 4C and 5C , if molded gourd  36  is left in mold  24  and allowed to continue to grow on gourd plant  18  after it fills and conforms to mold cavity  22 , an excess growth  30  of molded gourd  36  will push outwardly from mold  24 . Excess growth  30  of molded gourd  36  is shown in  FIGS. 4C and 5C . 
         [0051]    At any time after immature gourd  20  is placed in mold  24  and prior to harvesting step  40 , one or more optional molding panels can be arranged to cover mold cavity  22  such that the molding panels will further mold and conform the portions of immature gourd  20  that comes into contact with the molding panel. A first molding panel  32  and a second molding panel  34  are shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C, and  6 .  FIGS. 5A  thorough  5 C and  7  illustrate embodiments where only first molding panel  32  is present. 
       Harvesting Step 
       [0052]    During harvesting step  40 , molded gourd  36  is cut from gourd plant  18 , removed from mold  24 . Next, molded gourd  36 , or a section thereof, is hollowed of its fleshy pulp interior  16 . In harvesting step  40 , a hole  42  can be cut in molded gourd  36  and fleshy pulp interior  16  is removed from the inside of molded gourd  36  through hole  42 . Alternatively, molded gourd  36  can be cut into one or more pieces and fleshy pulp interior  16  is removed from each of the pieces. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 3C ,  4 D and  5 D are examples of three molded gourds  36  that have been harvested by cutting from gourd plant  18  and removing from mold  24 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , molded gourd  36  has three surfaces—a first flat surface  46   a  and a second flat surface  46   b,  and a curved surface  46   c.  In this embodiment, during the harvesting step, hole  42  would be cut on first flat surface  46   a  and fleshy pulp interior  16  is removed from molded gourd  36  through hole  42  until only woody exterior  14  remains. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 4D , four cuts are made into molded gourd  36  and three of the pieces are isolated—a top molded gourd piece  48   a,  a middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  and a bottom molded gourd piece  48   c.  Top molded gourd piece  48   a  is formed by cutting molded gourd  36  along a first cut line  44   a,  middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is formed by cutting molded gourd  36  along a second cut line  44   b  and a third cut line  44   c,  and bottom molded gourd piece  48   c  is formed by cutting molded gourd  36  along a fourth cut line  44   d.  Any portion of molded gourd  36  between first and second cut lines  44   a  and  44   b  is discarded, and any portion of molded gourd  36  between third and fourth cut lines  44   c  and  44   d  is discarded. Fleshy pulp interior  16  attached to top molded gourd piece  48   a,  middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  or bottom molded gourd piece  48   c  is removed until only woody exterior  14  remains. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 5D , in this alternate embodiment, two sections of molded gourd  36  are isolated—top molded gourd piece  48   a  and bottom molded gourd piece  48   c.  Top molded gourd piece  48   a  is formed by cutting molded gourd  36  along first cut line  44   a,  and a bottom molded gourd piece  48   c  is formed by cutting molded gourd  36  along second cut line  44   b.  Any portion of the molded gourd  36  between first and second cut lines  44   a  and  44   b  is discarded. Fleshy pulp interior  16  that is attached to the top molded gourd piece  48   a  and bottom molded gourd piece  48   c  is removed until only woody exterior  14  remains. 
       Finishing Step 
       [0057]    During Finishing step  50 , molded gourd  36  or one or more of the molded gourd pieces is further dried and shaped. 
         [0058]    During the drying portion of finishing step  50 , heat can be applied to molded gourd  36  or the molded gourd pieces to further remove moisture and water content from the gourd material. While drying, molded gourd pieces can be placed into a mold press  52  so that the harvested molded gourd or the harvested molded gourd pieces maintain a desired shape  54 . The harvested molded gourd or molded gourd pieces can be removed from mold press  52  once fully dried. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 8A through 8C  illustrate three examples of mold presses that can be used to dry middle molded gourd piece  48   b  during the drying portion of finishing step  50 .  FIG. 8A  illustrates mold press  52 , which is configured to shape the outside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  and comprises an outer mold  56  containing an outer mold cavity  58 . Outer mold cavity  58  is configured to have desired shape  54  such that the outside wall of the middle molded gourd piece  48   b  engages the surface of outer mold cavity  58 . Middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is secured to outer mold  56  using multiple clamps. In mold press  52  illustrated in  FIG. 8A , middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is fastened to outer mold cavity  58  using six clamps  66   a,    66   b,    66   c ,  66   d,    66   e,  and  66   f.    
         [0060]    In  FIG. 8B , mold press  52  comprises outer mold  56  containing outer mold cavity  58 , a left interior mold section  62   a,  a right interior mold section  62   b,  and four spacers labeled  69   a ,  69   b,    69   c,  and  69   d.  Left interior mold piece section  62   a  is configured to shape the left inside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  the right interior mold piece section  62   b  is configured to shape the right inside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  and outer mold cavity  58  is configured shape the outside wall of the middle molded gourd piece  48   b  with desired shape  54 . Middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is fitted inside outer mold cavity  58  and left and right interior mold sections  62   a  and  62   b  are placed inside middle molded gourd piece  48   b.  Expandable bolts  69   a,    69   b,    69   c,  and  69   d  are placed between left and right interior mold sections  62   a  and  62   b . Left and right interior mold sections  62   a  and  62   b  are configured such that when expandable bolts  69   a,    69   b,    69   c,  and  69   d,  are expanded, middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is sandwiched between outer mold cavity  58  and left and right interior mold sections  62   a  and  62   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 8B . 
         [0061]    Referring  FIG. 8C , mold press  52  comprises a left outer mold section  56   a,  a right outer mold section  56   b,  an inside mold section  62 , and two clamps,  60   a  and  60   b.  Inside mold section  62  is configured to shape the inside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b  to a desired shape  54 , left outer mold section  56   a  is configured to shape the left outside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  and right outer mold section  56   b  is configured to shape the right outside wall of middle molded gourd piece  48   b.  Inside mold section  62  is positioned inside middle molded gourd piece  48   b  and left and right outer mold sections  56   a  and  56   b  are positioned on the outside of middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  such that middle molded gourd piece  48   b  is sandwiched between the inside mold section  62  and the left and right outer mold sections  56   a  and  56   b.  Left and right outer mold sections  56   a  and  56   b,  middle molded gourd piece  48   b,  and inside mold section  62  are held in place by first and second clamps  60   a  and  60   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 8C . 
         [0062]    During the shaping portion of the finishing step  50 , molded gourd  36  or the molded gourd pieces are further shaped. Molded gourd  36  or the molded gourd pieces can be scraped, sanded, buffed, and polished. Paint, varnish, stain, clear coat, or any desired finish  64  may be applied to the surface of any molded gourd  36  or molded gourd pieces. 
         [0063]      FIG. 3D  illustrates a finished molded gourd  67  with hole  42  that has undergone finishing step  50 . 
         [0064]    Referring to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4D , top and bottom molded gourd pieces  48   a  and  48   c  would be cut, shaped and sanded to be attached to the periphery of middle molded gourd piece  48   b.  Hole  42  would be cut in the upper center of top molded gourd piece  48   a.  For this embodiment, an example of the finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  with hole  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 4E , an example of the finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  is illustrated in  FIG. 4F , and an example of the finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c  is illustrated in  FIG. 4G . Finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  is defined by a first edge  68   a  and a second edge  68   b , which is opposite first edge  68   a.    
         [0065]    Referring to the embodiment of a molded mature gourd shown in  FIG. 5D , top molded gourd piece  48   a  would be further cut, shaped, and sanded to be attached to the periphery of bottom molded piece  48   c.  Hole  42  would also be cut in the upper center of top molded gourd piece  48   a.  For this embodiment, an example of finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  with hole  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 4E  and an example of the alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ is illustrated in  FIG. 5E . Alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ has a first edge  68   a.    
         [0066]    At any time during finishing step  50  prior to the application of desired finish  64 , water may be reapplied to molded gourd  36  or to one or more of the molded gourd pieces to make them more pliable and easier to work with. The wet hollowed molded gourd  36  or molded gourd pieces can then be dried using the drying process described above. 
       Constructing Step 
       [0067]    In constructing step  70 , an acoustic musical instrument  72 , examples of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , is assembled. Referring to  FIG. 10 , acoustic musical instrument  72  comprising parts traditional to the construction of an acoustic musical instrument  72 , such as a neck  75 , a bridge  76 , strings  78 , tuning nuts  80 , an aperture  82  and resonant cavity  74 , which is made using finished molded gourd  67  or the finished molded gourd pieces. Acoustic musical instrument  72  can be further sanded, painted, varnished, or stained as desired. 
         [0068]    The present invention anticipates that resonant cavity  74  can be made using finished molded gourd  67  with hole  42 , illustrated in  FIG. 3D , or from at least one or more of the following pieces—finished top molded gourd piece  67   a,  finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b,  finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c,  or alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′. Those portions of resonant cavity  74  that are not made from finished molded gourd  67 , finished top molded gourd piece  67   a,  finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b,  finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c,  or alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ can be made of other materials such as hard woods, such as koa, milo wood, or monkeypod. 
         [0069]      FIG. 11A  is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72  of the present invention taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, finished molded gourd  67  with hole  42 , illustrated in  FIG. 3D , is used as resonant cavity  74 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 11B  is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of acoustic instrument  72  of the present invention taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10 . According to this embodiment, resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is assembled using finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  illustrated in  FIG. 4E , finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  with first edge  68   a  and second edge  68   b  illustrated in  FIG. 4F , and finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c  illustrated in  FIG. 4G . The periphery of finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  is attached to first edge  68   a  of finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  and the periphery of finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c  is connected to second edge  68   b  of finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b.  Hole  42  becomes aperture  82  for the acoustic musical instrument  72 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 11C  is a cross sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of acoustic instrument  72  of the present invention taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is assembled using finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  with hole  42  illustrated in  FIG. 4E  and alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ illustrated in  FIG. 5E . Finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  and alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ are attached at their periphery edges. Hole  42  becomes aperture  86  for the acoustic musical instrument  72 . 
       Molds or Forms Useful for Molding Gourds During Growth 
       [0072]    A further aspect of the present invention are apparatus for molding gourds during growth to render the gourds suitable for use as resonant cavities of an acoustic musical instrument, to with molds or forms. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the most basic embodiment of the mold useful for molding gourds during growth of the present invention, comprises mold  24  which houses mold cavity  22 . Mold  24  is made with a rigid, inflexible material that can withstand the outward force of growing immature gourd  20 . Some examples of possible mold materials are concrete, steel, plastic, wood, clay, or ceramic. 
         [0073]    Mold cavity  22  can demonstrate various shapes and sizes including, but not limited to the shapes of a peanut, rectangle, heart, tear drop, or even pineapple.  FIG. 9  illustrates some of the alternative shape configurations for mold cavity  22 . 
         [0074]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3A through 3B  and  4 A through  4 C, mold cavity  22  extends through mold  24  from a first mold side  26  to a second mold side  28 , on the opposite side of mold  24 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5A through 5C , mold cavity  22  is centered on first mold side  26  but does not extend through mold  24  to second mold side  28 . 
         [0075]    Optional outside molding panels can be placed adjacent to the first and second mold sides  26  and  28 .  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A through  4 C, and  6  illustrate embodiments of the mold  24  with outside molding panels. First molding panel  32  is placed adjacent to first mold side  26  and second molding panel  34  is placed adjacent to second mold side  28 .  FIGS. 5A through 5C  and  7  illustrate embodiments of mold  24  wherein mold  24  comprises continuous sides and a bottom, requiring only first molding panel  32 . According to this embodiment, first molding panel  32  is placed adjacent to first mold side  26 . 
         [0076]    Referring again to  FIGS. 4A through 4C , immature gourd  20  is placed in mold cavity  22  and allowed to grow. As immature gourd  20  grows, immature gourd  20  fills mold cavity  22  and the excess growth pushes out of mold  24 . The outward force of the excess growth pushes first and second molding panels  32  and  34  away from mold  24 , such that that excess growth  30  grows between mold  24  and first molding panel  32  and between mold  24  and second molding panel  34 . The surface of excess growth  30  that comes into contact with the first and second molding panels  32  and  34  are further molded to conform to the surface of first and second molding panels  32  and  34 . 
         [0077]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , immature gourd  20  has grown to fully fill and conform to mold cavity  22  and excess growth  30  has grown between mold  24  and first molding panel  32  and between mold  24  and second molding panel  34 . The surface of excess growth  30  that has come in contact with first and second molding panels  32  and  34  has further conformed to the surface of these panels, such that molded gourd  36  has two flat sides, as illustrated in  FIG. 4D . 
         [0078]    As seen in  FIG. 5C , immature gourd  20  has filled mold cavity  22  and excess growth  30  of immature gourd  20  has pushed first molding panel  32  away from mold  24 . Excess growth  30  has grown between mold  24  and first molding panel  32 . The surface of excess growth  30  that has come in contact with first molding panel  32  has further conformed to the surface of first molding panel  32  such that molded gourd  36  has one flat side, as illustrated in  FIG. 5D . 
         [0079]    First molding panel  32  and/or second molding panel  34  can also be fastened to mold  24  with an elastic material  35 . However, first and/or second molding panels  32  and  34  should not be tied so tightly to mold  24  that top molding panel  32  is restricted from moving away from mold  24 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates elastic material  35  being used to fasten top molding panel  32  and bottom molding panel  34  to mold  24 . 
         [0080]    To make removal of molded gourd  36  from mold  24  easier, mold  24  may consist of multiple parts that when combined create the desired mold  24  and mold cavity  22 .  FIG. 6  depicts an example of mold  24  comprising four mold parts— 24   a,    24   b,    24   c,  and  24   d.    
         [0081]    An open conduit  38  to accommodate stem  39  of gourd  36  can also be added to mold  24  as seen in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  6 , or to the first molding plate as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0082]    The surface of mold cavity  22 , first molding panel  32 , or second molding panel  34  can be decorated with a desired pattern or texture  84  or with a desired graphic image or logo  86 . For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the inside surface of first molding panel  32  is engraved to demonstrate a texture  84  with hatched pattern and the inside surface of second molding panel  34  is engraved or embossed to demonstrate logo  86  in the shape of a fern leaf.  FIG. 6  also shows the image of logo  86  imprinted onto immature gourd  20 .  FIG. 11B  also shows the mirror image of logo  86  onto finished molded gourd  67 . 
       The Acoustic Musical Instrument 
       [0083]    Another aspect of the present invention is acoustic musical instruments  72 , in which some or all portions of the resonant cavity of acoustic musical instrument  72  is made from molded gourd  36 . In each embodiment, traditional parts of an acoustic musical instrument, including neck  75 , aperture  82 , strings  78 , bridge  76 , and tuning nuts  80  are added to complete acoustic musical instrument  72 . 
         [0084]    Any portions of resonant cavity  74  that are made from molded gourd  36  can be molded to have a specific texture  84  or to have a graphic image or logo  86 . 
         [0085]      FIGS. 10 through 12  depict three specific embodiments of acoustic musical instrument  72  of the present invention. 
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0086]    One preferred embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72  of the present invention is a ukulele illustrated in  FIGS. 10  (perspective view) and  11 A (cross sectional view). As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , which is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72  of  FIG. 10  taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10 , resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is made from a single molded gourd  36  that encloses a hollow resonant cavity  74 . 
         [0087]    Molded gourd  36  can be formed to have various shapes and sizes using the methods for molding gourds described above. In the case of  FIG. 10A , molded gourd  36  was shaped to have double-lobed, peanut-shaped planar top and bottom. Aperture  82  is centrally located on the top surface of molded gourd  36 . 
       EXAMPLE 2 
       [0088]    A cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72  of  FIG. 10  taken along line  81  of  FIG. 10  is illustrated in  FIG. 11B . In this embodiment, resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is assembled using finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  illustrated in  FIG. 4E , finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  with first edge  68   a  and second edge  68   b  illustrated in  FIG. 4F , and finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c  illustrated in  FIG. 4G . The periphery of finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  is connected to first edge  68   a  of finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b  and the periphery of finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c  is connected to second edge  68   b  of finished middle molded gourd piece  67   b.  Hole  42  becomes aperture  82  for acoustic musical instrument  72 . 
       EXAMPLE 3 
       [0089]      FIG. 11C  illustrates the cross section of  10  along line  81  of  FIG. 10  of a third embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72 . In this embodiment, resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is assembled using finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  with hole  42  illustrated in  FIG. 4E  and alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ illustrated in  FIG. 5E . The periphery of finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  is attached to first edge  68   a  of alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′. Hole  42  becomes aperture  86  for acoustic musical instrument  72 . 
       EXAMPLE 4 
       [0090]    An additional embodiment of acoustic musical instrument  72  of the present invention is a pineapple shaped ukulele illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In this embodiment, resonant cavity  74  of acoustic musical instrument  72  is assembled using finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  with hole  42  illustrated in  FIG. 4E  and alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ illustrated in  FIG. 5E . The periphery of finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  is attached to first edge  68   a  of alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′. Hole  42  becomes aperture  82  for acoustic musical instrument  72 . In this embodiment, finished top molded gourd piece  67   a  has been molded to have a pineapple-shaped planar surface and logo  86 . The alternative finished bottom molded gourd piece  67   c ′ was molded to have a rounded shape with texture  84  of a pineapple. 
         [0091]    Although the examples and embodiments described above take the form of ukuleles, the same examples and embodiments may be given for guitars and other acoustic musical instruments without departing from the scope of the subject invention. 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0092]    As described above, superior acoustic musical instruments can be constructed from hard shelled gourds that have been shaped during growth to exhibit shapes that are pleasing to the eye, comfortable to hold, easy to play, and that produce reproducible sounds having desired tonal qualities and volumes. The specialized shapes are produced with consistency during growth by following the specific steps and using specialized molds detailed above and in the accompanying drawings. While the above description and accompanying drawings contain much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather, as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, while the apparatus and methods have been described primarily in terms of stringed acoustic instruments, percussive acoustic instruments may equally be constructed using the methods and apparatus taught herein. 
         [0093]    Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the specific examples and alternative embodiments given