The neck, the tuning rings and the base iron ring

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Quoted from Anthony King, The construction and tuning of the Kora, 1972
 

1. The neck
 

The neck (Mandinka: falo) is normally obtained prior to the covering of the resonator so neck holes of the correct size may be cut in the latter. It is normally made from a straight length of seasoned African rosewood (Mandinka: keno), and most kora players prefer to order it from an experienced carpenter rather than struggling to make it themselves with inadequate tools.

 

dot In its finished state it may have a length of from forty-one to forty-eight inches and a diameter of about one and a half inches.
 
 
 
Many musicians would in fact prefer longer necks, with the increased resonance obtainable from longer and tauter strings, but such instruments would be very difficult to carry in the medium-sized cars that serve as taxis in the Gambia and Senegal. Such taxis are the musician's only means of getting to many performances...

 
   

2. The leather tuning rings
 

dot The leather tuning-rings (Mandinka: konso) by means of which the strings are attached to the neck, are normally made during the period in which the covered resonator is being dried.

 

dot The preferred leather for these rings is again the skin of a male antelope (Mandinka: minangke kulo), though cowskin is a possible though less satisfactory alternative

Bridge

Iron anchor ring
 
 
The actual making of the rings is a highly skilled operation, and one at which few kora players are really expert. After soaking in water the skin is cut into narrow strips with a uniform width of about one-eighth of an inch. Each ring is made from a single strip by winding it once around the neck and then plaiting it in on itself as it is taken round second and then a third time.
   
 

dot It is unusual to plait the strip more than three times, but if an especially strong and thick ring is required for the top of the neck, an extra wide strip may be used and plaited in on itself four times.

 

dot Twenty-one rings are made in this way, and if time and materials permit an extra twenty-second ring may be added as a spare.

 

dot When complete, the neck with its rings is put out in the sun to dry.

 
 

3. The iron anchor-ring
 

dot Either before the rings are filled, or after they are dry, the neck is taken to a blacksmith who makes and fits the iron anchor-ring used to attach the strings to its base.

 

dot He uses a short length of iron, with a diameter of around three-eights of an inch and by heating and hammering bends it into thc shape of a sharp-pointed peg with a large eye for its head.

 

dot The finished length is about four and a half inches, and the external diameter of the eye about two inches.

 
 
The pointed end is reheated and used to burn a tight hole through the neck at a point about two inches from its lower end. When cool, the anchor-ring should fit firmly in this hole.
   
 

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