Hey Gui! Let's see, The "main sewer-pipe" is some 1 1/4" pvc that I chose somewhat randomly to be my manifold body. I cut off some stubbs of blue 3/4" pipe that I forced into holes that I drilled in a line along a side of the 1 1/4" pvc. I had to hand-shape the holes in the 1 1/4" so the blue stubs fit snug, and I poured on hot glue after. I also bored-out the inside hole of the srubb-ends, so my sprayer-valves fit right. The check-valve is built into the foot-pump that I use. The under-structure has varied over time, and was most recently made from an old cymbal-stand. The whole organ got stolen from my truck recently, so I'm working on a newer, larger one from scratch.

Hi Fran, Merry Christmas! I've built many different membrane horns and pipes since my question long ago. (please pardon my horrid grammar) Could I find out about every other part of the organ? Such as the diameter of the main sewer pipe and what you used to seal up the gap between the sprayers and the pipe at the holes. You must have a check valve between the bellows and the rest of the instrument so that the balloon's air doesn't escape, right? Also What did you mount the whole thing on? Thank you, Gui

Hello Fran, I perform three weekly shows of live music for families in the Bay Area and have been doing so for about 7 years now. Occasionally, I like to bring a special guest to the Saturday show from 10-noon in Bernal Heights in SF to perform. I, as well as the many families that attend my show, would be thrilled if you'd accept my invitation and be willing to be a special guest at the show on 12/5. I can offer $100 guarantee or 25% of the take if that turns out to be greater than $100. Past guests include Jolie Holland, Bronkar Lee, the Dimestore Dandy, Rizorkestra and Ralph Carney. Best regards, Enzo Garcia www.enzogarcia.com

Hi Fran, It was nice to meet you at the Pannikin. The balloon organ sounds magical! I'd love to catch one of your performances in San Diego. Nathan

Hey Carl. I'm assuming that your horns use membrane-reeds. OK, first, TUNING ISSUES: your penny-whistle pipe has holes proportioned to a slightly longer aircolumn that included the fipple mouthpiece. You could tune your pipe by adding a section to it's top that had an additional volume equal to the missing fipple... The issue of the horn being out of tune across registers is a problem with a very long history. Virtually all woodwinds and brass instruments have a flare or bell at their far-end. For some this helps amplify the otherwise muted low note. But for many, a bell has been designed to tune the registers to each other. With membrane-aerophones you can further modulate pitch and otherwise tune the instrument through 1) your choice of membrane (from saran wrap to thick rubber) as well as 2) the dimensions and internal volume of your "head-piece" in relation to the dimensions of the air-column. 3) the use of a resonator around the membrane. CONICAL BORE: I love conical bores, but I have resisted most impulses to make holes in them. Technically holes are tricky on cones as the hole-size needs to increase in proportion to the air-column diameter, which quickly surpasses the dimensions on the normal finger-pad. I make very long cones using sections of paper, mylar, plastic, and metal sheet-materials, connected by various U-joints. Like an alpen horn or bugle, they play a series of pitches, with longer horns generally producing a longer and more complex series... Anyway, feel free to call and ask further questions, I'd be happy to help with your project. My number is (510) 912-6834.