Work on the gomero (soundboard) begins with a roughly cut block of mupepe softwood, used for its sonic properties. The parts of the soundboard that are exposed to physical stress from the keys or bar are reinforced with hardwood.
Chawasarira’s diagram of the two hardwood inlays on the softwood soundboard: The “pillow” on the top end prevents the sharp edges of the keys from digging into the soft wood. The second strip “that contains the bridge was designed by me when found that placing the bridge in the soft wood the bridge would be pushed backwards when fitting the keys. It is a reignforcement as it were so that the bridge stands straight“.
Part of the soundboard is hollowed out to form what Andrew Tracey calls a bell resonator.
