# Ngoni — Supplier RFQ

**Project:** Ngoni (Kamele N'goni) — Kamele 10 primary  
**Date:** 2026-05-08  
**Contact:** Tony Koop — tonykoop@gmail.com

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## RFQ Item 1 — Black Walnut Lumber

**Item:** 4/4 Black Walnut, surfaced (S2S or S4S acceptable)  
**Quantity:** 4 board-feet (Kamele 10); 6 bd ft if building multiple variants  
**Specification:** Straight grain; no knots in segment zone; Ø 12 in radius from pith minimum  
**Suppliers to contact:**
- Woodcraft Supply (local or online)
- Hearne Hardwoods (online, hearnehardwoods.com)
- Local hardwood dealer

**Questions for supplier:**
1. Is kiln-dried (< 8% MC) stock available in this quantity?
2. What is lead time for 4 bd ft Black Walnut 4/4?
3. Do you sell by the piece or per-foot? Minimum purchase?

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## RFQ Item 2 — Hard Maple Neck Blank

**Item:** Hard Maple, S4S, straight grain  
**Quantity:** 1 piece (plus 1 backup)  
**Specification:** 32 in × 1.75 in × 1.75 in minimum (will mill down to 1.5 × 1.5); straight, riftsawn grain preferred  
**Suppliers:** Same as above; also consider lumber yards  

**Questions:**
1. Is quartersawn or riftsawn Hard Maple available in neck-blank dimensions?
2. Does the blank have any sweep or bow? (max acceptable: 1/16 in over 36 in)

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## RFQ Item 3 — Goatskin Rawhide

**Item:** Goatskin rawhide, untanned (rawhide, not leather)  
**Quantity:** 1–2 skins  
**Specification:** 16 in+ flat diameter minimum; natural (not chrome-tanned); no holes in usable drum head zone  
**Suppliers to contact:**
- Sioux Trading Post (siouxtrading.com) — traditional drum supplies
- Rocky Mountain Rawhide (rawhide.com)
- Tandy Leather (tandyleather.com)

**Questions for supplier:**
1. What is the current diameter and thickness of available goatskin rawhide?
2. Is the skin pre-cut or full pelt?
3. What is lead time and shipping for 1–2 skins?
4. Any known variation in thickness across the skin? (center vs. edge)

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## RFQ Item 4 — Nylon Monofilament String Material

**Item:** Nylon monofilament; 4 gauges  
**Quantity:** 1 spool each of 0.85 mm, 0.95 mm, 1.05 mm, 1.20 mm (minimum 20 m each)  
**Specification:** High-strength nylon (not fluorocarbon); clear or natural color; breaking strength per gauge must exceed 10 lbs  
**Suppliers:**
- Amazon bulk monofilament (fishing line grade acceptable — same polymer)
- Classical guitar string suppliers (D'Addario EJ27N bulk sets)
- Professional string suppliers (Aquila Gut, LaBella)

**Questions:**
1. Do you sell bulk spool by gauge or only in prepackaged sets?
2. What is the actual breaking strength per gauge in lbs?
3. Do you have a sample/swatch option before bulk order?

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## RFQ Item 5 — Braided Leather Cord (Tuning Rings)

**Item:** Braided leather cord for konso (slide tuning rings)  
**Quantity:** ~15 ft  
**Specification:** 3–5 mm diameter; natural tan or brown; strong enough to hold string tension; not stretchy  
**Suppliers:**
- Tandy Leather
- Amazon braided leather cord
- Local craft/leather shop

**Notes:** Traditional ngoni uses thin leather strips or braided cord. If leather is unavailable, plastic zip-ties can substitute (less authentic but functional).

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## Summary Table

| Item | Qty | Primary Supplier | Est. Cost | Lead Time | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Walnut 4/4 | 4 bd ft | Woodcraft / Hearne | $20–32 | In stock | High |
| Hard Maple neck blank | 1 pc | Same | $8–14 | In stock | High |
| Goatskin rawhide | 1–2 skins | Sioux Trading Post | $15–70 | 1–3 wks | High |
| Nylon monofilament (4 gauges) | 4 spools | Amazon / D'Addario | $20–48 | In stock | High |
| Braided leather cord | 15 ft | Tandy / Amazon | $5–10 | In stock | Medium |
| Titebond III | 1 bottle | Woodcraft | $8–12 | In stock | High |
| Tung oil | 1 bottle | Woodcraft | $10–18 | In stock | Medium |
| Upholstery tacks | 1 pack | Fabric store | $3–5 | In stock | Medium |
| Steel rod 3/8 in | 1 pc | Hardware store | $2–5 | In stock | Medium |
| **Total (approx)** | — | — | **$91–214** | — | — |