Andy Rasheed 7/21/26 Andy Rasheed 7/21/26

Surely there is another way? An alternative journey into musical instrument design.

Using aircraft-grade plywood has offered me a chance to undo the imposed thinking of all of my instrument designs. By using aircraft-grade plywood, I have a range of new design options for ergonomics, packaging and tonality. I am able to create adaptive instruments to suit specific players' physical requirements, as well as vastly extending the range of traditional concepts for instruments.

Andy Rasheed 7/7/26 Andy Rasheed 7/7/26

An alternative strategy for Lap Steel & Resonator guitar design

I was in search of an alternative means to fulfil the objectives of a lap steel guitar and see if I could find improvements in ergonomics, tonality, projection and sustain. I am pleased to say that these instruments are loud, have their own voice, and are a joy to hold and play. A byproduct of all of this is that they look unique, too.

Andy Rasheed 6/30/26 Andy Rasheed 6/30/26

Discovering that I was an adaptive instrument maker.

This chassis system could facilitate entirely unique shapes and configurations of instruments designed specifically for musicians with disabilities. As long as I could get the playing face and soundboards to respond adequately, I could design my adaptive instruments around a wide variety of very specific ergonomic applications.

Andy Rasheed 6/23/26 Andy Rasheed 6/23/26

A journey into the centre of the cajon

The most profound understandings of my instrument-making were based on the most viable materials and the relevance of structure and mass.

Andy Rasheed 6/16/26 Andy Rasheed 6/16/26

Extending the potential of the cajon

I think that because a cajon is such a blindingly simple instrument, it seems that nobody has really investigated the potential to extend the development of the fundamentals. This is my deep dive into the reimagining of the humble cajon into a multi-faced percussion station.

Andy Rasheed 12/4/25 Andy Rasheed 12/4/25

Hybrid lap cajon-bongo

Here's a video of my refined, hybrid lap cajon/bongo. I'm pretty proud of this design. Making something simple, light, ergonomic and resonant is quite a challenge.

Andy Rasheed 11/6/25 Andy Rasheed 11/6/25

In search of tone with its own identity.

It wasn’t until I realised that I didn’t have to follow the recipe that I was propelled on my way into instrument making. From that point, I was deeply intrigued by the idea that with modern materials and adhesives, there must be unorthodox ways to make sound-propagating structures that break from convention.

Andy Rasheed 7/4/25 Andy Rasheed 7/4/25

The Travelling Instrument Project Video

Here is a long-form video with master percussionist Fabian Hevia, where we talk about each of the seven, multi-faced, tuned hand percussion instruments made for the Travelling Instrument Project. Each instrument is in tune with itself, and they are all in tune with each other.

Andy Rasheed 1/31/25 Andy Rasheed 1/31/25

A conversation with Leigh Ivin about what makes his brand new SDR 8-string Tri-cone resonator lap steel so special.

Leigh Ivin plays and discusses what makes this SDR 8-String Tri-cone lap steel so special.

Andy Rasheed 3/4/21 Andy Rasheed 3/4/21

Craig Atkins playes the SDR pre-production Dobro

Craig Atkins dropped by SDR headquarters and landed himself the first play of the new pre-production Dobro.

Andy Rasheed 5/29/19 Andy Rasheed 5/29/19

Interview with Andy

An in-depth interview with Small Drum Revolution’s Andy Rasheed. June 2020

Andy Rasheed 5/29/19 Andy Rasheed 5/29/19

Designer Maker Revolution podcast by Adrian Potter

Master furniture maker, Ardian Potter, delves right back into Andy’s creative journey and discusses photography, music, inspiration, instrument making without a blueprint and process.