Novel apparatus and methods for making acoustic musical instruments from gourds and the musical instruments made therefrom are described. The invention teaches molds for shaping and molding immature gourds as they grow for the specific purpose of using the molded gourds, of portions of them, in the construction of the musical instruments resonant cavity. The method of the invention produces musical instruments, particularly stringed musical instruments, from a gourd that has been molded while growing. The present invention also describes the stringed musical instrument, such as ukuleles, guitars, or violins, that result from using said described apparatus and methods.
