Thanks Martin, I don’t have a gourd yet but I’d definitely give it go one day. I ordered my first kit (mountain banjo) yesterday so it will be a while before it’s ready and shipped to Australia. Not sure what parts I’ll try and decorate yet – I think at least the headstock but possibly some of the body too. It’s a little bit difficult to bring myself to burn wood when it’s so beautiful in it’s natural state so I think I’ll have to wait for the kit to arrive before I make a decision. The wood, grain and colour of the completed kits I’ve seen around the internet look so nice natural too. I might have to track down a gourd locally one day and give it go just to see how it comes out.