A quick fun build

[Taffy Evans]

Quick and easy and the customer loves it. A birthday present for his wife.







This result of a few days work last week, a Dulcimer, or rather a Stick Dulcimer, it was a commission and delivered this weekend. I had a prototype hanging in my showroom/office and a customer spotted it and a deal was done.

I had read about them on the net a couple of years ago and made my own plans and jigs up at that time. My idea was to build a prototype that would be a good instrument for the grandkids to copy.
Courtney the eldest had already built one and a half Dulcimers at that time, teardrop and hourglass; Ash had made a biscuit tin banjo, and Jake his Les Paul Junior copy, so I thought this could be the next step, at least for Ash. Never did happen as they all moved to Mackay, 500k away.

Any way that’s the story, it’s played guitar style, it’s hard to keep on the lap so a strap is needed. There are better shapes to use but this was the quickest. If I do any more the end/bottom will be more curved and not straight as on this model. Just a bit of fun and relief from the serious stuff
Thanks for looking

[Dennis Leahy]

That's cool, Taffy!

How does is sound compared to a traditional dulcimer? I can't tell if that's about the same internal volume or maybe a bit smaller?

Dennis

[Taffy Evans]

Hi Dennis
It's about half the size of the dulcimers I have here. hourglass maybe less, It is pretty loud, louder than an old dulcimer I have hanging on the wall, Possible not as full bodied a sound though.

[Lillian]

Taffy, its cool looking. I'd love to hear it if you can ever get a sound clip of it. When you say round, I'm assuming you mean not a triangle, but some form of an oval and not that the side would curve front to back. Correct? Other than aesthetics and possible more sound board real estate, what prompted this comment? Just curious.

[Kim]

I just can't believe how quickly you work Taffy. Last week a dozen guitars to set up and repair and on the weekend knock out a quick dulcimer just for a bit of fun,,,your a dynamo

Cheers

Kim

[Taffy Evans]

Hi Lillian,
Yep as you say aesthetics, slight curve at the tailpiece end or a one piece side sort of pear shape, would look more proffessional I thought. Sound clip???? Now I do have a small Boss digital studio, but getting the sound from that to the forum would be more challenging than posting photos, so don't hold your breath.

Kim

It was a long weekend for me, plus no inlays, no tuning braces or plates, no grain filling, and a wax finish and only four strings to tune.

[Dave White]

Taffy,

Lovely - I like that a lot. It's almost a Flying V Dulcimer - way cool!!

[Taffy Evans]

Thanks Dave......
Now thats a flying V I prepared eariler