All select poplar sound box, walnut fret board, peg head and tail piece. (Thank you!)

I love this beauty!  What kind of wood is it?  I am so fascinated with the looks and sounds of different woods!

That is beautiful!

I did not notice the "feet" at first look~LOVE!!!!!!!!

Thanks Lisa...... I can't lay claim to something that has been done for hundreds of years, lol, just thought it worth a mention........... a simple solution that is often overlooked !     Tho' Mary sometimes berated me for using good Irish linen hankies for the job !!!

JohnH

Lisa, the 1890 Neff had staples under the melody string.

Dan, did the original dulcimer have full width frets, or frets only under the melody string?

JohnHenry- great tip about the glued linen patches.  

 When I used to carve elaborate but fragile rosettes in lute construction I glued linen patches where appropriate for reinforcement purposes, and did the same when forming sound holes for MD's

thanks Dan

JohnH

Yes John Henry, twice! I wasn't happy with the first braces so I chiseled them out and did them again. The reinforcement now has a little flex to it but is rigid. The original dulcimore has three broken pieces that have been repaired in the "f" holes.

Love the sound hole.....not easy to cut............do they have any 'reinforcment' Dan ?

Oh my goodness Laurel-  how delightful and wonderful!!  Thanks for giving us the background of your goals and connections and the kismet that came into play here.

Lucky is an understatement for sure.

Can't wait to see/hear you playing this beauty!  I hope you will put up a short or simple video soon just to give us a taste- it'll be a huge treat for us all!

Absolutely lovely!!!

Yes, this goes out Tuesday morning to a lady in Virginia!

This is a real beauty Dan.  Was it specially commissioned by someone?  I love the very old S sound holes, and the wood colors..