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!

She's here! And she's absolutely *breathtaking* in person! I'd better let her acclimate before I put her through her paces, but after a few strums, she sounds very sweet indeed. 

Dan, this one's very special. I really appreciate your fine craftsmanship and your attention to detail (right down to the notation of the day's weather inside, per farmer Neff). Plus all the goodies you sent with her! I feel very blessed -- thank you!! :)

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

LOL, please forgive that looooooong post, but there was a story to tell! :)

Lisa, after I've had a few lessons at the Crooked Road festival, maybe I'll be brave enough to attempt a short video. Both huge learning curves at this point ... but exciting nonetheless.

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!

WOW! I'm the *very* lucky gal who commissioned this. :) Although I adore my vintage Kentucky style dulcimer "Epiphany," who is teaching me as much as she can, I wanted another dulcimer I could use in fast-paced lessons (with modern tuners, modern fretboard) this summer at the Crooked Road festival. Since I am a native Virginian and am all about Virginia history, I envisioned a modern dulcimer made after the style of one of the historic Jacob Neff dulcimers.

After doing some research and talking to a few knowledgeable folks (including the wonderful Larkin Bryant, who's been of great help), I had a feeling that Dan Cox was the man for the job. As fate would have it, he just happened to have access to possibly the prettiest Neff of all, right there at the Museum of Appalachia. What are the odds, right? Everything happens for a reason. :)

This is very special to me, as my ancestors were in the same part of SW Virginia and at the same time as farmer Neff. Dan, did you remember to note the weather on the instrument when you signed it, as Neff always did? LOL

I am SO EXCITED, and I think Dan did a fabulous job, don't you? Using Neff as his inspiration, he created something even prettier, and I'll bet it sounds heavenly, too. :)

Laurel

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..