I may be confused about traditional sounding dulcimers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
""Traditional dulcimer sound" comes not from the tuning, but from the shallow/narrow bodies of 'traditional' dulcimers which have much less interior volume that a conventional modern dulcimer. Modern dulcimers with a 27" VSL are roughly 2.25" deep x 7-8" wide x 31" long (minus the head); a traditional dulcimer with the same VSL is roughly 1.25" deep, 6-7" wide and 28" long. When tuned to the same tuning, the lesser volume traditional instrument tends to give a more "high silvery" sound; where the modern dulcimer tends to produce a deeper more "mellow", sound."
I will add that the nut and bridge are well over the ends of the piece. This is the traditional placement and facilitates "that sound" we refer to as traditional. I will also add that the intonations are different from contemporary pieces. Getting a good intonation across four different modes is at odds with a contemporary equal temperament and adds to that slightly out of tune sound from a traditional piece! I hope we are not muddying the water too much.....
I will also add, Richard you have an authentic traditional piece, they don't get no more traditional than that!!!
DAN
www.dulcimore.com
updated by @dan: 02/14/18 04:18:42PM