Forum Activity for @clive-quinn

Dulcimer String Anchor Pins

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I thought the same when I first tried it Don, but since then I've made perhaps 50 dulcimers using this method and it works perfectly. I wouldn't want to try it on softwood though. This is what it looks like with the strings in place.

Dulcimer String Anchor Pins

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I got so fed up with pins that I decided to try something else. I drill 4 shallow holes big enough to hold the ball end and cut 4 slots between them and the bridge. It makes changing strings easier and makes the sound better, on my dulcimers at least, perhaps because it is attached to wood and not metal.

 

I love traditional hearts and most of the dulcimers I build have them, but I also like to do custom inlay work so my most recent build has featured pearl sharks in the fret board and hammerhead shark sound holes.