Help with restoring a 1962 Arthur Dixon dulcimer?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hello all. And thanks again for all of your help so far.
I'm happy to report that I have restored the dulcimer to pretty good shape, basically taking it apart and putting it back together again (using Titebond glue), so it feels pretty sturdy. I was able to fix the cracks, which I have reinforced with cleats, etc. I have also gotten rid of the bizarre tuning system, and have found some wooden pegs that that I have been able to make work for now, and I have gotten just a basic set of D'Addario EJ64 strings to start with (which gives me two 0.012 gauge strings for the melody & middle, and a 0.022 for the bass). And finally, I was able to make a new nut & bridge out of some ebony that I had on hand.
SO...now I'm at the point of setting it up, and I have some questions about that. My main questions are about string spacing and nut & bridge (and string) height. I have found various opinions online about those subjects, but I thought I'd ask here for perhaps some more experienced voices.
Just a reminder, if you saw the photos I posted originally (of mine and the one sold by Wilcutt), this dulcimer is just 3 strings, and the frets do not extend all the way across the fretboard. As I look at the Wilcutt example (see attached photo), it looks to me like the melody & middle strings are spaced about as far as they can be on the available fret length, and that the middle string is slightly closer to the bass string. Is this about what I should be shooting for in terms of spacing?
And as for nut & bridge (and string) height, I've seen various opinions about what it should be, ranging from the string height at the nut being 0.015-0.030" above the fret crown at the first fret, to the saddle being 1/16" above the 1st fret and 1/8" above the 17th, etc., etc. What say you?
Thanks!