Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Your dulcimer and that smiley must be twins who were separated at birth, Strumelia!
Strumelia said:
Here are my sound holes....
Forum Activity for @robin-thompson
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Your dulcimer and that smiley must be twins who were separated at birth, Strumelia!
Strumelia said:
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here are my sound holes....
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Look at Randy Bretz page and you will find what you are looking for in his pictures. :)
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is one I have with walnut sides and back and a cedar top with walnut soundholes
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Back to work on the pine box. With excellent advice from Tish, I replaced the bridge. The dulcimer now tunes true. Couple more coats of tung oil and it'll be finished. Didn't stain it, can't hide plain old pine. Burning could have been a lot neater. I don't have a wood burner. Used a home made veiner that I used to use to put borders around checkering and straighten lines on gunstocks. Heated it with a torch.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
It's really an inspiration to see some of the unique patterns showing up. Lori, those little flowers are NEAT !!! Wish I had thought of something like that. So pretty.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lori, I love your flowers-- really cool!
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Morning Ken;
I'd like to do a scroll head, but I don't have any tools that would be much good for that. I'm working these down with a Stanley round sureform, some coarse files and one or two round rasps. Wish I had some kind of table saw, scroll saw, sander, planer or something with a flat edge to keep things square and get nicer fitted joints easier. I've looked at some of yours ... I have a ways to go yet. Thanks for lookin'.
Sam
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Another nice job, Sam. Now when are you gonna try scroll heads for even more class??
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
A very good friend in CT thought she might like to try playing a mountain dulcimer. Finished this one in cherry up and packaged for shipping Saturday. She requested 'teardrops' as soundholes.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sam, I must give a tip of the hat to the luthiers-- MD made by Paul Conrad of Timbre Hill Dulcimers and BD is by Ken Bloom. Paul knew my taste was for a simple sound hole design (this design can be seen in the beautiful, fancier intarsia back on the instrument) and the sound holes on the bowed dulcimer is Ken's standard sound hole.
It's pretty cool that the poplar top on the MD was once exterior siding (that had gotten covered over at some point) on Paul's house that was built in the 1840's.
Sam said:
Striking;
The Mountain Dulcimer is exquisitely understated. Both instruments are just beautiful.
updated by @robin-thompson: 06/30/15 10:19:58AM
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Barbara, That's a piece of poplar. Sometimes the chemistry of the soil will produce the unusual color combinations that you see on my top. Dave did one for me years ago that I called "Joseph" because of the amazing coloration that the wood had. It was cream, and brown, and green, and blue, and red and purple and pink!! Just like a Joseph's coat.
Barbara Maas said:
FolkFan .. the sounds holes are so unique and lovely. The top wood on the instrument with the leaves is incredibly beautiful. It really fits the simple elegance of the leaf shape.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Striking;
The Mountain Dulcimer is exquisitely understated. Both instruments are just beautiful.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks Ken and Joe;
Ken, the bouts are exactly the same width. The narrow, slightly elongated waist toward the bottom bout makes it appear narrower. Should I name this one 'Dolly'?
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Nice job Sam!
Is it an optical delusion, or is the top bout (nearest the tuners) wider than the bottom bout?
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Finished this little dude this morning. 25" VSL, bobbed pretty short to fit in my locker at work. All wood is poplar from a local Lowe's. Fretboard has NOT been stained. It ranges from almost snow white to purple, to golden brown to almost black. Went with traditional heart soundholes. I think this is my favorite build so far.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is what my sound holes look like. My dulcimer was a kit from Cripple Creek Dulcimer in CO. I think they were done with a lazar cut machine.
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/photo/close-up?context=user
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
FolkFan .. the sounds holes are so unique and lovely. The top wood on the instrument with the leaves is incredibly beautiful. It really fits the simple elegance of the leaf shape.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Phil ... what great sound holes. My daughter would really like something like that as her best companion is her golden retreiver, Lillie. The dog outline is so realistic. I bought my dulcimer from Tom Y. recently. He'd just finished one and when he sent me a picture of it, I was sold. It had a beautiful hawk in flight and weaving vines. A hawk in flight was what I was looking for. Tom signed it & named it "LadyHawk" for me. (sentimental meaning)
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Phil is so happy with his dulcimer in honor of Ellie that I had to plug my uncle, the sole luthier at Pawprint Autoharps:
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Even the classic 4 of hearts holds up well.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Bone with sliced butternut shell soundhole covers
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is certainly the geekiest thread LOL!!!I have Celtic pattern holes on my Galax - I thought they would be pretty apt for someone who lives in a Celtic nation and goes to Celtic sessions.
I do like those basic Melton style holes too. And if I get around to having another Galax dulcimer built (or have a go at building one myself sometime) then that's the pattern I'd copy.
Flint Hill said:
I think this may be the geekiest discussion ever posted to FOTMD.
That's why I'm clicking the "Follow" button.
That's why I'm clicking the "Follow" button.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I think this may be the geekiest discussion ever posted to FOTMD.That's why I'm clicking the "Follow" button.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I like the sound holes on my Kudzu Patch Galax because they look like a lot like the ones on Jacob Ray Melton's dulcimer in Ralph Lee Smith's Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions .
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here is one more that I love but it is a little fragile I think. I love the Ambrosia Maple
Show us your sound holes!
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I love natural knot holes for sound holes and have several dulcimers that way. I don't think it make any difference in the sound they are just pretty.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is my favorite because it is my golden retriever,Ellie, who is now 8 years old. It was made by Tom Yocky in 2005. All I told him was I wanted a golden retriever and paw prints and he took it from there. It will always be my favorite dulcimer!
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Sam that's cool. I have a tiny tattoo behind one ear that is the same, but dotted.
It does seem odd that we don't see more sound holes like this!
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is a great idea!I am sorry that we cannot show you some of the sound holes in the dulcimers we have made. Soundholes are special to the person who gets the instrument.Last year for Christmas we made a beautiful cherry dulcimer for Bob's parents who live on an island off the panhandle of Florida. The soundholes that I cut out were fish and bubbles and seaweed and so forth! It was awesome! (I may have some photo's.....I will look)Another dulcimer we made had Ohio State University soundholes. We made it to give to an auction in Columbus. It was pretty cool too. They were buckeyes and leaves.Our nieces each received dulcimers with horse heads as sound holes. It has been fun to make these instruments special.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Looked at lots of pics. Hadn't seen anyone use this configuration.
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Ok I guess that sounds kinda weird, but...
I thought it'd be cool to see pictures of all the different kinds of sound holes we all have on our dulcimers.
Post a picture here, and tell us what you like about your dulcimer's sound holes, and why you chose them.
updated by @strumelia: 07/31/23 09:20:12PM
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Great solution, Dusty! You can always stuff socks and other small articles of clothing in the case, too.
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I will be traveling this week and want to take a dulcimer with me. The problem? I don't want to risk any of my dulcimers by checking them as baggage, so I have to take something small enough to bring on the plane. No problem, right? I have a baritone dulcimette made by Ron Ewing, perfect! Well, no, for I only have a padded case for it and even if I place it in the overhead bin I would be worried sick.
Solution? It took about 5 minutes of modification (butchering) to get this viola case to fit nice and snug. I am so excited to finally have a hardshell case for my little baby.
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My very favorite case is the one I got with my Blue Lion. It is difficult to find sturdy cases that will withstand baggage handlers.
Like Paul said, I have made a couple of cases using an appropriate length molded plastic rifle or shotgun case--Plano or Pelican for brand. The measurements are critical for length and height of your instrument and a bit of time may be needed to research the various measurements of the offerings available.
I removed the soft foam that came in the case. I used blue (some brands are pink) styrofoam from my local building supply store. By combining different thickness I got the depth I needed. I glued those together with special glue made for styrofoam (craft stores). Then I cut out the outer dimensions to snug fit the case. Then I cut the shape of the dulcimer inside with a little extra room at the tuner end. Following this, I covered it gluing on soft fabric--anything from felt to false suede to velvet. I typically line the top of the case with a thin later of padding and cover that with fabric as well. I had room in one to make a wooden box with a hinged lid set into the styrofoam for picks, tuner, strings, straps etc.
I suppose you could use the foam that comes in the case and cut out the shape of the dulcimer. I am personally leery of that as I had a camera in a case with similar foam and the foam disintegrated and stuck to the camera.
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Try taking it to a large music store and looking at cases for other instruments, like lap steel guitars, or double violin cases, etc. If some other case fits and only needs internal modification, it may work out well. Or try a Cabela's or Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops. A fishing tackle or gun case may have the dimensions you need. Here's another idea you may be able to use: Paul
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'll probably have to bite the bullet and get a new case. You're right about the hinges pulling out of the cardboard eventually. In the meantime, more wood glue and duct tape.I really need the short, skinny dimensions though. A deeper case won't fit in my cockpit coat closet. The whole rig -- rolling suitcase, flight case, computer, lunch bag and dulcimer, needs tow with one hand and fit through a door with the dulcimer held the wide way on the handle of the rolling case.
Your favorite dulcimer case!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
That looks like a cardboard case. If so, you can buy a new cardboard case, and use the 2" thick foam from sewing stores and upholstery shops to custom fit the inside to your dulcimer's requirements. If you want, and have time, you can cover the foam with fabric, but it isn't really necessary. If you regularly check your dulcimer on airlines, a better case might be one made for cameras or electronic key boards. They have cases built for extreme handling. Some have wheels. (And need them!) http://www.anvilcase.com/products/specials.html http://www.guitarcenter.com/Keyboard-Cases---Gig-Bags-Cases--Gigbags---Covers.gc If you don't plan to allow airline baggage departments to touch your baby, you probably don't need the weight and expense of the heavy duty cases. A keyboard or dulcimer gig bag with foam sheeting to make it a custom fit is enough if you are the only "baggage handler" involved.As for fiber glassing the case,It may not stick too well, unless you scuff the colored finish with coarse sandpaper. Use sheets of fiberglass cloth as well as the resin & hardener. You probably won't need too many layers, but it's pretty messy. And carries certain health hazards as well. Wear a respirator when mixing applying or sanding. "Respirator" is not the white paper masks you see some folks using. Those are only suitable for nuisance dusts, not harmful ones. Fiberglass is every bit the health risk asbestos was before it was banned.Before going to the trouble, be sure the card board is still strong enough to support the added weight of fiberglass. Eventually the cardboard tears where the hinges and latches are attatched. The extra weight may be too much. In that situation, you might as well find a new case and pad it to fit.Paul