That's a nice find @gail-a, but Howie's HD book is another thing entirely. Not the same as the Mountain Dulcimer book and recordings we discussed all those years ago on ED. Both book, by modern standards, are somewhat outdated in their approach to building. Many things Howie was explaining how to calculate, for example, are commonly found today or easily acquired from on-line calculators etc.
Howie Mitchell Dulcimer Building Book and Booklets Available Again!
Found his hammered dulcimer book on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/dulcimerhmitchell1971/page/n45/mode/2up
updated by @gail-a: 11/29/22 03:57:38PM
The links do not work because the original www.everythingdulcimer.com no longer exists. The current site called that is nothing like the original. Gosh -- I haven't been in any contact with David for at least 8 years. Haven't any idea if he's even still alive.
There are a couple of archived versions of ALL the conversations we had on ED, but I don't remember who has them posted on-line. Perhaps someone else will have that link. The discussions there undoubtedly have David's contact information although it might not be valid any longer.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
David Mitchell, Howie's son, and the publisher of his classic 1960s book
The Mountain Dulcimer -- How to Make and Play It (after a fashion)
have just made the book available to the dulcimer building and playing public as a pair of downloadable PDF files.
The book has long been out of print and only available through libraries - although the publisher says they have a few copies on hand for sale... Find the links and discussion here:
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28295&p=344973#p344973
The slightly different 1962, predecessor pamphletis available here:
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28278
These are not only fabulous resources for wannabe dulcimer builders, but also for players. Back when I got started playing, this and Jean Ritchie's Appalachian Dulcimer book were about all that were available.
updated by @ken-hulme: 06/11/15 07:30:02AM
