It's lovely, I'm happy for you
Rebuilding an old friend
I really like the sound of your "Dulci Friend" and it is very cool you can make the fret board to suit you.
Here is a tune called West Fork Gals played on this dulcimer. If this dulcimer had legs it would follow me around where ever I go. ...
Robert, That is a great looking dulcimer, and I am sure it sounds great too. I haven't fretted a dulcimer in anything but JI since I did the first. They just seem to be what I want to here.
A facelift or should I say fretboard lift for an old friend? It's gorgeous. I agree with Cynthia. That rope treatment on the edges is pretty.
There's just something about an old friend that's extra nice. Lovely work!
Neat! thank you for sharing that Robert.
Robert you're driving me wild with your dulcimers - I've always been a sucker for rope bindings, think they are so elegant, with with JI too? Eh...if that one is ever missing, I may have borrowed it for a 3 am dulcimer fix... congrats.
Thanks Lexie, I hope your coming along well in your playing too... Robert.
Excellant Robert, it looks like a beautiful friend to have and it is good you could fit it to your style.
Back in 2011 I built a teardrop that became my favorite dulcimer. I would go to it first to learn a new song, or when I needed a dulcimer fix at 3am, or whenever I played in public. Its a dulcimer I don't have to worry about getting dented or scratched. Since I started building for sale dulcimers with Just intonation JI. I fell in love with that special sound and it renewed my interest in the very rich but much ignored and maligned 155 tuning.
So last week I ripped of the old tempered scale fretboard and replaced it with a JI scale. I like the old timey look of partial staple frets but don't care much for staples. So I used conventional frets. I also like to jump over to the bass and play the last four notes of the scale so I added full frets at the top.
I have been playing this dulcimer so much in the last couple of days after completion that Im behind on my farm work. I need a little discipline, but playing music is just more fun, especially on my new rebuilt friend. H
ere is a before and after pic... Robert.