I know several of Kevin's dulcimers will be at Berea.

I do use a floating bridge alot, it allows for the intonation to be adjusted.  Yes the true traditional dulcimer is a different instrument than a modern dulcimer. And i am very partial to them.

Kevin, I read your post here earlier in the day and fooled around with all the dulcimers I have in the house and have definitely decided that I like playing on 3 STRINGS ONLY.  And I have one that does not have that 6&1/2 fret and really, mostly I don't use that fret and have learned to get around using it.  I'll sure look at all the dulcimers there.  I'm going also to learn more about building the old styles. I'm looking here again, I take it you use a floating bridge.   aloha, irene

Thanks for the comments folks.  Irene unfortunately I will not ne able to attend. I do believe some dulcimers I have built will be there.

THAT IS MIGHTY FINE....I SAY, I SAY!!!  THIS made me go on line to learn more about "perfection tuners".  I watched the guy put in the violin pegs.  Now do you have violin or cello pegs???  Will you be at the Berea, Kentucy gathering?  I love how this dye worked on poplar wood.  Poplar wood doesn't take dye too well...but it sure did a lovely job on this one.  aloha, irene

Lorraine, I could build it with 6 1/2 ,but it is a modern addition and is unnecessary for playing. They did it then and we still do.

Or this one with 6.5

Thanks all. Charles it was finished with aniline dye and Danish oil.

Beautiful! What finish did you use, and what are the nut and saddle made of ?

Wow Kevin, that is a real dandy........by the way I remember reading about the German use of the heart as a decorative device.....seems like as it was used by the Pennsylvania Deutsch or Dutch it was rooted in the use of the Martin Luther's symbol for his reformed church which we now call the Lutheran Church........the Luther Rose had at its center a heart with a cross symbolizing saving faith rooted in the cross of Christ hidden in the heart.  In the King James Bible the heart is presented as the seat of the emotions and the place where saving faith resides.  In other traditions, such as the Roman or Episcopal traditions the heart represents all of the above but also is what must be lifted up to God as well.   The Germans used the heart to represent 4 ideas concerning love.......love of God, love of family, love of friends and love of country at least that is what I recall from years ago.  In the old German Lutheran Liturgy which I grew up with, like the Roman liturgy the Sursum Corda is offered by the celebrant who intones........."Lift up your hearts" and the congregants reply........."We lift them up unto the Lord."    That intonation goes back to the third or fourth century according to those old dusty books I have.  The upward pointed heart may be a reference to doing that......looking to heaven the source of all true love.   (see those years of seminary have provided me with all sorts of information that would be great if I ever get on Jeopardy).  When the German settlers put hearts on all sorts of things they usually referred to love of family or community and faith.  Some have said  that upward pointing hearts meant the instrument was to be used for hymnody and celebration and the regular heart for the love of one human being for all of creation including family and friends.   Then again, maybe this is just all speculation......but it is fun to think about.

I've. Seen some of those early hearts. I do believe Prichard had also seen them. I think they are of Germanic origin. Also the Pennsylvania Dutch used hearts of this style. They used four circles stacked in a square to lay out the shape.

Kevin, I've seen heart sound holes shaped that way on various early stringed instruments from long ago in Europe... maybe 1500-1700s or so, if i recall right.  Somehow that distinctive older heart shape found its way to Prichard.

That's gorgeous! I remain in love with the teardrop you built me.

1. Lisa, that is the original shape . Yraced them from an original. The shape is different than any others i have seen, a little un ever from side to side. Yet they a nice look.

 Kevin R, you lucky dog you!  

Hey if you need to figure out how to add videos here, try looking through THIS  forum.

Hey Kevin M- I like the way you shape your heart sound holes-  is that how the originals were, or did you modify the shape?  It seems to me to be a somewhat archaic style of heart shape.  Pretty!

Thanks Lisa, Huggsandi. Kevin it was my pleasure building this one, it helped me through a tough time. Look forward to hearing you play.

I am proud to say that I am the owner of this beautiful dulcimer. Kevin was just great to work with and I really appreciate him building this for me. Now I just have to learn to play it! When I get the chance I will try to post a few more pics, and if I can figure out the technology side of things I will try to get a video up. Thanks again, Kevin!

Very lovely!!!

Whoa, that's gorgeous!