I saw her playing True Colors in a video a couple of weeks ago - it must have been this beauty!

It was a pleasure chatting with you Molly!

[quote="IRENE"]

Dear Molly, I've loved going through sooooo many of your beautifully crafted dulcimer.  I love it that you've made so many and that they are not just "cookie cutter" same o.  this one here, I just had to ask, HOW IS THE SOUND ON THIS ONE?   holes in the sides like some of the European old time instruments?   and what are you using to cut out such perfect little doggies, or birds or flowers and other interesting sound holes?  lazer? or are you carving each one.  tricky....and beautiful.  aloha, irene

[/quote]

[quote="IRENE"]

Dear Molly, I've loved going through sooooo many of your beautifully crafted dulcimer.  I love it that you've made so many and that they are not just "cookie cutter" same o.  this one here, I just had to ask, HOW IS THE SOUND ON THIS ONE?   holes in the sides like some of the European old time instruments?   and what are you using to cut out such perfect little doggies, or birds or flowers and other interesting sound holes?  lazer? or are you carving each one.  tricky....and beautiful.  aloha, irene

Hi, Irene. Yes, I hand-carve my sound holes, which are all custom designs, using a Dremmel tool, Xacto knives and tiny files. The outward facing sound holes project the sound outward, so they are good to have if you’re playing for a small audience. All of my dulcimers sound great, or I don’t deliver them. I’ll build them over if I can’t fix a problem with the sound. If you would like to order one, custom made with anything you’d like regarding sound holes and wood burning, or if you know anyone who might want to have one made, let me know! I pay a referral fee of 5% of the sale price. Thank you for your interest. 

Molly

Dear Molly, I've loved going through sooooo many of your beautifully crafted dulcimer.  I love it that you've made so many and that they are not just "cookie cutter" same o.  this one here, I just had to ask, HOW IS THE SOUND ON THIS ONE?   holes in the sides like some of the European old time instruments?   and what are you using to cut out such perfect little doggies, or birds or flowers and other interesting sound holes?  lazer? or are you carving each one.  tricky....and beautiful.  aloha, irene

Thank you, Mark. Yes, Cyndi plays the dulcimer! Very well, too. Cyndi is a very kind hearted person. Can't wait to see what she thinks of this dulcimer. Won't get it to her until mid September, though.

Beautiful!

Shawn, there's not much difference in the sound. The side holes just project the sound outward instead of upward.

Shawn, I don't find too many people with the same last name. I grew up near Stone Mountain, GA. That's where most of my family lived while I was a kid, and some still do. I'd love to chat with you sometime and see if maybe we have some relatives in common. My e-mail address is molly@dulcimersbymolly.com. If you get a chance, drop me a line sometime.

Thank you all so much for the compliments and the information about Cyndi and her dulcimer that I never knew!

It's a beauty!

Beautiful job. How does it sound with the holes on the side instead of the top?

She studied under David Schnaufer, "back in the day", and I understand that she composed most if not all of her songs since then on the dulcimer, and then they were turned into arrangements for her band.

Thanks, Dusty, Helen and Ben. I don't know a whole lot about Cyndi's original songs, but I do know she's played the dulcimer for many, many years.

Benjamin, my understanding is that Lauper actually wrote many of those songs (like "Time After Time") on the dulcimer originally and then translated them into pop arrangements. Maybe Molly knows more.

That's nice work, Molly.

Cyndi Lauper does a great job making some of her big hits into acoustical songs with the dulcimer. This would be a great addition to her music.

Thank you!