Thanks Patty,

I only have # 6,7, and 8. In the early days I didn't have anything to make tuning pegs and used cheap machines on #1-5. I had a little trouble with frets on them. Then I ran across the Fret-n-Fiddle and met Joe Dobbs. Joe was an instrument repair guy and built dulcimers when business was slow. I bought a fret saw from him and traded a dulcimer for a peg shaver and reamer. I'll eventually fix #9 when I get a new larger diameter peg shaver, possibly next week.

I hope to meet you too. I would love to see some pictures of your builds

Hey Patty,

The ones I made aren't exact replicas, but I make them to look old. I never put extra frets on them and I always play with a noter, I don't know any other way and extra frets just mess me up. It has been a while since I've played so you may think I need even less frets...

The photos I've seen in some old dulcimer books I used to have (made the mistake of loaning them. ) showed that the sides weren't always symmetric but were very close. The ones I have made look very similar. I learned several techniques in Huntington WV, but not from Prichard- LOL. Joe Dobbs showed me a few things in his shop, the Fret-n-Fiddle.

I'm familiar with Smith's books on the subject. I've collected a few on the history and am getting interested in making authentic looking MD ancestors, pre Civil War time, when noters were used most always, and bows too.

Kevin's obviously a good builder. I hope to meet you and him someday, along some of the other good folks here.

JH, you were one of the conspirators. I have to say it shocked me when I saw that label from a can of a certain supposed meat product in that strum hollow. I almost fainted.

Oh...! And what was that Patty ???

John

Don, Kevin did do nice work. I've had it over a year and have no complaints. I've scuffed up the edge of the strum hollow with my pick but that's to be expected....shows I'm playing it I do touch it up occasionally. The piano wire strings have a nice sound and long sustain. It has the wood pegs and it's set up for noter drone but that's exactly what I wanted. It is true to the original Prichard. I brought it to SU last year and showed it to Ralph Lee Smith who owns a real Prichard and is an expert on vintage dulcimers. He loved my repro. He said Kevin did a fine job on the sound holes. Looks just like the real deal. Kevin did add my initials in the strum hollow. A lot better than what some people suggested he put there

Wow. Really nice work.