By the way, that's a beautiful dulcimer.

I have a Cripple Creek dulcimer with a Sassafras top. As soon as I saw this photo I said that it sure looks like Sassafras to me.

Hi Robert, your note prompted me to look at the Cripple Creek Samples, and I am revising my opinion and now plump for Sassasfras, a timber that I have never used or handled. Fickle, ain't I, lol

John

Thanks for the comments, folks.

I checked the Cripple Creek website (since I read where the Heatherwood folks worked for Cripple Creek) and I cannot tell from their pics of the wood whether it is Ash or Sassafras. It is very much the cinnamon color which Bobby noted; probably more so in person than the pics show. However, the grain is very similar to the ash, which was John Henry's choice. Soooooo.....

I believe one of y'all is right; just don't know which one. What do y'all think of the back & sides? Mahogany or Cherry? (I'm about to change my opinion to cherry because of the "brightness" of the instrument's tone.

Robert

A Happy New Year to you Robert ! I am a long way away from that instrument here in the UK, but if I had to bet folding money on it, I'd say Ash! I am sat here with a piece of Ash having almost identical grain patterns, but if I had to second guess I would go for Butternut, which is probably what might be expected in a USA build. Not many builders of instruments go for Ash as a first choice because of its 'ring pourous' nature, and a perceived difficulty in obtaining a good finish when cleaning up, but more of it can be found over here than Butternut, which is why I have used it often for musical instrument construction.

Of course, should you care to mail the dulcimer over to me I could make a better assessment.............?, could take a while tho'

John

I wouldn't know, but it is gorgeous! Very intricate detail.