That's a good story about the Strum Stick. I made a guitar with wood from a neighbor's walnut tree and some local maple left over from a kitchen cabinet remake a friend of mine did. I used the walnut for the next and trim. The maple is the back and sides. I don't have a photo of it on my computer. I'll have to see if can find the photos and scan some in.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ha! Ken, I was wondering what that sloshing noise was. I looked back on some past comments a while back on this site but didn't find anyone nearby. I get jealous when I read all the comments about groups people are part of. That must be a great way to improve the picking skills. 

The Strum Stick has some real family history. I repurposed a bed frame that my wife slept in when she was 5 years old. I had some pieces of solid maple and that became the neck and side panels. The tail block.is part of the fireplace mantle when we lived on the beach. My dad sent the mantle for my fireplace back in the 80's. It came from a house built in the late 1800's. I had to make some changes to fit my fireplace. The fret board is teak from the gunnel of one of our old duck hunting boats. All beautiful hardwood with some history and adds to the beauty of the instrument. 

You have a nice collection of instruments. I particularly like the canjo. It's a great way to keep the lacquer thinner handy. Does the sound of instrument change as you empty the can? We have lots of folks in Florida, so if you ask around you might find some near you.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks Strumelia. The small fish tail antique is the one I own. The man in the pic is the owner of a Dulcimer shop in Tenn. I took it up for him to give me some advise on old worn out instruments. Consequently he said it is known as a "wall-hanger". I have since restored it with new fret slot and frets. I changed to sound holes (they look like a rat ate them) and now the sound is amazing. It does hang on the wall as do my other ones. I just finished building my 5th Dulcimer. Two of them are fun instruments and the others are serious learning tools. My latest is the CanJo. It's hard to believe the sound that comes from an old lacquer thinner can :).

I get a lot of positive information from some great folks at FOTMD group. I wish there was a group near central Florida I could get acquainted with. 

OH, yes, the photo shows my fossil collection. I'm also a fossil guide for Creation Studies Institute. It all keeps this old man moving.

Nice 'herd' you have going there, ShopDad.