It'd be fun to give this beauty a strum!  

That's interesting, Lisa. Does the piece comprising the side of the peg head wrap all the way around in one piece. When I carved a rosette like that to put on my PA German zitter, Betty didn't like and talk me in taking it off.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for that info, Strumelia. I was thinking that section may be part hollow, but would need some 'meat' to sink the zither pins into, but not too much to add unnecessary weight and mass.  I am trying to imagine the construction method. Beautiful craftsmanship and matching the grain patterns looks to be done really well. That's a 'keeper' for sure !

Hi @bob, I just did a little examination for you.
Let's call everything beyond the nut the 'headstock' so I can describe things.

I tapped on the wood with a little metal rod which clearly indicated that (as expected) there's a wood block inside into which the tuning pins screw... likely a hardwood, possibly rock maple which people like to use for anchoring pins.

But the pin block ends about an inch beyond the pins... the rest of the headstock is most definitely hollow until it gets near the florette end, which I think was likely turned as a solid fat cylinder shape with a hole drilled through and carved decorative end.

BTW there's a nicely done seam between the side pieces of the body and the side pieces of the headstock, at the nut. It's not a continuous side piece along the entire instrument- the headstock has its own side pieces.

It's a beautiful instrument.

The peghead looks a lot like the one found on the Mercer scheitholt replica that Ben Seymour made for me years ago.  If I'm not mistaken, our very own Dan Bennett owns that Mercer replica now.  The two instruments have other similarities in design as well.  Ben obviously incorporated some of the the Mercer instrument's design features into your hummel.

Strumelia- do you know if the section under the zither pins is hollow or is it a solid block? It is such a beautiful instrument.

Thank you, friends! 

That's a nice looking hummel!

Wow! Very pretty indeed!!!

Sure is a purty thang!

It's only 26.5" vsl, Irene... a bit shorter than the average mtn dulcimer.
But it's body is 3.5" deep, which gives it a more mellow tone. I usually keep it tuned to the key of C... a step lower than most dulcimers.

Because of the 4-5 drone strings, if you just strum across all strings all the time it could be too much for most people!  Could be useful if you have guests who don't know when to leave...  lolol.

AND what is the VSL of this beautiful baby?

Dusty, I just realized both your and my new instruments have crescent moon sound holes... so yes, maybe family relatives!  

Just beautiful.  My dulcimer just cried out "grandma!"

Hi and thanks Irene,

This is a 'Swedish style' Hummel, not a mountain dulcimer.  The maker, Ben Seymour, lives in NC.

Here's a YT vid of fotmd member Wilfried Ulrich playing a restored antique hummel:

oh wow, I'd love to make this style as well.  very very beautiful and love the choice of woods and very cool frets....where does the maker of this instrument live?  aloha, irene

Thank you Robin!  It's indeed a beauty.  

Exquisite!