Group Discussions
What Does Your Spouse Think?
I've been wondering for some time what our luthier's lives are like at home: So....Does your wife or husband support you in your building of...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Making a Davis kit dulcimer playable
Well, it seems a lady nearby has a Davis dulcimer she built from a kit many years ago, and wanted me to help finish it up for her. I came over...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 12
Selling to Overseas Customers?
Since I marked my items as being available anywhere, a good portion of my orders have been outside the US. I have been a little surprised by this....
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 2
Salvaged Timber
I think I may have started down one of those paths that are hard to get off of :)Step one was when I ran a chunk of rough beech that was given to...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 21
Here's a Delight!
I finished this Thomas hourglass dulcimer replica just this afternoon, and sent her on her way to the new owner. Her name is "Delight", which comes...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 10
Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer
While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show repairs of dulcimers. One of our members contacted me about reattaching the peg...
@Ken Longfield started 11 years ago - replies: 17
Wood choices and new bandsaw
I just bought a new to me, 1993 14" Delta bandsaw. It has a bigger motor, cool block guides, an upgraded tension mechanism, and a 6" riser block....
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 9
Guitar kits
Okay, okay... I know tis is a dulcimer building site. But I have this brother-in-law who is a guitar player and he says I need to make a "real"...
@Ed Gaunt started 11 years ago - replies: 6
I need some advice re: shellac drips
I'm hand-brushing shellac (premixed, from a can) onto my new walnut dulcimer, and although most of the finish looks absolutely great, I'm having a...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 14
Mulberry
My wife wants me to make a ukelele for her out of mulberry. Many years back, I used mulberry for a dulcimer or two and can only remember not liking...
@Dale A Penrose started 11 years ago - replies: 10
Finishing Mahogany
I was wondering what the easiest way to finish mahogony is. Use oil or apply laquer or similar finish?
@Caleb Dan Bennett started 11 years ago - replies: 16
Shipping the finished product
I got kind of a shock when I shipped my first dulcimer actually built for a customer. I dropped it off at a service that packed and shipped it. It...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 11
Dulcimer wood
I am selling ready made dulcimer tops, one is redwood and is on Ebay right now. I can also make ones from cherry, walnut, sassafras, sycamore and...
@Robert Worth started 11 years ago - replies: 2
Wound String for Octave?
At 19" VSL I find that 0.20" ones pop before reaching d'. The smallest I have found are 0.18" ones that can get to d' but are just on the verge of...
@Pete Staehling started 11 years ago - replies: 4
My first machine!
I started on the fretboard and the peghead, which is walnut. The whole thing will be walnut except for the top, which will be redwood. I sawed...
@Mark Runge started 11 years ago - replies: 0
Calculating VSL
We bought an old Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer last night that is complete except for the bridge. There are no markings as to where it should go....
@Monterey started 11 years ago - replies: 12
finish on poplar
I am getting ready to assemble an instrument, all yellow poplar ecept for a black walnut fretboard overlay. I know poplar is a rather plain wood,...
@Bill Robison started 11 years ago - replies: 11
MD on Antiques Roadshow
See the 1880 MD on AR from Richmond VA. recently broadcast. Look closely at fretboard and shape. Somebody please explain the fret placing. Maybe...
@Meredith Winn started 11 years ago - replies: 4
"Middletown dulcimer" sneak preview!
This is what I'm working on now in my shop. If you look at Anne Grimes' book "Stories From The Anne Grimes Collection of American Folk Music",...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 13
Effect of wood type on sound
I have observed, at least from my limited experience, that lighter is better as far as both tone and volume go. But since most light woods like...
@J. Andy Crandall started 11 years ago - replies: 14