Group Discussions

Fret Layout ?

Hi AllI have a question about fret layout, if you use a ruler to layout the frets, how do you get these dimensions using the ruler?In other words...
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 15

Chestnut as Tonewood: Can you only tell by the holes?!

What is this 1981 Leonard Glenn top and back made from, all you builders out there? Looks as though it should be chestnut, but it's got no holes....
@Geoff Black started 11 years ago - replies: 24

Brian Jones' Electric Dulcimer

I have been doing some research on the internet on the Electric Dulcimer Brian Jones was using on the Ed Sullivan show when he did "Lady Jane".From...
@Monterey started 11 years ago - replies: 4

Tru-Oil Finish

Hello everyone, I am about to finish my new black walnut dulcimer with Tru-Oil and need advice. Ive never used black walnut before and it seems to...
@Iain James Craig started 11 years ago - replies: 4

capo's

I have a wide fret and the capo I have does not fit it. If it was wooden I would sand some off so I could go on but it is made out of plastic.Has...
@marg started 11 years ago - replies: 15

6&1/2 buzzes

I have an older dulcimer I just picked up. It's very nice except the 6&1/2 buzzes when I strum close to it. I think it hits the 7th fret. How...
@marg started 11 years ago - replies: 4

Signing the inside of your dulcimers?

Hi everyone.How do you all sign the inside of your dulcimers, when you make then? If you use paper labels, where do you get them?ThanksRon
@Ronald R Eaches started 12 years ago - replies: 10

We are all hacks!

I saw this editorial in Popular Woodworking Magazine ( www.popularwoodworking.com ) by Jeff Farnbach, and although it is about furniture making, I...
@Ed Gaunt started 11 years ago - replies: 3

Additional Soundholes

Im just about to cut the sound-holes in my own design teardrop dulcimer. Ive read in these pages that this design tends to be a little bass heavy...
@Iain James Craig started 11 years ago - replies: 2

Fretboard Thickness ?

Hi Everyone!I've seen some dulcimers that only have a fretboard that is a 1/2" thick, I also seetheCedar Creek dulcimerkits only have a 1/2" thick...
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 4

"Heritage" is finished!

I just finished building my all-wormy-chestnut dulcimer, and have named it "Heritage". I named it that because the wood that it's made from came...
@John C. Knopf started 11 years ago - replies: 7

Sound deference between a teardrop and a hourglass dulcimer?

Hi EveryoneI have a question concerning thesound deference between a teardrop and a hourglass dulcimer. I have made three dulcimers, one teardrop,...
@Ronald R Eaches started 12 years ago - replies: 18

Red Oak ?

Hi EveryoneI'm getting ready to make another dulcimer, has anyone here ever madea dulcimerout of all red oak? If so how did it sound?Or is red oak...
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 8

The Outcome Of Planning Wood Down To 1/8"

Hi EveryoneIn a previous post, I ask about planning wood down to .125 ( 1/8) I was told not to do it that the wood would blowup.I have a new Dewalt...
@Ronald R Eaches started 12 years ago - replies: 8

Nut And Bridge Slot ?

Hi All !I have another question, how do you all cut your slots for the nut and bridge ? With a table saw or on a router table?ThanksRon
@Ronald R Eaches started 11 years ago - replies: 10

nut/bridge depth

Just received my "mountain dulcimer hardware kit" (tuners, bridge/nut, fret wire, anchor pins, strings) from Folkcraft. I'm building a cigar box...
@Jim Damico started 12 years ago - replies: 10

fretboard sequence?

Looking through all the discussions and other info on the internet, it looks like the sequence while making my fretboard will be something like...
@Jim Damico started 12 years ago - replies: 5

String tension calculations

Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension calculator and a brochure of string tension for D'addario strings. I thought the...
@Ken Longfield started 11 years ago - replies: 5

Need Help With Bracing.

Hi EveryoneIts me again with another question, Im ready to start my first hourglass dulcimer from scratch. My question is about bracing the back,...
@Ronald R Eaches started 12 years ago - replies: 7

Pre-made Fretboards?

So, I am in the early /preliminary stages of building a new dulcimer, (the wood is being shipped as we speak, yay! ), and I have several exact...
@Bob started 11 years ago - replies: 10