Group Discussions

Just Finished No. 1

Hello friends!  I just finished my first mountain dulcimer, made completely from scratch. I used a remnant of a curly maple gunstock blank (one...
@glp1958 started 4 years ago - replies: 11

Building the Virginia Hogfiddle Kit Videos

I don't make the Kits anymore but I wanted to share the Videos I made for the customers who bought the Kits. These are long, drawn out, boring...
@Mill Branch Dulcimores started 4 years ago - replies: 3

Bridge Placement for Proper Intonation

Hello, this is always something I've had to relearn on every single dulcimer I build, through trial and error. I'd love for it to be put in...
@Nate started 4 years ago - replies: 2

Question on sound differences

Its me again with another question made the mistake of showing my wife photos of different dulcimer body styles and she likes the hour drop shape...
@Don Smith started 4 years ago - replies: 8

Ok I have more Questions about better brands of dulcimers

What are some of the better brands of Dulcimer's to look at I found a apple creek in phoenix but after reading the warning on this site about some...
@Don Smith started 4 years ago - replies: 22

Need Some Input

I have started my build of a Dulcimer for my wife I have all the wood cut except for the fret board, I have ripped all my pieces of wood to 1/8...
@Don Smith started 4 years ago - replies: 6

fret installation on older just intonation dulcimer

Hello builders.    I am getting ready to build a copy of the old noter style dulcimer with frets only under melody string. It will be Just...
@Bill Robison started 4 years ago - replies: 5

question on sound holes

I m going to be building a hour glass shaped dulcimer for my wife even though i purchase one for her to get started learning on. i have plans...
@Don Smith started 4 years ago - replies: 6

Hindman Luthiery school giving people a second chance

An uplifting story, includes dulcimers:...
@Strumelia started 5 years ago - replies: 4

How I learned to build dulcimers

I thought y'all might find this silly. This is the page from a 'reader's digest' homesteading book which I learned to build dulcimers from...
@Nate started 5 years ago - replies: 9

Bought a mountain dulcimer at an estate sale

It was 75% off the original sale price and I figure I would clean up/refurbish/repair (not sure what to call what I am doing and I hope this is the...
@Bernadette started 4 years ago - replies: 16

Fret board attaching to sound board

I've gap between the fretboard and the soundboard. Should I clamp it down or fill in the gap with a 'shim' of wood. I'm concerned if I clamp it...
@rojo started 4 years ago - replies: 18

What is a "luthier" ?

The word luthier always seems to imply a skilled artist who makes musical instruments. Yet the actual definition is simply "a maker of stringed...
@Strumelia started 5 years ago - replies: 21

Testing Lacquer v Polyurethane

Has anyone done any testing of how using lacquer v polyurethane impacts the sound of an instrument?  I have talked to different builders, some use...
@Matt Berg started 5 years ago - replies: 13

In pursuit of the ultimate dulcimer

I have recently decided to suspend production of dulcimers for the general market so that I can devote my efforts to advancing the design.  I am...
@Bob Stephens started 5 years ago - replies: 8

hollow soundboard.

Should I cut holes in the soundboard below a hollow fretboard? its in an all walnut dulcimer.
@rojo started 4 years ago - replies: 6

Replacing a nut and floating bridge

I have a dulcimer that my husband put together from a kit in the 70s. It has a floating bridge which I would like to replace with a permanent...
@Leny-Sue started 5 years ago - replies: 5

Soundhole reinforcement

What material do you use to reinforce the intricate soundhole designs?  Wood at a90 deg to grain  for fabric with glue? I don't have access to  a...
@Bill Robison started 4 years ago - replies: 2

Electric Bass Dulcimer

i would like to build an electric solid body bass dulcimer. Does anyone know of plans that are available? Also, what pickup would you suggest?...
@Carverdw started 7 years ago - replies: 5

Neck width

Hello to you all. I just had a question I thought would be worthy of all the knowledge here. I am building a dulcimer kit and and noticed that the...
@banjelele started 4 years ago - replies: 24