Dulcimers

This is one of my latest creations. It is a little bit wider and deeper than the earlier ones. The sides, backs, and fretboard are black walnut. The top is cherry that came from a tree we took down in our front yard. It has a rich beautiful tone.

The one on the left I swapped a calculator for in 1975. The calculator did the basic functions and square roots. It cost a little over $100.00. The dulcimer has followed me around all these years and is in the process of getting a new finish and new tuners.

The one on the right is one of Dad's tree branch scroll dulcimers. It is walnut with a cherry top. He likes his tuners turned up for easy adjustment. It has three synthetic mother of pearl dots.

Here is a close up of one of Dad's tree branch scrolls. He likes the rings which show that this was once a living tree. We don't build this kind anymore because they won't fit in a standard case. If someone wants one perhaps a soft, padded case would work.








One of these two is in the first picture above. The camera angle makes them look different sizes but they are as identical as I could make them. Even the tops are sequential flitches from the same plank. The finish is clear danish oil with a wax topcoat. And yes, that is a broken string on the top dulcimer. Sometimes they just pop.