In answer to the question about me, yes I was building professionally before a series of heart problems made the whole thing seem undoable. Things were actually going quite well, but no matter how hard I tried, I didn't seem to have the energy to get things moving again after the bypass. With this last operation, I realize just how much I had "lost" with the deterioration of my mitral valve. Now, I'm going to play this recovery period by the book and we'll see where it goes from there.

After some initial stabs at it, I came up with something different in sound and design for both Hammered Dulcimer and Appalachian Dulcimer as well. If I start with Hammered again I will retain the same soundbox design and make a few mods to the external appearance. I also made some repairs and setups on guitars and had built a couple of autoharps that had nothing new or exciting about them. I did like my asymmertical lap dulcimer design a lot.

I was also making some musical folk toys including a two string stick dulcimer (CLICK HERE FOR SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS) which I sold at street fairs and other fests.

Murray, I'll be waiting to hear about your neck and your guitar!

Spaw