Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?

Subject: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: GUEST,guest_olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:19 PM

I have some great mahogany from the piano that I tore apart, My buddie Garry is great with wood. We were thinking of buiding something out of the wood like a dulcimer perhaps. do you have any plans on how to build one that you want to share? or I am open to suggestions on something else we should try to build with it. Guitar is way out of my league for sure

Dan

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 07:54 PM

Don't be so sure...you could make a slide guitar like this fellow on youtube!:-)

There is that guy in upper Michigan who has all kinds of plans online and even youtube videos of him playing the stuff he makes. I cannot remember his name, but Art Thieme knows of him as do many others, I am sure.

OH! I've just remembered. Here ya go: Dennis Havlena.

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 08:21 PM

wowooo
thanks Kat

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: GUEST,Norval
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 09:00 PM

olddude: A couple of helpful sites below.

Hammered Dulcimer construction PDF download
Hammered Dulcimer

Mountain Dulcimer construction lessons
Mountain Dulcimer

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:52 PM

"A Catalogue of Pre-Revival Appalachian Dulcimers", L. Allen Smith, foreword by Jean Ritchie, University of Missouri Press, ISBN 0-8262-0376-0 has scores of photographs of historic instruments, with detailed descriptions of the construction of each. Not plans as such, but might be enough ideas to get you started.

The Mountain Dulcimer - How to Make it and Play it (After a Fashion) by Howie Mitchell is still available from Folk-Legacy, now in CD form with an accompanying book (extra, or on its own).

Mountain Dulcimer Plans (also Hammer Dulcimer Plan) at Pilgrims Project site looked like fairly detailed plans for various body-styles, reasonable prices.

Ross

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: olddude
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 10:56 PM

thanks folks
I am on it
grreeat

very cool

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:11 AM

olddude, hope we get to see pictures when you are done!:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: olddude
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:15 AM

you got it hon
It will be pretty bad but fun to try

Subject: RE: Tech: anybody have build plans dulcimer?
From: Gurney
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 02:19 AM

A luthier friend sometimes makes instruments from the soundwood from a piano, the plain part that the big iron harp is fixed to. I hope that you saved that too, for the belly of whatever you make.