So if wanted to build one of these it would be basically like building a regular 3 string CBG but I'd only fret the 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 positions or some variation of this? I've seen a few on YouTube and they look/sound pretty cool. Are there any plans on CBN or on the web that anyone is aware of?
Thanks all!
Replies
John Drake said:
If you have a look at my home page you will see my second cbg build which was 3 string (tuned gdg) and fretted as a dulcimer. Can still be played as slide in the usual way. So you get the best of both worlds.
Regards, John D
This is for tinys guitars, his name is Jay and he is willing to help anyone and he even has boxes and will build anypart that you want so you can finish it yourself, he also has dulci sticks for sale on his site. Take your time looking at his site some really good stuff there. We also have many others here who have built duci sticks.
I use a scale length of 680mm from zero fret to bridge and put on 12 frets total so that would be 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 19 I think. I use the stewmac.com fret calculator (its under free info section / fretting) that allows you to set the instrument to dulcimer and the scale length and it will give you the fret measurements you need without worrying about what to leave out. They include the 6 1/2 fret (tenth fret chromatic) automatically.
This setup sounds great tuned Dad with loop end banjo strings - .020W / .013 / .010 (basically the full set minus the two .090). I bought a strum stick dulcimer online and that is what eventually got me into building. Every build so far sounds far superior to the one I bought. Hope this helps out.
Rob