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Making a Dulcimer

Posted by Diglydog on July 19, 2018 at 6:36am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I have a big cigar box, which is too big for a standard CBG.  It measures 26.5 x 11 x 5 inches - photo attached with wine bottle for scale.  I've been thinking of making a dulcimer and would be grateful for any advice on construction, scale length, number of strings, tunings etc.  Also, if you can think of something better to make with it, I'd be happy to hear that, too.  Many thanks.

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Replies

  • Diglydog July 22, 2018 at 4:21pm
    Thanks, Dennis. The reason that I’d tend towards eyes is that it’s an old box and could look authentic. Then again, I have some Sinton’s jumbo bronze fret wire, which would also look good. I’m tempted by semi-hidden tuners, down the end of the box and with traditional tin work.
  • Derek Rose July 21, 2018 at 9:29am

    My brother in law gave me a huge display box for cigars. Too big for a guitar and the lid was too thick for good sound. So I flipped it over and used the thinner bottom for the top, like we sometimes do for cbg's. Like Dennis and Taffy said, I would agree with going with a dulcimer. Here is one I made with the large display box:306710521?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Diglydog > Derek Rose July 22, 2018 at 3:04pm

      Nice build, Derek - really clean lines and nicely balanced sound holes.  I'm still wondering about whether to go Tennessee Music Box or dulcimer, or some sort of hybrid.  The problem centres on whether to use vine eyes or modern tuning machines for tensioning the strings.  Maybe I'm over-thinking it.  Probably too much sun.........

  • Diglydog July 20, 2018 at 11:50am

    A Tennessee Music Box is looking like a good candidate as my cigar box is the correct traditional dimensions.  I may scallop the fingerboard to bridge the logo on the box.  I also have an Elmar Flatpup that may be added.

    I then need to decide whether to have one melody string or a pair, as on a dulcimer.  Then I need to find some suitable staples for frets.  Today's search drew a blank.

    Thanks again for your help.

  • Diglydog July 20, 2018 at 3:19am

    Thanks for the replies, Taffy and Dennis.

    Yes, the lid is pretty thick but I'm often surprised by the acoustic qualities of boxes that 'should' have a poor response.  I'll read throught the dulcimer research.  However, I do have an old tail piece of a cello (I think), so an upright bass may also be possible.

    At the moment, it's just clutter in the garage.  It might as well be playable clutter in the house :-)

  • Taffy Evans July 19, 2018 at 4:26pm

    Hi, first thing I thought of was a stand up acoustic bass.

    Taff

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