Dulcimer building

Posted by Jarmo Katajisto on October 10, 2010 at 1:42pm
Hi all.

I am gonna try build my first 3-string  Strum stick Dulcimer and few question comes my mind.


I´m gonna use little  Tin Box, size is 6 1/8" x 5 3/8" x 2  7/8" ( 156 mm x 136mm x 72mm )

What is typical scale?

Or what scale is good for that tin box?

And is it 3-string ok?

How many frets?

Where coming dot points? ( is they coming as same style like CBG? )

Tunings ?

Thanks for helping


ps. this is gonna be gift to someone :)

Little Myy.jpg

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Tags: Dulcimer, Little, Moomin, Muumi, Myy, Pikku
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Replies

  • Wiley Rutledge May 8, 2011 at 11:58pm
    McNally now has a short scale strumstick as well. Different strokes for different folks.
  • Diane in Chicago May 8, 2011 at 11:07am
    And I like 17"!
  • Rand Moore May 8, 2011 at 10:43am

    Hi Roger.

    Sorry for disturbing the water causing this corpse of a thread to float to the surface.

    I personally prefer a 20" VSL on my stick dulcimers. I know the standard model McNally strum stick has a 22.5" scale length. Most people seem to prefer a smaller VSL (scale length) as they don't have to stretch their fingers so far when fretting chords and the like.

    -Rand.

     

  • Rand Moore May 8, 2011 at 10:33am

    Well I didn't mean to click the "I Like" button. I'm sure I was trying to view the attached .JPG file. Why do we need this feature anyway. I don't like new features. They just get in the way. My eyesight isn't so great anymore. And how come I'm starting to sound like that 'Roony guy on 60 minutes?

    Happy Birthday, anyways Jarmo. Your builds are getting better & better. Keep up the good work.

     

    -Rand.

  • Roger Morin May 8, 2011 at 10:32am
    Jay at tinyguitars has made most of mine at 22" and to ME they feel just right of course My boxes have been a padron or cohiba box. The cohiba is the best sounding by far.
  • Henry Dervaric February 16, 2011 at 10:20am
    17" and 19" scale length. Nut to bridge? Wow are these Dulcimers really that short? I've tried finding some good video for reference to scale but no luck. I'm looking at doing a Blu-cimer for a coming build. Would you still use the same scale lenght?
  • Diane in Chicago October 10, 2010 at 7:27pm
    I'd agree with Richard, 17" or 19". There's another discussion in this group about fret placement that should help.

    I generally only place a position marker at the octaves on a dulcimer, because the fret spacing lets you know where you are for the most part.

    Happy building! Post pictures so we can see how you are coming along!
  • Richard Sanabia October 10, 2010 at 6:30pm
    Hello Jarmo. I would use three strings in 1-5 tuning, C,G,c, D,A,d, or A,E,a are common examples. For the smaller box use a 19 inch scale, and seventeen frets would be useful without the intonation problems of more frets. I usually mark the 3, 5, 7 fret for chromatic fretting, and no marks for diatonic fretting. Richard in Tennessee.
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