Hammered dulcimer

Posted by Mark Bliss on December 18, 2010 at 10:26am

Anyone have any tips or thoughts on building an entry level or primitive hammered dulcimer for a student on a budget?

I am thinking I could build her a simple box arrangement, just looking for some ideas from anyone who might have attempted one already.

Thanks in advance!

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Replies

  • Mark Bliss January 5, 2011 at 7:13am

    Thanks for the link Jeff, I'll check that out!

    Coincidently, I have a June Apple Mountain dulcimer. Nice instrument for the money I think. Company owner and wife are a nice couple of folks- I have met and chatted with them at multiple craft/music festivals.

  • Jeff Banana January 4, 2011 at 10:48pm

    http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1983-09-01/How-To-Mak...

    Check out this Mother Earth News article it might help.

    We are renting a hammered dulcimer right now for my daughter from June Apple; I thought about building her one from these plans, but was worried that she might not stick with it.

  • Mark Bliss December 19, 2010 at 9:29am

    Ya'll are awesome, and I never expected less.

    Thanks for the link Diane, I will look at those. And yes, I was looking at Luth.org too, I have found a lot of good resources there for other projects and ideas.

    (Memberships a good deal too if you are a builder.... Hint hint!)

    Wiley Rutledge said:

    I didn't really figure you were looking for something from a cigar box, but when it jumped into my brain I had to say something.  I think I saw the same guy's site and had the same reaction, but be assured that most dulcimer makers are hard working, inventive and while they all toot their own horn (he who tooteth not his own horn getteth his horn not tooted) they are honest and deliver good measure for good pay.  I thought of another source for plans, the Guild of American Luthiers who have plans and an article describing the building process available.  Don't want to sound like I'm trying to take over, but I've been studying plans, ideas and instructions for several types of instruments in the last few months and seem to have more resources bookmarked than I thought.

    http://www.luth.org/plans/dulcimers.htm


    Mark Bliss said:

    Appreciate all the tips, and welcome more!

    I dont have a problem with building a box, or any part of it for that matter. I am looking for a decent set of plans, and researching all the information I can find. There are some great resources available, and as luck has it I am really not in any big hurry, just looking into it.

    And I wasnt thinking cigar box, just knew there are some industrious DIY'rs that follow these threads and often have great input.

    I'd buy her an entry level HD, if I could find one I was confident in, But nothing has clicked yet. I will look into the above suggestions, thanks to all again!

    I was a little let down to find one persons site (who shall remain nameless and not recommended) who went on and on about "busking back in the day" and how he lived the "broke and on the street lifestyle" (Interpreted as rice cake eating hippie I think, which is FINE but.....) only to move on to displaying his $3000 dollar plus instruments and offer a sheet of plans for $200, I mean come on.......

  • Wiley Rutledge December 18, 2010 at 9:20pm

    I didn't really figure you were looking for something from a cigar box, but when it jumped into my brain I had to say something.  I think I saw the same guy's site and had the same reaction, but be assured that most dulcimer makers are hard working, inventive and while they all toot their own horn (he who tooteth not his own horn getteth his horn not tooted) they are honest and deliver good measure for good pay.  I thought of another source for plans, the Guild of American Luthiers who have plans and an article describing the building process available.  Don't want to sound like I'm trying to take over, but I've been studying plans, ideas and instructions for several types of instruments in the last few months and seem to have more resources bookmarked than I thought.

    http://www.luth.org/plans/dulcimers.htm


    Mark Bliss said:

    Appreciate all the tips, and welcome more!

    I dont have a problem with building a box, or any part of it for that matter. I am looking for a decent set of plans, and researching all the information I can find. There are some great resources available, and as luck has it I am really not in any big hurry, just looking into it.

    And I wasnt thinking cigar box, just knew there are some industrious DIY'rs that follow these threads and often have great input.

    I'd buy her an entry level HD, if I could find one I was confident in, But nothing has clicked yet. I will look into the above suggestions, thanks to all again!

    I was a little let down to find one persons site (who shall remain nameless and not recommended) who went on and on about "busking back in the day" and how he lived the "broke and on the street lifestyle" (Interpreted as rice cake eating hippie I think, which is FINE but.....) only to move on to displaying his $3000 dollar plus instruments and offer a sheet of plans for $200, I mean come on.......

  • Diane in Chicago December 18, 2010 at 8:59pm

    http://www.harpkit.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Co...

  • Mark Bliss December 18, 2010 at 8:11pm

    Appreciate all the tips, and welcome more!

    I dont have a problem with building a box, or any part of it for that matter. I am looking for a decent set of plans, and researching all the information I can find. There are some great resources available, and as luck has it I am really not in any big hurry, just looking into it.

    And I wasnt thinking cigar box, just knew there are some industrious DIY'rs that follow these threads and often have great input.

    I'd buy her an entry level HD, if I could find one I was confident in, But nothing has clicked yet. I will look into the above suggestions, thanks to all again!

    I was a little let down to find one persons site (who shall remain nameless and not recommended) who went on and on about "busking back in the day" and how he lived the "broke and on the street lifestyle" (Interpreted as rice cake eating hippie I think, which is FINE but.....) only to move on to displaying his $3000 dollar plus instruments and offer a sheet of plans for $200, I mean come on.......

  • Wiley Rutledge December 18, 2010 at 2:23pm

    Rick Thum/Jakes Cabin offers a 12/11 kit for less than 200 bucks and a starter 13/12 Medowlark for $250 if that might be of interest to you. Sometimes you can catch a used instrument on the marketplace of the Everything Dulcimer, and several other makers sell a starter dulcimer for about $250.00.  Something that you usually don't realize until you get started is that you will need hammers, a tuner, and a stand as well which runs the cost up as well.  If you're a builder, the absolute cheapest way to go is to build.  Sorry I ddin't think about these earlier.

  • Wiley Rutledge December 18, 2010 at 12:16pm

    Try the Smithsonian website for a prototype pattern for a 12/11 (2 1/2 octaves), which is a good starter size.  The construction for the box is relatively simple but requires resistance to high tension over about 90% of the box.  The plans show the traditional trapezoid shape, but the shape, while ideal for tuning, can be somewhat revised as long as pin location is supported under the top.  Traditional dulcimers generally have a floating top and the bridges aren't glued down, but a glued top is not a problem for a first effort.  The bridges DO need to be adjustable until the tuning position is secure, then they will be held in place with many foot tons of pressure.

    Trying to add the URL for the site, but if it fails, search "hammer dulcimer plans" and you can find it easily, along with other plans/books on construction.  The basic concept is easy---it's the details and numbers of courses of strings, placement and construction of bridges etc. that are very detailed and in some instances intricate, but a worthy goal.  Don't know about using a cigar box, but I've seen cases on e-bay that might be cut down in height and----------

     

    http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_Si/nmah/hdmake.htm

  • Alan Roberts December 18, 2010 at 11:05am

    See if you can find a copy of "Making Wood Folk Instruments" by Dennis Waring. It has instructions for a dulcimer with a single-bridge, and twelve courses of three strings each. I picked up a used copy from Powell's Bookstore for $9.95. ISBN 0-8069-7482-6

  • Mark Bliss December 18, 2010 at 10:49am

    Thanks Diane, I will look there.

    I have "poked around" some, looking at student/entry level instruments, and looking for kits and such. All new territory for me, the only ones I have really seen are at festivals and luthiers shops who also make mountain/appalachian dulcimers, which I am into. Looking at the hammered style zithers, makes me think theres not that much to them, just a box and a LOT more strings..... And a bunch of little bridges....... But I am a hopeless optimist!

    Thanks again!

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