Replies

  • Randy Burks November 26, 2012 at 1:31am

    What would be the best strings to use on a mountain dulcimer. Scale length is 28.5 inches nut to bridge. What strings and tuning should I use.

    • Rand Moore > Randy Burks November 26, 2012 at 5:20am

      In China, I found the guitar strings made here are too short for my 28" VSL dulcimer, so when I was in the States I purchased some mountain dulcimer strings. You can find them at musical instrument stores that also sell mountain dulcimers, or better yet, order them via the Internet. I think there's a web site called Strings.com that should handle them. Or, you can try Google and search using key words like "mountain dulcimer strings".

      On my second mountain dulcimer I reduced the scale length to 24" so I wouldn't have a problem finding strings. Banjo strings are another possibility, assuming your dulcimer handles "loop" string ends as opposed to "ball" string ends. Here's some info on string gauges I copied over from my write-up of my first mountain dulcimer project:

      String Gauges for Mountain Dulcimers

      Here is some information on string sizes to use for a Mountain Dulcimer. You can buy mountain dulcimer string sets, but I think I'll start with guitar strings of suitable gauge:

      Four-String with Double-Melody (Tuning:  D-A-AA  or D-A-dd)

      1. Melody String #1:  0.010 to 0.012 plain steel
      2. Melody String #2: 0.010 to 0.012 plain steel
      3. Middle String: 0.012 to 0.014 plain steel
      4. Bass String: 0.022 bronze-wound (or similar wound)

      On my second MD with the 24" scale, I use guitar strings #1, #2 and #3 from a set of 6 light guitar strings.

      Hope this helps.

      -Rand.

  • Randy Burks November 20, 2012 at 12:53am
    Thanks Rand very informative. I may have some questions for you all as I get started and progress with the build. I want to thank every one for your help.
  • Rand Moore November 18, 2012 at 11:02am

    Hi Again, Randy Burke.


    I took some photos of my second mountain dulcimer and have uploaded them for you to look at.

    They can be found at this link.

    What is unusual about this mountain dulcimer (MD) is that its neck extends almost thru the sound box, terminating at the tail end (side) of the sound box without penetrating it. This is a cigar box guitar building technique. In addition, above the sound board I added a raised fretboard using three 3cm wide x 0.5 cm thick slats of trim wood to raise the fretboard a full 2cm (about 3/4") off the soundboard. So, on this instrument, the neck touches the soundboard on one side, and the elevated neck touches the soundboard on the other side for the full length of the sound box. The headstock is contiguous with the neck, so it's not glued on as a separate piece as was done on my first MD. I feel this is a cleaner design, though I like the scalloped elevated fretboard on my first MD. Feel free to copy any of my design or build techniques.

    -Rand.

  • Randy Burks November 17, 2012 at 9:03pm

    I am looking at all of your information it very useful. I am learning alot from all of you. Getting ready to get  started I think.

  • Rand Moore November 17, 2012 at 7:24am

    Hi Randy Burks,

    I have built a mountain dulcimer and documented it in detail her on CBN. Here's the link. I think you'll find a lot of useful information there, as well as links to some other sites that have information on building mountain dulcimers.

    On my second mountain dulcimer, I used a 24" x 6" x 2" rectangluar box (home-made) and a shorter scale lenght of 50cm (20"). resulting in am instrument that fits more comfortably in my lap, and one I could use guitar strings (1, 2, & 3 from a set of six). The headstock and neck were adapted from the laminated necks I use on my stick dulcimers. I don't have a photo, but the headstock like the one in this photo...

    240195093?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

     But on my second mountain dulcimer I laminated together three slats of cherry trim wood and glued that between the neck and the fretboard to raise the fretboard to the proper level as they are on most mountain dulcimers (e.g. about 3/4" above the sound board). I'll have to take some photos of this instrument and post them, Will try to that in the next day or two.

    P.S. The Stew-Mac Fret Placement Calculator (mentioned above) has a instrument type selection box. If you select "Dulcimer" from the drop down selection box, the resulting table of fret measurements will be adapted for the mountain dulcimer (and stick-dulcimer). So, it simplifies the process of sorting out which frets you need and which you don't need from the chromatic fretboard layout (e.g. guitar fretboard). Those "dirty details" are also buried somewhere here in CBN.

    -Rand.

  • Rooster Reaves November 15, 2012 at 1:33pm

    One thing you might do to is look on e-bay.  Look under cigar box guitar neck and fret boards.

     They have dulcimer fret boards on there real cheeeep!!!

  • Wiley Rutledge November 15, 2012 at 10:42am
    The size of the box has more to do with volume than tone if you're building straight acoustic. Full size dulcimer VSL ranges from about 25 to 28 inches with a few shorter but higher toned dulcimers. IMHO dulcimer building is much like cbg, if you get the fret bouts right there aren't many other rules.
  • Rooster Reaves November 15, 2012 at 7:54am

    John's right on the Stu Mac stuff .  They got almost any thing you need in there to build.

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