Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Highnoon on June 29, 2011 at 6:57am

I recently built a traditional dulcimer with a 1 inch neck. A 4-string with double melody strings but I placed the other two strings close together because the intention for this dulcimer is to be played noter style.

But my 4-string tenor guitar is only 1-1/4" at the nut. But I just measured the lower 3 strings and allowing 1/8" of room on the outer two strings it's only about 7/8" wide. So I think you could get away with 1" very easily. I think it's a great idea to try! I may try that on a later build myself.

 

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on June 29, 2011 at 7:02am

HI Hal,

No optical illusion. Stick Dulcimers (strum sticks, pick'n sticks, strummers, call 'em what ya like) have narrower necks (hence the word "stick" in many of their names) and they also have a narrower string spacing and narrower edges (the space between the outer strings and their respective edges of the neck). For those folks used to standard guitar necks and string spacing, these necks feel very narrow and "tight" as far as space goes between strings. Stick dulcimers and ukuleles both have 3/8" string spacing as compared to more like 1/2" for guitars. I don't have the exact specs for the reference model (the McNally Strumstick) on hand, but on the 3-Stringer instruments I build, the fretboard is 1.25" wide with 3/8" string spacing and 1/4" edges. I could easily squeeze another 1/4" out of the width making the fretboards 1" wide (as you are looking to do) by making the edges 1/8". I think 1/4" between strings is too tight (narrow). Any more detailed answer will require a bit of research. Let me know if you have further questions.

 

You might want to check out the CBN group called Dulcimers and Strummers and my personal page (as most of what I build are stick dulcimers). Also, most stick dulcimers also have diatonic spaced fretboards (or necks).

 

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on June 29, 2011 at 7:13am

Thanks Rand.

On CBGs with 1-1/2" necks, the string spacing usually works out at 3/8". (Split the 1-1/2 for the middle string, than halve that again for the outers.)  Looking at my 6-stringers, the spacing looks to be 1/4", so  I don't think that would be too narrow for someone used to a "standard" guitar.  I think I'll try tapering the neck from 1" at the nut up to about 1-3/8 at the neck joint.

Rand Moore said:

HI Hal,

No optical illusion. Stick Dulcimers (strum sticks, pick'n sticks, strummers, call 'em what ya like) have narrower necks (hence the word "stick" in many of their names) and they also have a narrower string spacing and narrower edges (the space between the outer strings and their respective edges of the neck). For those folks used to standard guitar necks and string spacing, these necks feel very narrow and "tight" as far as space goes between strings. Stick dulcimers and ukuleles both have 3/8" string spacing as compared to more like 1/2" for guitars. I don't have the exact specs for the reference model (the McNally Strumstick) on hand, but on the 3-Stringer instruments I build, the fretboard is 1.25" wide with 3/8" string spacing and 1/4" edges. I could easily squeeze another 1/4" out of the width making the fretboards 1" wide (as you are looking to do) by making the edges 1/8". I think 1/4" between strings is too tight (narrow). Any more detailed answer will require a bit of research. Let me know if you have further questions.

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on June 29, 2011 at 7:26am

Is it a 1/4 inch on a standard gutar? I work mostly in metric, so I could be confused. Here's another thread on this topic...link to thread. Also, here is a useful link on a non-CBN website: Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer.

-Rand.