Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Order99 on December 10, 2012 at 7:47pm

Hello James, been at the Nation long?

BTW, that is one of the prettiest Lap Dulcimers i've seen in a while- I suspect your daughter will LOVE it! Did you paint or stain the neck or is that just a very unusual wood choice?

Permalink Reply by James Avery Cunliffe on December 10, 2012 at 8:29pm

Thank you, Ive only been around for 8 or 9 months, as for the wood I was given some offcuts of Bubinga by a carpenter, too narrow for a 3 string so I made a childs Dulcimer for my daughters Christmas. Sounds really rather nice, the two boxes are actually bonded and cut to be one big box. Lots of reinforcement hidden inside and that strip outside as belt and braces. Next one for myself. The boxes were sanded back as they were rather scrappy to begin with and its got a lucky penny glued on to the soundboard for her. Very challenging build for me. 

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on December 10, 2012 at 10:00pm

Hi James,

That CBMD (Cigar Box Mountain Dulcimer) looks pretty good. On my mountain dulcimers I like to put 17 frets, starting with a fret 0 (where my scale length begins instead of the nut), then two octaves worth of frets (14 more frets), plus frets 6½ and 13½. The long necks of mountain dulcimers usually have space enough to do this and the longer scale length allows a usable amount of space between the second octave frets -- enough so that you can squeeze your fingers between frets 13, 13.5, and 14. I've documented my first dulcimer build here on CBN. It was a elliptical body shape. I think you'd appreciate the posting, so here's the link: My Mountain Dulcimer Project.

On you build I like how you secured your two cigar boxes together by bolting on two long side boards. Will have to remember that when I get around to making a cigar box based mountain dulcimer. I also like how you did your sound holes. I guess you made a template and then use the template to guide your drill. I'll have to try that as well.

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by James Avery Cunliffe on December 11, 2012 at 4:21am

Wow, your build is quite a bit beyond me. Very impressive. With mine I was just teaching myself the basics, as for the external strip, thats just an extra - the inside top of each box is braced with 1/4" poplar, the internal corners are also all reinforced as well as a single strut that runs through the middle to end pieces. Its kind of like an big "I" shape. The stresses on the box just seemed so high I thought why not? The sound holes are done by eye as my tools are very limited an I have very little space.  My next one will have a longer scale - I just dont know what I am doing yet. I think I will try your fretting next time, it seems quite logical. Thank you.