Old time mountain dulcimer construction

[Fox Paws]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this here but in the Foxfire series of publications--anyone recall them?--there's a wonderful article on how banjos and dulcimers used to be made. It's in Foxfire 3. There are interviews with Appalachian folks who were still making the instruments in more or less the old-fashioned way when the publications came out in the early 70s. Also lots of photographs of the construction process.

[jakstall]

I remember them. The Foxfire article was one thing that got me interested in dulcimers.

[kwl]

I have both Foxfire 3 and the original magazine (Foxfire, of course) in which the article appeared. The book came out near the beginning of the current mountain dulcimer revival. It did much to inform people about this instrument. The interesting thing about really old mountain dulcimers is the used of materials that were "at hand." Almost any kind of wood was used, craftsmanship varied, some had good fret spacing and action, others were just horrible. Nevertheless, I still like the feel of an Ed Thomas dulcimer in my hand.

[pickin]

Take a look at www.geocities.com/pickinwright/pictures.htm You will see a picture of a dulcimer made by Robert Mize, the featured builder in Foxfire 3. It also shows three other dulcimers which are kin to each other. It is an interesting picture.

[LarryHicks]

Thanks, Fox Paws for the info about this book. I ordered it after your post, and I am now enjoying reading about the banjos and dulcimer construction. Unfortunately, it has me thinking about building something along the lines of the old-time banjos, with a tambourine head, and a dulcimer fretboard, but with a banjo style neck so it could be played like a picking stick. For some reason, my wife thinks my 3 dulcimers (one wall-hanger, one Folkroots, and one kit under construction) are enough musical instruments around the house. By the way, the book has one article about dulcimer construction but several articles about banjos (I didn't count them, probably half a dozen or so). Larry

[Davef]

Hi Larry I bought an instrument just like you are talking about, a drum head with a dulcimer fret board. This has 2 regular strings and a short 3rd string like a claw hammer string on a banjo. I bought from a fellow named Micheal Fox who lives in Hickory,NC and he could play anything on it and make it sound great but I have yet to master it. He even gave me a tape and a tab book. If you want to know any more I will try to dig up his web site. Dave

[LarryHicks]

Thanks Dave, I found his website and found his instrument interesting. I'll have to check out his prices. I was thinking of having more of a head on it to just hold a tambourine as an insert, and also keeping the fretboard exactly like a dulcimer. Maybe ... some day...? Larry

[KenH]

Larry - take a look at my banjimer design. The side could be terminated at something like the 12th - 15th fret, and the neck from there thickened to be like a banjo. Of course instead of my head style it would have to have a flat head. I made a 21" VSL prototype of a "Ukimer" (haven't got a good name yet). Looks sorta like a flat bodied lute or a teardrop bodied uke. I think I'll make a 28" VSL version too. That body could certainly have a tambourine embedded in it.

[Fox Paws]

"For some reason, my wife thinks my 3 dulcimers (one wall-hanger, one Folkroots, and one kit under construction) are enough musical instruments around the house." Larry, all musicians' spouses need to learn that there is no such thing as "enough musical instruments around the house." More instruments are ALWAYS needed. I've been raising my wife's consciousness in this regard throughout our marriage. I have seven stringed instruments, not to mention the various little ones. I view this total as nothing more than a good start. Glad you liked the Foxfire article. It made me want to build such instruments, too, except that I can barely nail two boards together.

[Davef]

Fox Paws My wife thinks I have enough now also. We stopped at a music shop today to buy some picks and they had a Siemerman hanging on the rack amidst 6 Blue lions and I did get out of there before I got into trouble but it is so easy when there are such instruments around. By the way Ken they had a McSpadden banjimer and my wife liked the sound of mine better. Dave

[LarryHicks]

Fox Paws, my problem is that my has heard me play, and knows that I am no musician, hence she is not a musician's wife! DaveF, when I saw your post, I went right to Yahoo maps to see where Baltimore Ohio is located, hoping we were close enough so I could see your instrument some time. I had hoped it was the same as North Baltimore, which is north of Lima maybe 45 minutes away. No such luck, but I just got your email and maybe I will get to see it at the Mad River Valley Dulcimer club sometime! Larry

[SMO]

Hi, Larry Dave and his wife are members of our club here in Lnacaster, they're about ten miles north of here. We'll be at Roscoe Village in May and have our own festival, Harmony Harvest, in September. Chris Cooperrider, Joe Steiner and Skip and Kathy Baltz are regulars there. Maybe we can entice you down also.