Being Totally Satisified vs Totally Screwed Up

[mlsa]

Hey guys

I'm a bit down right this moment. Finished the dulcimer and it really looked like it turned out great. The finish turned out nice and shiny. I was playing it and getting used to the brighter sound than I'm used to. I prefer a mellower sound but I knew this one would have a brighter sound.

I took some pics of it and posted here on the site...that's when I saw IT.....how in the world I never saw it before is beyond me but I totally missed it.

The fretboard is closer to one side than the other side...in other words off center. I had marked the centerline of my end blocks and centered my fretboard on that mark. The only other thing I can think of that might have happened is that I must have cut one side of the end blocks at a different angle than the other side although the angles look the same on both sides.

So any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Frimp]

It's beautiful! One of a kind.
I've made some dulcimers that were asymmetrical, and you'd be surprised how many folks won't even notice. Really.
Some of them can't get over the fact that somebody they know actually made a PLAYABLE INSTRUMENT out of a few pieces of wood and some strings!
It's really not very noticeable if you're not looking for it. That's a BEAUTIFUL dulcimer that you can be very proud of. Congratulations!
Play on!!

[JohnH]

misa, as said before, certainly continue to play it! Some makers market alternative body shapes, and who is to know that in your case it is not just a 'regional variation' ?

[rendesvous1840]

If the sides were not bent exactly the same, that could account for the offset. Possibly after the sides were bent, one relaxed more than the other. Trace the shape of one side on a piece of paper, and see how the other side matches up to the tracing. I wouldn't worry about it too much, now that it's done. If you were planning to keep it, play it and don't worry about it. I know where the flaws are in both of mine, and someone who built one would spot them quick enough, but I've been playing them all these years and not given it much thought.
If this was ordered by a customer, you have a dilemma. You can offer the customer a right to refuse it, and build them another one. Or offer it to them at a discounted price, if they prefer. What happens to the doughnuts that break open when they are filled with jelly? I never see them in the bakery. Appliance stores have a scratch and dent sale, you could call it a blemished instrument, and ask if they can spot the defect. Offer it at a discount, and someone will buy it.
Don't beat yourself up, it's a learning experience. And an excuse to build another one. I've been looking for an excuse to build another one myself, maybe I should show the flaws in mine to the Comptroller-Mrs.Wanda!
Paul

[mlsa]

Thanks for your replies. I played it tonight at our dulcimer jam and nobody noticed. It is a pretty instrument and the sound is beginning to sound good now that the strings are not stretching as much.

It was for me so I don't have to worry about a buyer. I did learn a lot from this one. I had never built one with a double bottom nor had I ever put binding on a dulcimer and I did both and they turned out great.

On my next one I'll know what to watch for and be extra careful.

Thanks again for the replies.

Gene

[joe sanguinette]

not sure what sort of method you use to shape the instrument before you apply glue but it looks to me like this is the problem. i would guess most of us have been there.

chalk it up and enjoy playing the instrument.

[mlsa]

Hi Joe

I have a homemade bending jig that I use with a silicone heating blanket to bend my sides. Both sides plus binding were bent at one time. I have used the jig before and the sides turned out great so I'm not sure if that's the problem or not...of course it's still possible. A couple of friends of mine were looking at it last night after the jam and when you look really close you can see where one side of the bend is more rounded than the other side. I'm thinking I got off on my angle on the end blocks on one side and when I clamped them together this is what I got.

Who knows? I'll just have to wait and be really really careful with the next one. I'm already in the planning stages to see how I can prevent this from ever happening again.

Thanks for your reply.

Gene

[picky player]

Being asymetrical (sp) proves it is hand-made and so you can brag on your ability to build as well as play one.

[harpmaker]

If the fret board is perfectly centered on the head and tail blocks then the "problem" is in the sides. I'm guessing that you don't have the sides in a fixture when you glue everything up? I suspect that the waist curve on the larger side may have relaxed some which would move not only that point but also the upper and lower bouts out a bit.

I put the word problem in quotes because although this may be disturbing to you, if the dulcimer plays well and sounds good then this really isn't a problem. It is a good looking dulcimer....chalk this up to the ol' "learning curve" and start thinking about your next one.

I am curious though as to why you use Danish oil and lacquer. Seems to be double work. The purpose of the finish is to protect the wood and bring out the grain. Either one will do that.

[mrchips]

One thing that will often help keeping everything alined along a center line is to put some form of temporary brace across the waist As most people use some form of a mold to hold the sides and end blocks in place its a simple matter to add that temp brace IF you draw a center line down the center of your mold. After the glue sets on everything then mark the center of the end blocks and add a center mark on that brace. It then becomes a simple matter to straighten out any variation by using the edge of a yardstick on those 3 marks before gluing on the top pr bottom. Just be sure to remove that center brace if you dont want a brace there before closing up the dulcimer or just simply make one that will stay there.

[mlsa]

Thanks again for the new replies. I did not have it in any type of jig when I glued it up so maybe that is where the problem lies. I promise there will be a glueing up jig before the next one is built. LOL>

Harpmaker, I have always used a combination of Danish Oil and Lacquer on my instruments that I built. I could never get the shine I was looking for with just Danish Oil. I love the way the Danish Oil pops the grain out and seals the instrument but to me (personal opinion) the lacquer gives it a harder finish and adds that extra shine to it. Is it needed? Maybe not but that's just the way I do it.

I did do an instrument once with Oil and it did give it a nice shine but it didn't seem to hold up as well as what I was used to doing so I started back with the Danish Oil and Lacquer.

[Dave Sewell]

A building jig can be very simple, but it is essential to the symmetry of the instrument!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f274/Dave3121/Lacewood%20and%20Maple/DCP08662.jpg


So, you learned something. And from that, your skills and your finished product will improve!

"Falling down, we learn. Staying down, we die."

Build on, play on!