Old School

If it's not a guitar or a bass guitar discussion, and it's got strings, put it here.
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Dale Penrose
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Old School

Post by Dale Penrose »

Was recently asked to build a "old style mountain dulcimer", three strings, hand carved pegs, and staple frets. Twas a fun build, had to learn how to make the frets. Here's a short clip of the new owner with his dulcimer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4uOuN0Ky4M&t=3s
Gordon Bellerose
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Joined: Wed May 30, 2012 11:47 pm
Location: Edmonton AB. Canada

Re: Old School

Post by Gordon Bellerose »

Very nice! Beautiful black walnut.
Nice tone too!
I need your help. I can't possibly make all the mistakes myself!
Bob Francis
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Re: Old School

Post by Bob Francis »

Sounds great!
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Karl Wicklund
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Re: Old School

Post by Karl Wicklund »

That’s nice sounding Dulcy-more! Did you bend the staple wire for the frets yourself or did you source some found industrial piece for it? I’ve seen staple frets on a very few instruments and they’ve all been a little different, as I guess befits a folk instrument.

Great work!
Kaptain Karl
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Bryan Bear
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Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Old School

Post by Bryan Bear »

Very nice!

Dale, are you also in the St. Louis area?
PMoMC

Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
Mark Wybierala
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Location: Central New Jersey

Re: Old School

Post by Mark Wybierala »

I've really got to build a dulcimer. It looks like it would be such a wonder instrument to sit and noodle lending itself to sound like you know what you're doing when you really don't -- always open to actually learning for real like I've done with mandolin. I call it faking talent really well. Your dulcimer is beautiful. I appreciate that there is a tradition behind these beautiful instruments.
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Steve Sawyer
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Location: Detroit, Michigan

Re: Old School

Post by Steve Sawyer »

Years ago, I started a dulcimer. Every so often, I "find" the bundle of parts, or the plans, and think "I really should finish that".

I really need to put this into the build queue. After the current build. And the bass that's next up. And the re-fret on my Strat...
==Steve==
Dale Penrose
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Re: Old School

Post by Dale Penrose »

Karl Wicklund, I bent the staples myself out of .042 music wire. Once I got the hang of it, it went quickly.
Bryan Bear, I'm in Webster Groves, we'll have to meet up for a beer someday at Urban Chestnut.
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Bryan Bear
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Location: St. Louis, MO

Re: Old School

Post by Bryan Bear »

Dale, we have a gathering every year at Hibdon Hardwoods. It pretty low key, just a day of showing your work, some demos and hanging out talking about instrument making. We get folks from around the area come in for the day. You should come. I just found your Facebook page, so I know you are on FB. Look for Gateway Area Luthier Assembly.
PMoMC

Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.
Mark Wybierala
Posts: 469
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:14 am
Location: Central New Jersey

Re: Old School

Post by Mark Wybierala »

Got wood yesterday for dulcimer. Curly maple and Spanish Cedar for soundboard.
Clay Schaeffer
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Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:04 pm

Re: Old School

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

Hi Dale,
Nice to see you are still building dulcimers. Is the Sweet Music Digest still going? Somewhere in changing computers over the years I lost track of it. John Stockard visited here several years back, but I haven't kept up with the people from the group to know how they are doing.
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