Appalachian Dulcimers
High Quality English Handmade Hammered Dulcimers (Single)
These instruments are only made from selected quarter sawn tonewoods.
The Hammered Dulcimer has beguiled me since restoring an old instrument made originally in 1886 by a local player, I now offer my own range of models to suit all needs.
All these Dulcimers are jig built to form a very distinctive backward bend to compensate for string tension, this results in a very stable soundbox.
This process does involve more time in construction but keeps the weight down of the instrument without the need for extra bracing. If the soundbox is built flat it will result in time bending with string tension ending up with an unstable instrument. A common fault even with new Dulcimers.
Soundboards are of selected quarter sawn Sitka Spruce or Mahogany to give superior tone & projection, while unwanted resonance is controlled by careful design of the internal strutting.
This Dulcimer has the latest design of internal strutting and modified pin blocks mainly to reduce the weight. it is a 16/16 hammered dulcimer with the bottom 3 strings as drones (A,C&D). The back, sound-board and the 3mm side veneers are made of old reclaimed Mahogany. The pin block is Hard Rock Maple veneered with Burr Walnut. The edges of the soundbox are bound with Boxwood and inlaid around the soundboard with a decorative banding. The main bridges are quarter sawn Beech with a nylon 6.6 capping. The outer bridges are also Beech with polished brass cappings. The turned sound-hole rings are made from Maple, the instrument is completely French polished by hand to a beautiful satin finish.
Double Sided Hammered Dulcimer and Stand
Hammered Dulcimer with Dampers and Stand
Pictured below is the latest 16/16 Hammered Dulcimer to be completed with damper bar system, new design adjustable stand & hard case.
Adjustable Stand specifcation. Height @ the front 25 1/4 ins, back 31 3/4 ins. Extended front 35 1/2 ins, back 42 ins.
Some images of the damper-bar system I designed for the 5 bridge dulcimer which went to France. It is fully chromatic in 4 octaves!
