Going beyond cigar boxs

Hi,
I have at last found the nerve to have a go at something a step up from boxes. Having a crack at a mountain dulcimer. No kit or real plans and with whatever wood I have around. Read up a bit on the net and it appears they were traditionally made from locally available timbers so that translates to back & sides of eastern mahogany(meranti), a cedar top and the finger board will likely be NGR. The sides are just cold bent and held in place with the end blocks.
First thing I was lacking was clamps so I had to make some. Then aquire more specialist clamps. Next a jig to cut the kerfing.
Pics of the progress so far.
Regards
John

:2tsup: Watching. Make sure you put those pegs back in the laundry or you'll be in trouble on washing day.

Careful, slippery slope!

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

:2tsup: Watching. Make sure you put those pegs back in the laundry or you'll be in trouble on washing day.

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It was an under cover operation. I snuck them out then snuck them back. I am on the lookout for a bag of wood pegs if anyone still sells them.
Regards
John

Bulldog clips from office supplies shop work really well too.

Found you project John so while our internet is sort of working I'm putting in a post to ensure I see your progress,
and when TPG & Telstra get there act together I'll look forward to viewing the photos, Cheers, Peter

PS - I would have thought it was the bower birds who moved the pegs....

Hi,
Well some more progress and finding some mistakes that I will do a bit different next time. As I said at the start I dont have plans for this but the idea was to just build one and figure out the problems along the way and learn some lessons. The big mistake is that the body curves are not equal both sides. Not a show stopper but noticeable when the fingerboard is in place. I,ll call it the hand made look but the next one will be built on a form. There is a lot less standardisation with these than guitars so the bracing is what I think it needs and also resisting the urge to overbuild. Anyhow some pics of the progress.
Regards
John

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Originally Posted by orraloon

Hi,
The big mistake is that the body curves are not equal both sides. Not a show stopper but noticeable when the fingerboard is in place. I'll call it the hand made look but the next one will be built on a form.
Regards, John

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Now John,
I hear there is a big difference between a luthier and Lucifer, the little devil that steals clothes pegs :rolleyes: !

I have also read somewhere, but can't find it at the moment, that the the Asymmetric Mountain Dulcimer is highly prized in some areas of Eastern Europe and in areas of USA where the sound of banjo music sends people a'running ..... be careful!

fletty

so how many cigars will it hold?

Hi again,
Well to answer some questions. I found some that are asymmetric. There does not appear to be a standard shape so if anyone spots it is odd shaped then it is custom built.
As a non smoker I dont give monkey's how many cigars fit in it:D

Well had a few hours in the shed today making the peg head. As a first go at this it took a bit longer than I had figured as there are a lot of angles to figure out . I'll still have to reshape the top of the mouth where the first string goes. NG rosewood like the finger board.
Just about ready to glue up after the frets are fitted.
Regards
John

Well I had a bit of a wait for the frett wire to arrive so in the meantime I finished off a uke someone asked me to build for them. So still playing with boxes.
Got the fretting done, all glued up and the first coat of DO applied. I will likely put on about 6 coats but am itching to get it strung up to see how it sounds.
Regards
John

We will require another short video clip please John. :sing:

Stick with plastic pegs, there's nothing worse than glueing the wooden pegs onto the linings!

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Originally Posted by pugwash

Stick with plastic pegs, there's nothing worse than glueing the wooden pegs onto the linings!

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Thanks I'll remember that.
Regards
John

I started with wood pegs years ago until I glued a couple to the dulcimer. Now I use plastic.