Dulcimer

comments (5) March 10th, 2010 in Reader's Gallery

larrysak3 larrysak3, member
thumbs up 38 users recommend
Dulcimer - full view - non-traditional shape for a mountain dulcimer.
Dulcimer - top is made from strips of cedar.  Sides are walnut.
Dulcimer - walnut back - walnut rescued by filling all the cracks with an epoxy-charcoal mixture
Dulcimer - Lower bout showing binding and purfling detail.  End piece is oak and cherry.
Dulcimer - Peghead - Cherry sandwiched between walnut - from pallet wood
Dulcimer - full view - non-traditional shape for a mountain dulcimer. - CLICK TO ENLARGE

Dulcimer - full view - non-traditional shape for a mountain dulcimer.
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This is a Mountain Dulcimer in a non-traditional shape. 

  • Top:  Cedar strips left over from building a strip-built canoe. 
  • Back and sides: Walnut that a friend was going to feed to his fireplace because it was splitting all over the place - basically falling apart. I rescued it by working an epoxy-charcoal mix into all the cracks using a credit card as a squeegee.  
  • Peghead: A piece of cherry sandwiched between two pieces of walnut - all from pallet wood. 
  • Fretboard:  Walnut (not sure where it came from).
  • End block - Scraps of oak and cherry.
  • Bindings:  Thin strips of basswood - cutoffs from pieces used to make guitar linings. 
  • Nut and Bridge:  Composite counter top material (like Dupont's Corian)
  • Bracing and linings (inside - not visible):  Cedar, left over from the canoe.
  • The hardware (tuners, strings, frets, string pins) was purchased.
  • The purfling (decorative thin lines adjacent to the bindings on the sides) was also purchased.

 


Design or Plan used: My Own Design - Larry Sakayama
posted in: Reader's Gallery, musical instrument, dulcimer, canoe, Guitar, pallet
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Comments (5)

ecocandle ecocandle writes: I really like the detail of adding the black dots. What a beautiful instrument. It makes me wish I knew how to play one.
Posted: 2:27 pm on March 29th

Triumph1 Triumph1 writes: Congratulations Larry! This was a beautiful piece and the craftsmanship was amazing.
Posted: 7:00 am on March 23rd

pappabear pappabear writes: looks like art no doubt about. great looking piece, superior detail very nice! Bravo!!
Posted: 5:38 pm on March 16th

4545 4545 writes: Wow.
Posted: 9:25 pm on March 14th

Jurgen01 Jurgen01 writes: This is a musical work of art. If it sounds as good as it looks, then it is a real treasure. Beautifully designed with great details and craftsmanship. Thanks for posting these photographs.
Posted: 12:04 am on March 13th

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