One piece neck blank, trying to think outside the box. (be gentle or cruel, I can work with either one.. :) )

[Absinthe]

I had an idea and just wonder if there might be any feedback on it. I have yet to come up with a soundboard/box but I figured I can do a neck. This one doesn't have a fretboard attached yet, so imagine that it does. My idea was that if I stylized everything, and made nice glue joints, I could use guitar style tuners, and carve somewhat of a scroll or at least a knob with the rasps from this beginning.

It needs another block in the center, but I ran out of wood. (Did I mention I was making this from scraps that wouldn't work in other builds?) The upper left should be a pretty good round, or even little bit of a scroll (depending on how much nerve I work up to try carving it after I rasp it round). The lower right would be the strum recess with some rasping into a more gentle shape, and the bottom pointy spot can hold strings in gromets to be bridged right after the strum area. I think it is measured for a 24" scale.

Initially the idea was to leave it with somewhat hard corners so it looked a bit metal or punk or whatever 😉 But as I live with it, it is calling out for some loving rasp-massage.

I really do urn to do a proper scroll peghead and the whole thing at some point. But I am willing to take some baby steps. I am also open to some alternative processes like using cigar boxes, card board, recycling a hollow door, or other creative ideas I haven't though of yet. 

[NoterMan]

Interesting start, that's for sure.  There have been "suspended" fretboards like this built in the past, with "interesting" results -- acouple folk loved 'em, others hated 'em.  

Point of terminology -- a dulcimer does not have a "neck".  it has a fretboard.  Only the tuning head extends beyond the body.  An instrument neck extends almost completely beyond the body -- like on a guitar, uke, mandolin etc.  

Good luck on your build

  

[KWL]

I've never encountered anyone building a dulcimer by starting with the fretboard. Interesting concept. I see a coffin shaped body, but that is only what I would do with that fretboard/peg head. What is your VSL going to be? It looks like it will go from near the first diagonal where the peg head meets the fret board to the middle of the block on the far end.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song." 

[Absinthe]

Thank you for the input. That is an interesting observation. I assume then, the "walking" or "stick" dulcimers don't count as dulcimers since their necks do extend?

In my case, whatever this piece is or will be called, it does not have the fretboard attached to it yet, after which I will comfortably call the whole thing a fret board. However, being a single piece, containing the head fretboard and tail I am not certain what name it should get to differentiate it.

Regardless, it is currently a "blank".

The last instruments I made were about 6 "canjos" which have a single string, and are diatonically fretted, does that count as a dulcimer? (I wouldn't, but it is pretty much the same instrument as the stick thingie, that you aren't supposed to call a "strum stick" for some reason) Just only has 1 string.

[Absinthe]

9 minutes ago, KWL said:

I've never encountered anyone building a dulcimer by starting with the fretboard. Interesting concept. I see a coffin shaped body, but that is only what I would do with that fretboard/peg head. What is your VSL going to be? It looks like it will go from near the first diagonal where the peg head meets the fret board to the middle of the block on the far end.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song." 

Well, I am yet to ever build a soundboard or soundbox at all, so I guess you start from where you are. 🙂

It has been a while since I glued that up, but as I remember it is 24" scale. Though, it is possible that it is 22-1/2 since it was around the time I was making the canjos and they are all 22.5.

I assume I am learning some more terminology, as I have been calling the distance from nut to bridge "scale" and seems that everyone here uses VSL, I am guessing that is "Vibratory String Length"? Am I close? I will google it later, but that felt like cheating 🙂

[NoterMan]

Yup -- Vibrating String length.  Dulcimers have a distinctly different set of terminology than guitars and other stringed and necked instruments.  Here's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terminology, plus answers to many beginner questions about the instrument.

I Just Got A.pdf

[KWL]

The reason you are not to call it a Strum Stick is that that is a registered trademark of McNally Instruments. Only the holder of the trademark or anyone he licenses it to is legally allowed to use that name.

As NoterMan mentioned, dulcimers terminology is different from other string instrument builders. Learning the dulcimer vocabulary helps us all speak the same language when discussing building techniques, etc. We learn by asking questions and having discussions with each other. You are doing a good job learning all these new terminologies. Best wishes as you continue to develop your interest in building mountain dulcimers.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

[Absinthe]

On 11/18/2021 at 10:49 PM, NoterMan said:

Yup -- Vibrating String length.  Dulcimers have a distinctly different set of terminology than guitars and other stringed and necked instruments.  Here's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terminology, plus answers to many beginner questions about the instrument.

I Just Got A.pdf 1.01 MB · 0 downloads

Thanks for the pdf. Does the site have a file library? I will try to use it and perhaps not sound like a complete idiot when asking questions 🙂

I agree language is important. It gives us the tools to learn. Every new discipline comes with a new vernacular. If someone is not willing to take the time and learn it, well then they are just not interested enough to learn.

 

[Absinthe]

On 11/19/2021 at 8:25 AM, KWL said:

The reason you are not to call it a Strum Stick is that that is a registered trademark of McNally Instruments. Only the holder of the trademark or anyone he licenses it to is legally allowed to use that name.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Oh, I know about the trademark issue. But, I find the extent that people go to about it to be ridiculous almost to the point of being obnoxious. I understand McNally's goal. I also understand their requirements for zealous defense of their IP. And, as far as it goes, I would fully support not making one and selling it using that name. 

However, if I see one, or something that looks like it I am likely to call it such a thing. Same way that I ask for Kleenex, Aspirin, Xerox Copies, Cokes (in the south), Bubble Wrap, Dumpster, Escalator, Frisbee, Popsicle, Taser, Yo-yo, and even Google. I even caught myself saying that I was going to use Duck-duck-go to Google something the other day.

If your product is good, and popular, unfortunately, your trade name will become the generic term. It is inevitable. I remember this kind of stuff going on with the "Kitchen Helper" or "Kitchen Buddy" in the wood working forums, and I think the "squatty Potty" thing got its turn to have people try to come up with good alternative names.

To me, if you want to preserve your trademark you need to start with an industry standard name. Then apply the brand to it. "Kleenex Facial Tissue", "Xerox Photostatic Copy", "Hershey's Chocolate Bar". But too many times people try to be cute and give something a trademark-able name without specifying a proper industry standard generic name. Then you leave a void so when someone wants something like yours but not yours, or makes their own version of it, they are either stuck inventing a new name, like the "Walking Dulcimer", "Pickin' Stick", or "Stick Dulcimer". All of which could have, in themselves become tradenames (kind of like Motrin and Advil).

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to make anyone's life any harder, so I simply don't use the term. But I remain frustrated that there isn't (or doesn't seem to be) an industry standard terminology to refer to such items. I am trying to be careful with a woodworking tool I am currently making. Many people see it and refer to it as the brand term that it knocks off. And I try to correct them, when I can. I think perhaps I could do a recursive acronym name like "Gnu" for "Gnu is Not Unix". In that vein I propose that they be referred to henceforth as GINASS Dulcimers. Where GINASS stands for "GINASS Is Not A Strum Stick™" It would be pronounced in the same way as Guiness Stout. If this were to catch on, and become a standard terminology, soon enough you would see McNally start selling "Strum Stick™ brand GINASS Dulcimers" and there would be fabulous humor in that. But then I am kind of geeky in what I find humorous. 🙂 Kind of a negative version of Shrimp Scampi and Chai Tea (scampi means shrimp, and chai means tea)...

Anyway, I am awake too late to be typing stuff like this. 🙂 Good night.

[NoterMan]

This Everything Dulcimer site does not have a File library.

You are right that the Strumstick name is a trademark issue.  And, obnoxious or not,  those of us who have been around for a long time in the dulcimer world do our best to help McNally protect and retain his trademark.  If mis-use of a trademark is not pursued and corrected, it is true that he can lose the right to the name.  As someone who spent a lifetime working with intellectual property, I have a particular interest in trademark and copyright issues.

You said:  "I assume then, the "walking" or "stick" dulcimers don't count as dulcimers since their necks do extend?"
There's that terminology again.  True, a "stick dulcimer" is not a dulcimer; the term is from someone trying to justify their "Stick thingie" as a dulcimer. 

However, an Ozark Walking Stick or Indian Walking Stick is a particular design of dulcimer from that part of the country -- they do not have a neck extending beyond the body.  The body is actually a modified teardrop shape with a sharp angle rather than a bend in the side; many of us today call that a "coffin shape".  

You also said:  In my case... it does not have the fretboard attached to it yet, after which I will comfortably call the whole thing a fret board. However, being a single piece, containing the head fretboard and tail I am not certain what name it should get to differentiate it.

I'm not sure (or can't rememebr that I've heard) what that "all one piece" is called either. But the concept is indeed an old one in the dulcimer world.  I'll ask around to some of my traditional dulcemore builder friends.  I know at least one or two build replicas using that technique, and I'll let you know.  
 

[KWL]

As far as I can recall, I've never heard a name applied to it. I call it a peg head, fret board and tail piece made from a single piece of wood. I know that is unwieldy, but that is what I call it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

[Absinthe]

12 hours ago, NoterMan said:

 

I'm not sure (or can't rememebr that I've heard) what that "all one piece" is called either. But the concept is indeed an old one in the dulcimer world.  I'll ask around to some of my traditional dulcemore builder friends.  I know at least one or two build replicas using that technique, and I'll let you know.  
 

In the "guitar" or at least "CBG" world differentiation is made for "through neck" where it goes all the way through as opposed to being attached at the heel with a dovetail or hanger bolt. There is also the "Uncle Crow" style by the person who published tutorial on making them where the whole neck is attached directly to the top outside of the cigar box, pizza box or whatever is used for sound box. 

Made my second instrument in that style, in about an hour.