looking for some help

[davis]

Trying to start my first build ..reading everything I can find on internet .. including Dean Kimball  but cannot  find hard copy .. everything out of print looking for plans if anyone knows where to find 

Thanks Davis from nova scotia canada

[Admin]

Here's a couple plans that are easy to source:

https://www.folkcraft.com/products/hourglass-dulcimer-plan-traditional

https://genone-luthier-supply.com/products/hourglass-mountain-dulcimer-plans

Dean Kimble's book can be found on eBay and Amazon sometimes, though the usual asking price ($100+) is a bit expensive for what it is. 

 

 

[KWL]

The plans that Admin mentions are good. I've used the Scott Antes plan (Folkcraft) to make many dulcimers. While I haven't used the genone plan for dulcimer, I have used their plan for a guitar and found it complete and detailed. There are other plans out there, just do an internet search for them. Dean Kimball's book did not come with full size plans.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

[davis]

On 11/14/2022 at 12:35 PM, Admin said:

Here's a couple plans that are easy to source:

https://www.folkcraft.com/products/hourglass-dulcimer-plan-traditional

https://genone-luthier-supply.com/products/hourglass-mountain-dulcimer-plans

Dean Kimble's book can be found on eBay and Amazon sometimes, though the usual asking price ($100+) is a bit expensive for what it is. 

Thanks for this 

 

 

[NoterMan]

Give us an idea of what you're interested in building  (hourglass, teardrop, elliptical shape, etc), and several of us here can talk you through the requisite steps, which have changed somewhat since those earlier plans were created.     The Luthier-Supply plans are particularly overly-complicated. For example, we seldom using kerf strips these days, and the glues today are much better.  We also have a number of tips, tricks, and jigs which can help make your upcoming build a LOT easier.     If you must use plans for an hourglass style, I personally suggest the Folkcraft set.   Teardrop and Elliptical shapes hardly need plans at all, as we can explain.

 

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Edited November 16, 2022 by NoterMan

[Les Tate]

If you don't want to build the first one from scratch, you can often find older kits on eBay that are fairly inexpensive. Clamps, good wood glue, sandpaper (400 grit or higher), and some standard household tools can get you started. Finish with lacquer or an air-drying furniture oil. I bought a used set of instrument clamps cheap that I'm still using. They were homemade from a long threaded bolt with a wing nut and two pieces of 1-1/4" diameter wood dowel which had holes drilled through the middle and leather applied to the clamping side. Fretwire can be installed using wire clippers, a flat piece of wood, and a small hammer (don't hammer the frets directly). Smooth the ends down to the wood using a file angled against the corner of the fretboard. I've accumulated some handy tools as I advanced in building and repair if you need specifics.

[Dwain Wilder]

I don't have plans to offer, but you can see details of my building process described and illustrated on my website, Bear Meadow building methods. Several people have written to tell me they built their first instrument from info there. You can also find information on materials and design by looking through the menu on the left side of each page.