About this Product
This dulcimer packs a ton of musical fun into a small package. Inspired by the simplicity of cigar box instruments, this dulcimer blends a minimalist aesthetic with appealing sound and effortless playability.
Handcrafted from North American woods, it boasts a premium Sitka Spruce top, chosen for its acoustic force and clarity. The rounded neck, finished naturally to feel soft against your skin, nestles snugly in your hand, ensuring comfort and ease of play. The scale length is just 18.5 inches, making chords easy to reach. Tuning is open D (D-A-d), so that every fret has a chord available using just one finger.
More than just an instrument, this is a musical companion waiting for your songs. And if you want the neighbors to hear, just plug into any guitar amplifier--the pickup is built in.
FEATURES
- Enclosed guitar tuners--smooth and dependable
- Inlaid white fret markers
- Do-re-mi scale (easy to learn and play)
- Open D tuning for effortless chords and "no wrong notes"
- Headless string anchors (for easy changes)
- Piezoelectric pickup for faithful acoustic sound
- Steel guitar strings--readily available
- Personally crafted from solid woods--no plywood
- Simple, easily maintained finish
DIMENSIONS
- Overall Length 26.3 inches (66.7 cm)
- Box Length 9 inches (22.9 cm)
- Box Width 6 inches (15.2 cm)
- Thickness (max) 2 inches (5.1 cm)
- Weight 1.1 pound (0.50 kg)
COMES WITH
- Instructions for learning to play by numbers
- Chord charts for more advanced play
- Signed builder's certificate
- Picks and pick wallet
The instrument pictured is number 529, first strummed on December 13, 2024. It's in stock ready to ship, normally within 2-5 business days.
Strings on Wood
Meet the Maker
"So," the TV host asked, "as a woodworker you could make anything. Why dulcimers?"
"Ah," I replied, "but when I make an instrument, the wood sings to me."
My first instrument sang out in 2015, and the experience changed my life. More than 500 instruments later I still love hearing that first song--the voice of a newborn instrument. Yes, I enjoy designing and building and finishing and tuneup; but it's still the song, the new voice that makes the work meaningful.
That first dulcimer was so easy to play that even I, a 71-year-old non-musician, could play a few songs right away. Success is addictive, and I realized that anyone could learn to make music. So I signed up for some craft fairs and met lots of people who want to play their own songs.
Nowadays I make guitars and the occasional ukulele as well as dulcimers, but the focus hasn't changed. It's still the song.
How it’s Made
The box dulcimer is my own design. The simple shape uses wood economically and yields a surprisingly rich and robust sound for such a small instrument.
All my builds begin from boards, in this case cherry (the body, back, and neck) and roasted oak (fingerboard). I slice off the parts using a band saw or table saw, then mill them to proper thickness with a planer and drum sander. Parts are then glued together, sanded smooth, and linseed oil finish is applied. Final tuning involves carefully setting the action and intonation.
Snippets of the process can be viewed at https://youtu.be/7ilUIvtGIV8
Shop Policies
Returns and exchanges are welcome within 30 days. Buyer is responsible for return shipping costs and any loss in value if an item isn't returned in original condition.
Digital items are not returnable.
