Introduction and Resources for Building Hammer
Dulcimers
There are several sources of plans and materials for hammer
dulcimers. Sources vary from general texts on construction to
specific plans and material lists.
General texts:
- Sam Rizzetta is widely acknowleged to have helped spark the
current renaissance of the hammer dulcimer by popularizing the
instrument and construction details back in the late 60's and early
70's. His better instruments are highly sought after and played by many
of the top players in the US. He wrote a pamphlet in the early 70's
entitled "Making a Hammer Dulcimer". This is still available from the
Smithsonian as both an online version
and a pamphlet. For the snailmail version, just send a request with a
stamped self addressed envelope to:
- Smithsonian Public Inquiry Mail Service National Museum of
American History Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560
- Ask for Leaflet 72-4, "Making a Hammer Dulcimer" by Sam Rizzetta
- Another general text is a book by Howie Mitchell titled "The
Hammered Dulcimer", Folk-Legacy Records, Inc. Sharon CT 06069, 1971.
This wonderfully eccentric book describes the experimentation that
Howie did in developing his style of construction. He tried a lot of
things that I always wanted to and the book is well worth reading if
you can find a copy. Check with the publisher as it may be out of
print. If anyone has it, The House Of Musical Traditions will.
- House of Musical Traditions
7040 Carroll Ave Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-9090
- Another text on dulcimer building is a book by Charlie Alm titled
"The Hammer Dulcimer Book: How I Build The Things". I don't own this
book but have read through it and it is full of tips and construction
techniques. It is available from Woodworks, PO Box 218, Brookston, IN
47923.
Plans and Supplies:
Unless you are fairly well experienced as a woodworker I don't
recommend winging it. There are a few sources of plans available
which could help you get to a playable instrument in a fairly short
period of time.
- These guys have a bunch of kits/plans for various instruments.
They provide everything from finished instruments to plans and in
between. They like to use laminated wood (fancy plywood) for many of
their instrument kits and this may turn off some of you purists.
Personally, I find laminated tops and backs make a good (maybe not
great) hammer dulcimer and definitely recommend this approach for the
beginning builder with beginning or intermediate woodworking skills.
-
- I haven't tried any of their plans but I like their finished
instruments.
- Stewart-MacDonald is a firm
in Athens, Ohio that caters to the luthier trade via mailorder. The 800
number is 800-848-2273. They will send out a catalog for free. They
have some dulcimer supplies although they are heavily oriented towards
the guitar side of things.
About all I can give you in the way of advice as a wood-doinking,
dillettante luthier is: make a 15/14 instrument (more versatile) and
don't waste time on the more limited 12/11 model unless the size is a
factor, make an instrument with relatively long string length (see
Rizetta's pamphlet for guidance) because smaller instruments usually
suffer in tone and sustain, don't sneer at laminated wood for a first
instrument, don't overbuild the back by using 3/4 plywood, 1/2" is
adequate and 3/8" probably would work if the internal bracing is up
to snuff (I use all-poplar or baltic birch plywood), and use rock
(sugar) maple (either solid or laminate) for the pin blocks. Make
sure you have a drill press or post drill available for drilling the
pinblocks. You'll have over 100 closely spaced holes to drill (at an
angle, no less) and they have to be right. Slip a bit and you'll ruin
the hole for the tuning pin or end up with a loose pin down the road.
Copyright 1997, 1998 Thomas Price - All rights
reserved
Revised 1/3/2006