My aunt wanted an electric bass lap dulcimer.
A quick google search for her turned up very little info, so she calls me and tells me she want's me to build her one.
Uh, Ok... A what?
So in my typical reckless fashion, I dive headfirst into the unknown.
Gathering bits & pieces of walnut, butternut & oak and pondering on just how I was going to pull this off.
As usual, the wood guided me. And things started to take form.
Started with an idea for the headstock & tail blocks by gluing up oak boards.
Then I cut a pair of 2" wide walnut strips and bent them into the sides and fastened the head & tail blocks together.
So at this point I've figured out roughly how long the thing will be.
And I fit the bottom and glued it up.
That was the easy part so far. Getting everything to fit in the right place on the top will be a trial & error process.
That big hunk of oak that's the tail block got routed out for an area to put the strings through. Also turned out to be a dandy place for the preamp / tuner.
When I was satisfied with where everything was going to go, I started gluing it all together.
Then I got to take it all apart again & finish it.
And put it all back together again.
So now my aunt shall have her bass dulcimer...
A quick google search for her turned up very little info, so she calls me and tells me she want's me to build her one.
Uh, Ok... A what?
So in my typical reckless fashion, I dive headfirst into the unknown.
Gathering bits & pieces of walnut, butternut & oak and pondering on just how I was going to pull this off.
As usual, the wood guided me. And things started to take form.
Started with an idea for the headstock & tail blocks by gluing up oak boards.
Then I cut a pair of 2" wide walnut strips and bent them into the sides and fastened the head & tail blocks together.
So at this point I've figured out roughly how long the thing will be.
And I fit the bottom and glued it up.
That was the easy part so far. Getting everything to fit in the right place on the top will be a trial & error process.
That big hunk of oak that's the tail block got routed out for an area to put the strings through. Also turned out to be a dandy place for the preamp / tuner.
When I was satisfied with where everything was going to go, I started gluing it all together.
Then I got to take it all apart again & finish it.
And put it all back together again.
So now my aunt shall have her bass dulcimer...
