What began as a custom order has become a new standard model.
When designing this dulcimer I strove for balanced tone and volume between the two fretboards and ease of playability. I am very happy with the results.
The body is based on the basic shape of both my standard and baritone dulcimers. I chose to use a gentle asymmetry in the curves of the sides in relation to each other and an obviously more pronounced asymmetry in the tail end of the dulcimer.
The pegheads are fitted with mandolin tuners. They work very well and guitar tuners seemed a little heavy in proportion to the peghead design.
Before giving this instrument to it’s new owner I played it for several days and soon found myself switching seamlessly between the two fretboards and coming up with some interesting musical ideas.
I have begun making some more of these and I hope I manage to keep one for myself!
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Doug Berch
Thanks all!
Doug Berch
Thanks, Tico.
Tico Vogt
Doug,
A very nice asymmetry. It looks “right”.
Congratulations on your new model. I hope it catches on big time in the dulcimer playing cosmos.
Marge Diamond
Very lovely looking piece, so glad you could keep the graceful flow of your lines while designing the bigger body.
Pamela Temple
I would love to see one and hear you play it. It’s beautiful.
Cyndi Spear-Duncan
That is beautiful