Red Asian Dulcitar

This dulcitar is made with a vintage Edward Sharp Tin from England. The neck is a recycled piece of wood from a vintage textile weaving loom; coincidentally called a "picker stick".   The tailpiece is a brass cabinet door hinge. It has a very nice sound which I will showcase soon on a music cd.

An extra hole was drilled for proper string placement. All holes were sanded with round file to prevent string breakage. 

This piece of wood, was a lot harder than what I usually work with. It was made up of several layers.  A table saw was used to trim down the top that goes inside the box to allow for air space. The neck cannot touch the top of the box. In order to get a good sound, the top needs to vibrate freely.  I drilled out a few half inch holes and chiseled out groves to allow for extra airspace, since the wood itself was thicker in places. There is another block of wood at the end, not shown.  They are glued with wood glue to the neck and act as a brace. Small screws will go through the front and back when instrument is finally sealed. 

Finally closing up my instrument. I take one good last look at all of my hard work, never to be seen again. To prevent vibrations from the tin, a little clear silicone was put behind the "tin fold" at the cut, and later a bead of silicone was also placed around the entire "inside edge" of the top before closing up. Though the silicone helps hold the box together somewhat, the final screws on the front and back of instrument through the wooden brace make it solid and hopefully last forever.

Just a note, a long 3" bolt went through the neck at the hinge. The protective tape on the other end was removed before sealing. 

For proper string placement, I put the screws on the edges before marking the one in the middle.  I use regular dulcimer strings. Pack of 4. Only use "one" of the smallest strings.

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