Past Projects

Here you will find previous “What’s On the Bench?” projects, all the way back to the beginning of this website. I realize that this may be “unlocking the mystery” of dulcimer construction, but I still delight in sharing the process of the creation of new instruments, as well as some major repair and modification work over the past several years.

If you are a fellow woodworker or just casually curious and you see something interesting or inspiring, then I am pleased that this old retired teacher is still on the job. Please feel free to ask me any questions regarding anything you see here.

Repair Work – March, 2016

Note: This first post appears to all happen in one day, but in fact, took place over a week and a half. Future postings will be more current. Most recently. I have been commissioned to work on a “problem” dulcimer. The “fingerboard” on top of the oak fretboard was actually a dark stain. The main …

Jean’s Machine – April, 2016

A new custom instrument begins with preliminary sketches and design choices aided by the wishes of the client. Jean has ordered a 3-stringed teardrop dulcimer with an added fret between the first and second frets. Here I am sketching the design on folded butcher paper. This dulcimer is to be constructed exclusively from walnut. I …

Lynn’s Dulcimer –June, 2016

After she saw Jean’s new dulcimer, Lynn and I have worked out most of the details of her new teardrop instrument. Here is the first post of the initial sketches and raw fretboard. I like working with paper when planning a project that differs from my standard hourglass shape. Modifications are easy to accomplish. The …

A Dulci-mess — November, 2016

This one may prove to be a bit of a challenge. Elsie had asked if I could lower the action on a dulcimer she had been given. On closer inspection, this instrument really needed some TLC to be fully playable. It has a really beautiful shape and a nice sound, but the fretboard was a bit …

Back to Bass-ics — November/December, 2016

A year ago, I decided to design a bass dulcimer, just for grins and giggles. I designed it to be 10″ at its widest point and a full 2″ deep. It was made from walnut with a sycamore top. I was really please with the look and the sound of it. I didn’t have it …

This One’s For Me — January/February, 2017

I have been planning a new dulcimer for myself for about 5 years, but always seemed to have other projects that took precedence or I just chickened out on what was necessary to accomplish it. I wanted to do a carving on the peghead, and this just made me nervous. I have done two dulcimers …

The Lucky Diamond Dulcimer — July, 2018

From time to time, I am asked to do some dulcimer improvement or repair work. For the most part, this will involve procedures such as adding a 6 and-a-half fret, fixing a buzz in a fretboard, or even creating a new fingerboard. I will take on most of these jobs if I feel confident that …

Holiday Strings — December, 2018

Dulcimers #48 and #49 were two instruments I was inspired to create as surprise Christmas gifts for a close family friend and for my wife, and I worked on them at the same time. Our friend, Renitra, was a Gator fan, so I decided to try to carve a gator on the tuning head. For …

A Florida-Flavored #50 — June/July, 2021

Becky, a fellow member of the Naturecoast Dulcimer Players, has commissioned a new dulcimer — one with a gator head carving in the tuning scroll. I am particularly excited about this build: this year marks the 45th year since I learned the craft, it will be the 50th dulcimer I have constructed, and Becky has …

Maryville College Roots — December, 2021

Dulcimer #51 was inspired by a contact from my college days. Bill lived down the hall from me in Dorm 1 (now Gamble Hall) and sent me a message on Facebook saying he wanted a custom-made dulcimer. I had to warn him that this may take awhile — I had just come out of retirement …