New "Eedy Beede" octave dulcimers...are now available!
Whenever I'd play it folks would ask about it...
After months of research and experimentation - 27 prototypes - and hours of playing and listening this design finally emerged.
Other sound hole designs are available.
Here's my cherry, poplar, and mahogany models with Sun & Moon & dolphin sound holes.
The perfling is turquoise inlay.
(Pegheads are same wood/color as body, but their angle played tricks with the lighting.)
Yes the bottom one is an "evil half breed" diatonic melody and chromatic middle and bass strings.
Partial Frets?
As players & builders experiment dulcimers seem to be evolving into more chromatic beasts. This optional half of a 1-1/2 fret is a compromise that lets you keep the diatonic sliding sound on the melody string, but still play other chords - like C, F and Am in first position.
The "floating fingerboard" allows a wider surface of soundboard to be activated - and as a side benefit you can use it to hold TAB while you're learning a tune.
(Yup, that is a "Lefty.")
A honeycomb pattern of holes lightens the floating fingerboard, while maintaining its rigidity. The lighter the fingerboard the less effort is required for the top to move, which means more sound.
A "V" brace helps transfer vibration from fingerboard to top.
