"Eedy Beede" octave dulcimers...
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.
Close-up of turquoise "loop" perfling.
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.
You think
someone loves her EDBD...??
