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The need for a quick project combined with the desire to diversify my luthierism by building building something other than a guitar led me down the path to building an hourglass-shaped mountain dulcimer. I carved a scroll, bend the sides, cut the fretboard and hollowed it's backside (not sure why). Then I assembled the box and figured out I had no idea how the strings were attached to the tail. From what I can see in photos, it looks like the traditional way is to wack in a couple of nails, clip off the heads and slide the ball end of the string over it. I also see lots off variety in the spacing between the saddle and the ball end with some wrapping the string around the end of the instrument to achieve different lengths for each string.

Can anyone share some explanation or pictures of the string attachment on mountain dulcimers ? Also, what criteria is used to choose the spacing between the saddle and attachment for each string ?

Is there a ODF or other good resource for details ?

thanks,

-jd

I've made a few MDs (mountain dulcimer). I used stainless pins to hold the ball ends. I'll take a picture of the one I still have, but just about anything goes. It doesn't matter how far from the saddle the ends are.

There's a lot of good info and knowledgeable people here:

http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewforum.php?f=5

_________________
Regards,
Phillip Patton

http://www.pattonblades.com

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has faded.

https://hoosierbladesmith.wordpress.com

Thanks for the info, sounds like it is just what it appears to be, the ball end stuck on a pin.

Are the pins normal to the pull of the string, or is there some additional tilt ?

-jd

this type of bridge configuration is why I asked about spacing between the saddle and the pins...

That configuration is because the distance between the two unison string doesn't leave enough space for the two ball ends to be next to each other. Pretty much do whatever works and looks good to you. That is the wonderful thing about MDs!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Here's mine. Brass pins go into the tail block.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Here's mine. The saddle is slotted for the strings, so the pins for the unison strings don't have to be close together.

_________________
Regards,
Phillip Patton

http://www.pattonblades.com

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has faded.

https://hoosierbladesmith.wordpress.com

Thanks for the pictures, they really help.

-jd

Sorry I don't have any pics, but I have made a "tail" that sits behind the bridge that allows me to drill small holes thru and then pass the strings with the ball end up against the "tail". I must admit though that playing it I made my tail too sharp and when I rest my strumming hand on it the tail presses in a bit. After a while kinda uncomfortable. Think about how your hand will rest down at the bridge and make whatever your system easy to rest on. You will enjoy playing it much better.

Karl Dahlman

I use a bone endcap and attach strings on the tailblock.

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Chuck Kish

I think that's the best way to do it. Some people (myself included) like to anchor their hand in the space between the butt and the saddle, and having the pins on top makes that uncomfortable.

_________________
Regards,
Phillip Patton

http://www.pattonblades.com

The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price has faded.

https://hoosierbladesmith.wordpress.com

I use these 'anchor pins' from Folkcraft: http://www.folkcraft.com/p_1482_cat_700 ... _pg_1.html

I don;t have a picture of the pins attached to the dulcimer, but in the pic below they would go in the maple area between the bridge and tail block. This is similar to how they do it at Folkcraft.

Found another pic....