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So I had the idea to build an inexpensive box dulcimer! I’ll make a full post about it once it’s complete. The idea was to build an actual wood instrument without spending much on it. Most of the cost of this build goes into the fretboard I chose here.
If you built your own fretboard it would be considerably less! But – I wanted a sure thing fretboard with no fret issues. So here is the cost breakdown and a few progress photos so far. Plus tuners, nut, bridge and strings though and you might as well get what I got.
Once complete I will also have detailed instructions for anyone who would like to build their own box dulcimer.
The total cost of this is under $70 (assuming you have a few tools and some glue).
- $45 – Fretboard, tuners, strings – (from Dave at Backyardmusic.com) – $45 including extra frets 6 1/2 and 13 1/2, tuners, nut bridge, and a set of strings!! You cannot get this cheaper anywhere and he will happily sell you this, that includes shipping!
- $10.95 – Body board – 5mm x 2’ X 4’ – underlayment plywood – from Home Depot (quite a bit left over) – they also have Birch ply in this size but it costs more.
- $10.69 – Poplar – 1” x 4” x 6’ – For all side pieces (lot’s left over)
- wood glue – assuming you already have that
- jig saw – assuming you have that
- table saw – assuming you have that to split that poplar board in half – Home Depot can do this part for you if you only have a jig saw
- drill bits for holes – and jig saw – we are using a few hole cutters as well that go onto your drill
- sand paper – used 320 grit for the fretboard to smooth it out, will also sand top, bottom, and sides using various grits – assuming you have this
- stain, paint, or oil of your choice – assuming you have this
Now the plan I had for this was for it to be a LAP dulcimer. I also wanted to do a false back (galax back) so that it would resonate even more. So that made the size of it a consideration to ensure I had enough for that false back. So the dimensions are – 7 1/2” X 26”. That leaves hang over for the head and tail of the fretboard (which I think looks nice, and gives attachment places for strap and hangers).
Here are a few progress pics so far. I’ll add to the post as we go. Hoping to be mostly done this weekend. So far we have a total of 1 hour of time in it. I sanded the fretboard a bit just by hand and we pulled out all our small set of tools (jigsaw, portable table saw), did the cutting, and put everything away. Started gluing this morning. 1 hour build time so far.
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That look really good Mandy!
Out of curiosity does that sound hole pattern represent anything in particular?
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Nothing at all really. Jon wanted much more, and this is us compromising, haha.
I wanted nothing from the 2nd fret up. I use my thumb a lot on the top and side of the dulcimer to sometimes I’ll actually get caught in a heart or something, hahaha.
He wanted a lot more holes in a swoopy pattern that would have looked cool but I wanted something simpler. One funny thing though is if you look at it as the viewer, it almost looks like a smile! He also wanted to wood burn all over it (he’s good at that too). I may actually let him wood burn my verse into the outside edge facing people. He also wanted to do some modpodge stuff on it like you’d see on a cigar box guitar. I was like – NO I want it simple and quick, haha that artist is never satisfied.
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Omgosh!!! I love it. I’ve been wanting a flatwater. (Or a folkroots…but you know…price) but this is so cool!
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