Stick Dulcimer Making part 4.2 soundboard thicknessing and struts

[@michaeljking]

bear in mind the mcnally doesnt seem to have bracing at all, the smokey mountain one gets around it by having the soundboard thick in the center and tapered to the outside edge, this can be done with a circular sander,or by plan and sanding block.

[@michaeljking]

I am not dovetailing or fixing this at an angle, After a lot of thought(and backtracking) I decided the benefit of either are minuscule and the complexity it would add to the first time builders attempts.... The way I am making this is called the "spanish Method" in guitar making, as the neck is its own top end block and you indet the sides into the neck.....a lot simpler to show than explain.....

[@michaeljking]

yes, its the record disk sander, thats just the way it turns!!

[@michaeljking]

for the larger size and especially if you tak ethe thickness down to optimise the sound, X or A bracing is the best, its only 4 strings so you could get away with a single strut across like in the older citterns. I use metal tailpieces that are very simple to make and can take normal guitar strings..I will share how to make them when I get to that stage....this video stick Dulcimer project may take me a lot longer than I first thought though!! I should have one more review up by tomorrow....