A Catalog of Post-Revival, Post-Modern Dulcimers Matthew "Penn" Boris

The turn-o'-the-century Appalachian dulcimer is certainly not the end of the line, dulcimerically speaking. It itself has changed somewhat, with added frets, slight structural adaptations etc. However, it has also spawned further intriguing and in some cases, very novel offspring... This is a work in progress, send anonymous tips, I'll be tracking down photo and (if fortune be on us) sound samples. Let's start nice and easy with...

The Family of Upright Dulcimers These creatures form one of the newer of the dulcimer hybrids, surprisingly enough. These are, very simply, long-necked stringed instruments with three courses of strings, usually in a I-V-I tuning, and diatonic fretting, usually Myxolidian. Some apparently take inspiration from the bozouki/cittern revival. Following is a list of such, photos, links, makers, and names of individual brands: Strumstick(tm): The strumstick has a very small, triangular body, thin neck, usually three strings. Also exists in four string chromatics. Somewhat tinny, but novel. Usually retails aprox. US$100. Dulcitar: Made by the Bardsong company, teardrop bodies, nearly mando size. Come in both "major" and "minor" frettings. Retail aprox. US$200 for a four string, US$250 for a five or sixer. Sold mainly by Bardsong.

Walkabout Dulcimer(tm): Made by Olympia Dulcimer Company, from the great Northwest. These are very similar to the Flatiron pan mandos, with a very solid neck. Three courses, diatonic with 6.5 (and 1.5 as option, I believe). Also available in solid-body electric, for those of you who really like to offend folkies. Available from Olympia Dulcimer Company.

The Banjimer
This is also of the above family, roughly, but a smaller size, and done as a dulcimer-banjo, wood-topped. I've heard good things. My sources (ominous laughter) have fanned out globally, and inform me that these run about a C (thasabout US$100 for the otherwise savvy), and are available from Orchard Spring Instruments/ PO Box 616/ Meadows of Dan, VA 24120. Write for catalog. [NOTE: You can tell you're just destined for interesting things when you're located in the "Meadows of Dan". But not quite so nifty as Viper County...]

Banjo Dulcimers
Dulcimers with a banjo head placed where the hollow would be, for a banjo-dulcimer sound. Nuff said, saright.

I think this is one of the niftiest things I've heard of in dulcimer world in a long time, and I hear about a lot of nifty things. Apparently Homer Ledford, Dulcimer Maker, made a few of these back in the 70s. They're standard dulcimers with a small resonator cone, like on dobros. Thus they have much added volume, and probably some of that resonator tone to them, I'd assume. I like resonators; I once owned a resonator tenor guitar, which I tune DGDG, but it just wasn't the same... The instrument is detailed in the book "Dulcimer Maker" by R. Alvey (Univ. Press of KT)

Dulcigurdy, Strohfiddel, Wheel Dulcimer
This is a a muchly interesting case, as technically it's a good three and a half centuries pre-Revival. However, it wasn't a dulcimer exactly then, but nowadays in its rebirth, it counts in my book. This time, the poor strum hollow is one again ripped out, and a rosin-covered wheel, spun by a crank, is in its place. As you rotate the wheel, it bows all the strings constantly. Essentially, it's a fretted hurdy-gurdy (the medieval one, _not_ the organ-grinder monkey oversized musicbox). These are made by a couple folks, will include links as situation develops.

The Aquavina
(Having returned my source to the library, I'll speak in vague terms for know, for effect, and go get some real facts later) The Aquavina is simply, um, indescribable or something suchlike. basically, it's a solid dulcimer body, very narrow, and at the end, where the strumhollow would be, is a bowl of water. In said bowl is a metal cylinder, across which run the strings, so that it severs as a bridge. As you play, you shake the instrument slightly so that the resonating bowl has a constant swish of water moving about. The things that this does to the sound is simply unholy. If you want to get a very rough idea, get yourself a pan from the kitchen and tap it with a spoon, whilst swishing water around in it. Imagine that happening to your notes amid Greensleeves, nuff said. I'm rambling, but it's really that trippy. Invented by a brilliant French gentleman, and featured on one track of the awe-inspiring, life changing "Gravikords, Pyrophones and Whirligigs", compiled by Experimental Musical Instruments, a lavishly photoed book and CD combo, put out by Elipsis Records (such lavish words, and they're not even paying me!) I got my copy from the library, I'm cheap. The track on there's unfortunately/interestingly bowed dulcimer. Let the amount of words given here be testament.

The Table Dulcimer
I don't expect there are too many of these. Basic gist: get a cheap hollow door. Cut soundholes in the top, and glue down a fingerboard to each edge of it. Put on chair legs, get three other dulcimists, and jam in your kitchen. The world is an interesting place... These exist, I've seen photos.

Lectric Lap Dulcimer
It was bound to happen, speaks for itself. This particularly stunning example was made by Bill Buffington. He said we could use the photo, but he's already massively backordered (though how much smuggness that is meant to have I have no clue).
'Portant thing, is pretty.

The Amazing Human Dulcimer
Lie flat on your back on a slightly fuzzy surface. Orient your body with your head directed towards Viper County. If you're pretty much diametrically at the other side of the world, flip a coin or something. Close your eyes and hum a constant note whilst swiping a feather back and forth on your belly-button. Now, whilst maintaining that constant note, get some harmonics going and vary the pitch on just those, leaving your drone constant (advanced players may elect to use include a V drone). If this seems difficult at first, don't give up, it's just takes a touch practice, like circular breathing. If you're stuck try the following pages: here or anything up to and including here. Anywise. Now that you've got the basics, try Cripple Creek a couple times (I _still_ don't know that tune). Now, please be aware that human dulcimer players are a highly persecuted lot. You'll constantly have people coming up to you and complaining about chromaticism, or "that shape isn't shown in the Catalog of Pre-Revival Appalachian Dulcimers". Best procedure is to make a clear, articulate argument supplemented with photographic evidence and primary sources, and try and give them a good whack in the shins if they get close enough.

Things What Need Doin
There are a few things that, to my knowledge, have not been done. Use them for ideas, giggle hysterically, go mad; just read em already. If they've been done, let me know!

E-bowed dulcimers (cheaper than a gurdy)

This is about as much as my tortured mind can take right now, so I bid y'all adieu.

Important note:
I realize, in all seriousness, that this is somewhat of a controversial topic. The important thing to recall is that change is a natural part of style, language, the "R" word, and anything else folks do, up to and including music. I'm under the impression that the basic concept is always there, just the form changes. I've rewritten this passage a dozen times in the last five minutes, so I'll just let it be now. It's amazing how all this applies to life in general. So, just enjoy em, find others who do likewise kick back, and keep playin them dulcimers. -Penn

And more to come. If you know of anything I've left out, don't whine to your friends about how inefficient I am, drop me a line and let me know! For more of dulcimer-related madness, please drop by my page of dulcimer hearsay. The Cult of the Revived Dulcimer.