Electric Mountain Dulcimer

I am lusting over a solid body electric mountain dulcimer with humbucker or similar pickups to compliment my Walnut Creek acoustic. I am wondering where I could find such a thing.
 
There seem to be some electric "stick dulcimers" around, but they are more of a 3 string guitar with a diatonic fret board. There are also acoustic dulcimers with piezo pickups. Neither are what I am after.
 
I guess it would have to be a custom build and would probably end up being expensive. Think I will have to start looking for someone, preferably in the UK  and get a quote.

jamesg1213
Haven't time to check them properly, but anything here?
 
http://www.hobgoblin.com/...earch/?Search=dulcimer

Hobgoblin was one of the first places I thought of but no luck.

I bought my Walnut Creek dulcimer here http://www.devonharpcentre.co.uk/index.html I have never seen an electric instrument there but If I have not got anywhere I may pop in in ask next time I in the area. There is also another shop selling folk instruments and all sorts of "artie" stuff in between the vegan resturants and hippy clothes shops. This is Totnes, twinned with Narnia, after all.
 
Last tim I was there I also noticed some wag had added "Twinned with Area 51" to the welcome to Totnes sign.
 
 
 

bapu
Ask McQ, aka unsubscribe. He's all about the dulcimer.

Yea if anyone knows it would be McQ.

bapu
Ask McQ, aka unsubscribe. He's all about the dulcimer.

Hammered, usually though.

I found this http://wataugalakedulcimers.webs.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3218939 Looks like they do not have it in stock apparently, I will contact them if I can't find someone UK based.
 
I was thinking what would be really cool is the ability to send the drone strings and melody string to different channels.
 
 
 
 

I am thinking I might go with this kit. Has any one had dealings with the company?
 
Plans and a PDF or the assembly instructions can be downloaded and it seems reasonably straightforward. The shipping costs are the main bugbear. If I had the time building my own from scratch is appealing I may still do that later as a long term project and try out some interesting pickup arrangements.

The kit containd everything except the wood parts, I had not read the web page correctly . I thought it was cheap!!
 
 Anyway I bought the necessary timber in the UK and got cracking. I I am a bit further along than in this photo. Its all assembled now and has had the first couple of coats of sanding sealer. The body will be finished in cherry red lacquer but the fretboard will stay natural oak, I ran out of time and had to come back to Dubai so it will have to wait until I am back in the UK in April.
 

Very cool Glyn, keep us posted!

Guitarhacker
I might be wrong.... but... there's just something inherently wrong with an "electric" dulcimer.

I remember back in 1971 there was a bit of shock among the purists when Dave Cousins (Strawbs) not only played an electric dulcimer but played it through a fuzz box on "Benidictus", for some it was almost as bad a Dylan going electric. There is no electric guitar on this song, the dulcimer features throughout with the fuzz box solo starting around 2:12.
  
Cousins electric dulcimer also featured prominently on "Golden Salamander" from the album "Nomadness"

Its finally finished.

 
I have been having a hoot with it. So I have found Guitar Rig 5 the best, even though I have tended to prefer Amplitube with virtual instruments.
While it will take a second melody string to make it a double course i am keeping it in the three string mode at the moment, it seems to suit the electric better.
 
 
 

The second dulcimer project is now well underway. This is an even greater departure from tradition. It will be a baritone tuned a 4th lower. AEE as opposed to the standard DAA. I have also added the "one and a half" and "eight and a half" frets that some builders are starting to include. This means less re-tuning for one thing when changing modes. The downside is you lose the diatonic glissando sliding between notes, but you cant have it all ways.
 
As the first model is a bit noisy I am hoping the DiMarzio dual coil humbucking pickup will be an improvement. Its still a rail pickup so it avoids string spacing issues. 
 
 
 
 

I guess I am opening myself up to Nigel Tufnel jokes by displaying the complete collection.
 

 
From left to right. My first solid bodied electric from earlier this year, the new baritone, my lovely Walnut Creek acoustic and one I made in the late 70's.

Wow!  Even if they were never played they would make awesome wall art.  The fact that you can use them is just gravy! 

MandolinPicker
I have the exact same walnut dulcimer myself. Beautiful tone. Bought it at a little shop in Tennessee called 'Wood -n- Strings"

The Walnut Creek is a real beauty. I saw it in a music shop in Totnes, England. I tried it and had to buy it. The tone is fantastic!