This one of a kind instrument is the newest addition to my repertoire. It's a baritone electric stick style mountain dulcimer. It's tuned Dad one octave lower than a regular dulcimer would be, which means the bass D is one whole step lower than the bass E of a guitar and it's treble D is the same as the bass D on a regular dulcimer. It could potentially be tuned all over the place or even restrung to be like a regular dulcimer. The real difference is that the pickup is wound differently and the neck has a carbon fiber truss rod to compensate for the extra strain of the heavier strings. The point is that it's still easy to play like a dulcimer but with a slightly more guitarish sound.
It's ash body is made to mimic a Mandobird in profile and with it's raised center section. It has a pattern of walnut stripes built into the back as I was going for some kind of Navaho-like pattern. It's sprayed with red translucent lacquer with a satin topcoat. It's a walnut and maple neck thru, string through arrangement with a cocobolo bridge. It's got a matching ash headcap on it's Gotoh equipped reverse headstock. The rosewood fretboard is also bound in rosewood with red stripes and it has "Little Bird" themed inlays, the octave being a cracked egg and the third fret being a Thunderbird (car) emblem, both in mother of pearl. It's got a pair of gripper strap buttons, the front one being on the neck heel so it balances alright. |
