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HOURGLASS MOUNTAIN DULCIMER KIT
E
WOOD PARTS
a) Solid Wood Top
b) Solid Wood Back
c) Fretboard
d) 2 End Blocks
e) 1 Peghead
f) 2 Sides
g) 2 Braces for Back (1 long, 1 short)
h) 3 Spacers
Assembly Instructions
Updated November 2019
B
F
D
G
Musicmakers
14525 61st ST CT N
Stillwater, MN 55082
A
C
H
HARDWARE
4 Geared Tuners with Screws
Set of 4 Ball End Dulcimer Strings
1 Wood Screw, 2"
1 Cherry Plug, 3/8"
Wood Bridge
Maple Nut
3' Fretwire
2 Medium Rosettes
2 Medium Donuts
4 Pearl Marking Dots, 1/4"
1 Flatpick
Assembly Instructions
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Summary of Contents for Musicmakers HOURGLASS MOUNTAIN DULCIMER KIT
- Page 1 HOURGLASS MOUNTAIN DULCIMER KIT Assembly Instructions Updated November 2019 HARDWARE WOOD PARTS 4 Geared Tuners with Screws Set of 4 Ball End Dulcimer Strings a) Solid Wood Top 1 Wood Screw, 2” b) Solid Wood Back 1 Cherry Plug, 3/8”...
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Page 2: Customizing Options
BEFORE YOU BEGIN _____A. Inventory and inspect all your parts carefully. If anything is miss- 651-439-9120 ing or defective, please call or email us right away. _____B. It is a good idea to read through the entire assembly instructions before you start, just to get an overview of the project. - Page 3 Start the assembly by gluing the sides to FIG. 1A the end blocks. Position the end of the side Align top surfaces flush piece just a little beyond the flat of the end block. You can sand it flush after the glue Side dries.
- Page 4 TOOLS REQUIRED FOR THIS STAGE PREPARING THE SOUNDBOARD (TOP) • Pencil • Clamping Board • Clamps/Weight • Glue • Damp Rag • Masking Tape • Router w/flush trim bit NOTE: The top and back panels of this instrument can be interchanged. Although we like putting mahogany on the top and cherry on the back, you may reverse them.
- Page 5 Inside be about 1/4” smaller than the diameter of the rosette. Musicmakers has donuts available for each size rosette. Glue the donuts to the inside of the top now, as shown, but do not glue rosettes in place yet! You’ll need access through these soundholes for clamping later.
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Page 6: Installing The Back
INSTALLING THE BACK TOOLS REQUIRED FOR THIS STAGE • Pencil • Clamping Board • Clamps/Weight • Glue • Damp Rag • Masking Tape • Sand Paper (120/150 grit) • Router w/flush trim bit ____10. Before you glue the body to the back panel, you want to glue the FIG. - Page 7 OPTIONAL INLAY BANDING FIG. 13A ____13. If you are interested in really customizing the appear- ance, you can use a router to cut ledges around the perimeter for inlay banding. Inlays are very thin (about 1/16”), so they do not weaken FIG.
- Page 8 ____14. Once the ledges are cut, you can glue the inlay strips in FIG. 14A place. If your inlay bands are made of wood, use regular woodworking glue. If they are plastic strips, then you’ll need an adhesive that works with both plastic and wood (Duco Cement and Sig-Ment are commonly available, but we like Weld-On #16 best for acrylics).
- Page 9 ____16. Now you are ready to install the frets. Place your fretboard on a good firm surface for this operation. A flimsy table top will not do. Better to work on a concrete floor or a cement block. Otherwise, your wood will just bounce around as you try to pound the frets into place. Begin by placing the long length of fretwire over one of the slots cut in the fretboard, so the end hangs over the edge of the wood just 1/16”...
- Page 10 INSTALLING THE PEGHEAD FIG. 19A ____19. Check the peghead so see how it matches the width of the fret- Taper Peghead to board. The instrument looks best if these two parts meet with Fit Fingerboard the same dimension, and that may require a little tapering or extra shaping on the peghead.
- Page 11 If you plan to install a pickup in your dulcimer, this is your last chance, before covering the soundholes with rosettes. A single Piezo pickup from Musicmakers works beautifully in this instrument for amplification. You’ll need to drill a 1/2” diameter hole through the tail end block.
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Page 12: Final Sanding
THE NUT AND BRIDGE FIG. 25 ____25. The last item to glue into place is the nut, which is a small piece of maple that holds the strings at the peghead end of the fretboard. We like to trim it to size and round over one edge before gluing it into place, although you may find it easier to fasten it to the instrument and then work down the excess with a file or sanding block... - Page 13 STAINS or DYES -- These are coloring agents and should only be used if you want to change the natural color of the wood. We usually do not apply stains to our projects, especially when they are made with naturally beautiful hardwoods such as cherry or walnut.
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Page 14: Installing Strings
INSTALLING STRINGS ____29. Now you can install the strings! Attach each string to the dulcimer by slipping the ball end into the hole near the tail end of the fretboard, and poking it in to about the proper depth to line up with the notches of the bridge. -
Page 15: Troubleshooting
TROUBLESHOOTING ____32. Fine adjustments can be made in the placement of the bridge to make sure the dulcimer plays perfectly in tune. The measurement given earlier (27-1/8”) should be very close to the exact placement, but some variations may occur depending upon final string height and string thickness. - Page 16 We hope you have enjoyed the project. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any further help that you may need. We also appreciate hearing suggestions and hints that you think might help a future kit builder. Musicmakers 14525 61st ST CT N Stillwater, MN 55082...
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