Comparing Tone Woods On A Mountain Dulcimer

Tonal Comparison Walnut Body/Walnut Top Vs. Walnut Body/Butternut Top
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Folkcraft Instruments has been crafting handmade mountain dulcimers since 1968. We've been providing the best dulcimers, plus the dulcimer cases, tab books, dulcimer string sets, and everything else a mountain dulcimer player needs. We even provide dulcimer parts - machine heads and wood parts - for builders of all skill levels. We're happy to build a custom mountain dulcimer for you, make you a custom instrument case, or make you a custom string set. All of our dulcimers are handmade in the USA.

[@BigDogDaddyD]

Great video. Thank you for that. Since I retired during the covid craze, I have been acquiring used dulcimers (mostly online), and converting them to banjo dulcimers. Amazing how many dulcimers I find made out of inexpensive 1/4" laminated generic plywood. Adding an 8" banjo head really brings them to life. Thanks again for the great video.

[@TheWhiskeyCowboyLife]

I preferred the sound of the butternut soundboard. It was deeper and more resonant. I would not call it "muddy" at all though. That apart, I also prefer a contrast between tops and bodies visually... so again.. the butternut for this demonstration. They are both beautiful though. Cheers.

[@dongrundy4239]

My favorite dulcimer is the one in my lap. My only Folkcraft is a beautiful cardboard dulcimer; a gift from my son.

[@BanjoLemonade]

I gotta agree, my favorite is whatever I’m playing at the moment. Haha

[@johnswoodgadgets9819]

I build my own with either box or simple slight convex sides, but I always make sure it has four corners somewhere. I like tulip poplar sides and Baltic birch plywood top and bottom. The elephant in the room is that square (rectangular) mountain dulcimers just sound better. Something about the sustain bouncing around in the corners, I guess. Anyway, I like making them. It is not rocket science but is very satisfying. Sometimes I put a cardboard sheet inside because the cardboard gives it a more mellow sound.

[@lmallard3788]

We think when we can play together these two will sound marvelous

[@googleuser3553]

Butternut and walnut.

[@steve24todd]

I vote for the butternut top!

[@lmallard3788]

I often see notes flash on the upper right corner, indicating different variety of wood than what I ordered. Mine is supposed to be black walnut/white walnut with dog paw sound holes.

[@FolkcraftInstrumentsSince1968]

No worries, Lee - "white walnut" and "butternut" are two names for the same wood. We generally call it butternut, so there's less chance that a player will confuse the name with "black walnut", which we generally call "walnut". Happy playing!

[@lmallard3788]

@@FolkcraftInstrumentsSince1968 nah. The caption for her dulcimer was rosewood spruce. I heard that RUclips does the captioning

[@FolkcraftInstrumentsSince1968]

Mandy here Lee - Things that you see popping up in the upper right corner - those are called “cards”. Those are other videos of various other build videos that I think people might want to click on. Sort of like a dangling carrot for the person. I’m thinking that’s what you are referring to there.

[@richardrenzetti4775]

My opinion is that you can't go wrong either way...

[@FolkcraftInstrumentsSince1968]

Theee are a lot of good choices!

[@joannacrowder4697]

Gosh that was great information. Your office looks kinda empty. Must be the Covid mess.

[@FolkcraftInstrumentsSince1968]

Production mostly kept going during the virus's peak, but sales and through the roof. We haven't gotten caught up on inventory, yet!

[@garyheath9243]

butternut a little more mellow