The client who ordered this instrument wanted to have something that was small and easy to play. He really liked the aesthetics of the tackhead banjos I was making, but he didn't play banjo. He did, however, have experience with the mountain dulcimer, so this is what we came up with: Tackhead Dulcimer #1.
It has an 8" rim with calf skin tacked on top and a 18" scale. The neck is a gorgeous piece of tiger striped maple and the diatonic scale fretboard is bloodwood.
Here's a video clip explanation and demonstration (provided by Larry Barnett of Grandpa's Music in Bryson City), followed by more photos of the instrument and some of the building process.
