Dolau Dulcimers
Dolau Dulcimers is a side project of one of the UK’s leading mountain dulcimer players, Duncan Gibbs. Duncan is a consummate musician, has played keyboards in a wide variety of rock and blues bands, and became a long-term fan of the mountain dulcimer in the 1970s. He now combines these interests, playing acoustic and electric dulcimer at workshops and festivals, and recreating rock classics – played solely on the dulcimer – for his popular YouTube channel.
Dissatisfied with the electric dulcimer offerings currently available, he went on a lutherie course in 2016 and started to build his own, designing the shape and controls from scratch.
This video explores how it works and some of the sounds available from it.
4.27 Dolau Dulcimers Electric Dulcimer #004 £Sold
Circular logo on headstock, just behind nut: D olau D ulcimers
Second production model after two development prototypes. Neatly contoured solid body in warm gingery-brown American cherry wood. Maple, slanted headstock reminiscent of a Fender guitar with three chrome Schaller-type sealed tuners. Walnut nut, maple detachable fingerboard with walnut overlay. Strum hollow and tail of fingerboard are fixed and have a nicely figured walnut overlay. Frets are quite high and narrow. Brass bridge assembly with through-body string setup and individually adjustable chrome saddles for perfect intonation – like most electric guitars. Custom humbucking pickup with six poles, designed to give even output from each string. Red-brown mahogany scratch plate (doubling as a cover for the electrics), on which are mounted a chrome volume control and coil tap switch. Latter switches between the more biting treble and attack of a single coil pickup and the warmer, more mellow sound of a humbucker. Fingerboard has 6+ and 13+ frets, with 2½ octave range for extra versatility. Jack socket in tail. Overall length 36½”, upper bout 5”, lower bout 7½”, depth 1¼”, FBW 1¼”, VSL 27½” (medium scale), weight 4lb 11oz (2128g). 6+ and 13+ frets. Original strings 09, 11, 22w steel and nickel wound.
Smooth, low action with light strings for widest possible range of dynamics, including wide bends and fast runs. Limited acoustic volume, but has good sustain, a fat tone and plenty of responsiveness to vibrato etc. An attractive, well-constructed and very playable instrument.
Click on images below to enlarge (4th is of #003).
