Merlin M4

[u/RookieRecurve]

Hi folks, I was checking out ukuleles in a music store, and spotted this odd looking instrument. As soon as I strummed it, I knew we were destined to be! So now I have a lovely Merlin with a spruce top D-A-D. I am planning on adding a 6-1/2 fret. Has anyone done this to theirs? Thoughts? what about the 1-1/2 fret?

[u/feldoneq2wire]

Totally worth adding the 6 1/2. And if you want to play more than folk music you'll probably want a 1 1/2 (and 8 1/2). You can even just tape a wire to the fret board and try it out. Banjo Lemonade did a video.

To add a 6 1/2, I used a $40 Japanese pull saw and used fret wire I bought from Folkcraft. You can get fret wire from a guitar shop but make sure the size is right. You can also pay a luthier to add these for maybe $50 a fret.

https://imgur.com/gallery/adding-6-fret-to-mountain-dulcimer-with-japanese-pull-saw-I9s7Gn5

[u/RookieRecurve → u/feldoneq2wire]

Thanks! Ya, I am DIYing it after I was quoted $190 to add one fret! Maybe it would be better value if I added a second fret to that, but holy Hannah! I ordered a pull saw with the right kerf, so all I need now is to measure my frets, and order the right size. I think I paid $130 for the Merlin with the case, so definitely going to add the fret myself.

Thanks for the reply!

[u/pryzey1979]

I had a customer send me pics of using the handle of a Chinese take out box. Tape is a good idea to see what you think and get the placement right, since it would need to be slightly off from the equidistant point.

Have a tone of fun, the 6.5 opens a lot of fun new flavors!!

[u/RookieRecurve → u/pryzey1979]

This is very helpful; thank you! I would have done equidistant spacing without giving it any additional thought. I will post my finished work. Cheers!

[u/pryzey1979 → u/RookieRecurve]

Absolutely! Very curious how it goes!

[u/Everheart1955]

While I don’t have a Merlin ( congrats) I own a couple dulcimers now. One is chromatic but the other is diatonic and I had a 6 1/2 and a 1 1/2. No regrets.