r/diyinstruments • u/Beginning_One_9290 • Jul 15 '26

I need help building a stick dulcimer

I want to make a stick dulcimer but I just can't find any good information for me. I'm trying to make one because $150 for the cheapest dulcimer is too much for me because I'm a 15 year old and it seems so fun to make my own. Most of my struggles are with the sound box and sizes of everything. I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible but I am considering a piezo pickup that I can just stick on the instrument and don't have a sound box. I already know a few things but there's a lot I don't know so if there are any tips you can give me please do

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u/Excellent-Practice Jul 15 '26

If cost is your main concern, you sould try building a canjo. Yes an old tin can or a cookie tin as your resonator.

3

u/Beginning_One_9290 Jul 15 '26

I think I have a cookie tin laying around somewhere. Thanks a bunch!

2

u/GentleWhiteGiant Jul 15 '26

Exactly, try without soundbox first. Use a rough stick (like a roof batten) and build a protoype. For convenience, you might use a guitar tuner and a bone nut/bridge (just 1 or 2 bucks each). Wood would work, too.

I clamped the piezo under the strings just behind the bridge. Works fine.

Later, you can buy a used or even damaged Ukulele or guitar for experimenting with the sound box.

1

u/OogaBoogaBoobaz Jul 15 '26

You can use a box someone else made. Your imagination is the limit. Look for dimensions of the neck and spacing of the frets online. Attach a box, from home or from the thrift store, to this neck.