American Chestnut

[Mike Hill]

Well, want to make a mountain dulcimer outta chestnut - mountain wood for mountain dulcimer type of thinking. Forty years ago got to be friends with a dulcimer maker around here, but he retired from making soon after and was selling his stuff. I bought some of it including some pieces of chestnut. Had a couple of fretboards, a couple of already shaped (he cut - not bent) sides and possibly enough for a top or bottom. Also had other pieces that were not chestnut. Put it in storage until I could get around to it. My wife decided she wanted to help someone's dad out by having him make a dulcimer and she would sell it. I told her she could have some of the pieces and she helped herself. All but one side and one fretboard is gone, but was not incorporated into the dulcimer - but I digress. Anyways, I still want to make the chestnut dulcimer so need the following:

4 pieces 4" x 30'+" minimum 1/8" preferably slightly thicker. or two 8" x 30+"
2 pieces of 2" x 32+" - 1/8" minimum preferably slightly thicker - same color as above pieces
and
1 piece of 5" x 26"
or
2 pieces 5" x 9"
1 piece 3" x 9"

Or something I can cut all the above out of.
Quilted chestnut is preferable, but since that probably doesn't exist almost any american chestnut would do.

 

[TTP GC]

1x5x7
1x9x21.5
some worm holes
Pm if interested

 

[Arn213]

Love to see someone here come up with salvaged or reclaimed old chestnut for your build. I never seen or worked with quilted chestnut before.

 

[TTP GC]

I have lots more

 

[Mike1950]

I have some curly somewhere. I will look when I get home.

 

[TTP GC]

2x4s

 

[rob3232]

Just adding for The pieces I have came from a stand cut in Minnesota in early 2000's. It was a state job if I remember correctly? I'm pretty sure it is Horse Chestnut not American Chestnut. Growth rings are only around 3 per inch. What I have are all flatsawn, kin dried and surfaced to 15/16. Sample piece ,close up, and end grain. I thik I have four or five pieces.

 

[Mike Hill]

I never seen or worked with quilted chestnut before.

Neither have I. Just made it up. There may have at one time been a lot of it, but most chestnut seem to have been used for ubiquitous, non-glamorous working man type stuff - fence posts, railroad ties, telephone poles, barn siding, etc.... However in doing research quite a few years back on chestnut - there was some mention of musical instruments, but no reference to what type. I've heard of banjo rims, and hammered dulcimers and some fiddle out of it, but have not personally eye-balled any of them. I need to check my collection but especially I need to contact the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, TN to see what they know. They have hundreds of mountain instruments.

 

[Arn213]

Neither have I. Just made it up. There may have at one time been a lot of it, but most chestnut seem to have been used for ubiquitous, non-glamorous working man type stuff - fence posts, railroad ties, telephone poles, barn siding, etc.... However in doing research quite a few years back on chestnut - there was some mention of musical instruments, but no reference to what type. I've heard of banjo rims, and hammered dulcimers and some fiddle out of it, but have not personally eye-balled any of them. I need to check my collection but especially I need to contact the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton, TN to see what they know. They have hundreds of mountain instruments.

Ha- I was looking forward to seeing an example and @Mike1950 “curl” statement got me intrigued to see what that looks like. I almost bought a counter slab from an old Pub in Boston that I was going to use as a desk top as I liked the patina and it was over 100 plus years old.

Rob’s piece looks interesting for the fact that the janka hardness rounds out close to Adi spruce- it might have a great tap tone response.

John gave you a great variety! Nice stuff John!

You are going to have a hard time picking. Glad I am not you!

Arn
PS- how important is grain orientation for dulcimer’s?

 

[Mike Hill]

PS- how important is grain orientation for dulcimer’s?

Quartersawn is supposedly preferable, but as the dulcimer seems to have originated in the Appalachians and were what I like to call "rural made" any number and types of wood and various items have been used. With perhaps walnut being the most numerous according to people who take note of such things. Since they are played face up, with the back laying in the lap and with a fretboard that extends the entire length of the instrument, I suspect they produce or project sound in a different way than with geetars. Some of the more modern ones played in contests, seem to be bigger and more like a geetar in construction - good tone woods and bracing, etc.

 

[bhatleberg]

My sister plays the harp, and hers is made of chestnut from an old barn timber. I'm no expert on tone wood, but it sounds great to me. And it looks beautiful.

 

[Wildthings]

@Mike Hayes

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

The old timers here in our area often used chestnut. My old neighbor used to build as well. He moved. I moved. Nobody knows where anyone got off to. Met a couple other builders who said it worked but had to be tested individual boards, not a blanket pass for chestnut.
I have a number of fresh dead, two years in the shed , chestnut in 4/4 and 8/4 waiting for something magical to happen where I get spare time to make something awesome...