Seymour Galax...Almost Here!

[Cheryl Johnson]

A Long Time a Ago in a Far Away Kingdom, (otherwise known as A While Back) I asked my favorite (and most amazing) luthier Ben Seymour to build a Galax dulcimer for me.  Fast forward.....the wait is nearly over as here are some pictures of the dulcimer as it gets reading for final finish work.  What a beauty he has built and I'm beside myself waiting to play her!!  

 

[Dusty Turtle]

Wow, that is just stunningly beautiful, Cheryl. Congratulations.

 

It's hard isn't it, waiting for a dulcimer to be built?  We want to play our new toy as soon as possible and yet we also want the luthier to take his/her time and create that special work of art.

[Robin Clark]

Oh Wow!

That's lovely

[Cheryl Johnson]

Thanks Carrie and Rob.  Ben really does good work!  Will record it as soon as its in my hot little hands!  :)

[R N Lackey]

Wow!  That's enough, Wow!  

[Carrie Barnes]

WOW Cheryl, this is totally awesome!  And I know you can't wait to get it!  Soooo looking forward to the first vid with this fine piece of work!  Lovely, lovey grain here, it's really gonna pop when the finish is put on it!  Congrats Chica!

[Cheryl Johnson]

Hi Strumelia....thanks!!!  I'm very excited!  The sound holes are taped off so that the finish doesn't get down into the dulcimer.  That's why they're pretty blue :)

[Strumelia]

Wow that's a real beauty!

-what is the blue seen through the sound holes...?

[Cheryl Johnson]

Thanks ya'll!  Kevin is correct, quarter sawn sycamore...I got to see it when it was a whole board and its really a beautiful piece of wood. Thanks Randy....the sound hole shape is Ben's own.  He offered me traditional Galax style holes or his version which I immediately agreed to.  Thanks Miss Robin!!  Long time no chat..hope you are well!  Susie,how nice you are expectant as well!  I'm not sure on the scale length as this Galax style of dulcimer is usually played in the traditional style with noter on the first two of four equidistant strings ... all of the same gauge and usually tuned to the same note (d).  So long scale length has much less effect on traditionally played instruments as it does if one is going to play chords in the more modern style.  So that was a long way of saying I have no idea what the scale length is !!  :)  I had the amazing experience of studying this fall with Phyllis Gaskins who is an expert in the Galax style and an amazing lady to boot!

[Kevin Messenger]

 Randy looks like 1/4 sawn Sycamore to me. Beautiful, Cheryl you will have a blast with this one. Cant wait for the first video.

[Randy Adams]

What a beautiful dulcimer Cheryl. That thing is gonna crack! It's maple right? Love the sound holes.