The Cigar Box Stick Dulcimer Book , that follows this online series Comes with full sized plans and maker's notes, is available on Amazon worldwide.
https://mybook.to/cigar-box-stick
11" x 8.5" paperback in full colour.
The book leads you through the building of a Cigar Box Guitar style stick Dulcimer, with one piece continuous neck, homemade piezo pickups
with all the notes included, chapter by chapter, focusing on simple luthier tips and techniques. The QR codes in the book help guide you with the making process, as well as linking to new contents and useful older videos. (They are scannable by almost any smartphone, and older ones with a free QR reader app).
The Cigar Box Stick Dulcimer Book is available, that follows this online series Comes with full sized plans and makers notes, is available on Amazon worldwide:
https://mybook.to/cigar-box-stick
11" x 8.5" paperback in full colour.
The book leads you through the building of a Cigar Box Guitar style stick Dulcimer, with one piece continuous neck, homemade piezo pickups
with all the notes included, chapter by chapter, focusing on simple luthier tips and techniques. The QR codes in the book help guide you with the making process, as well as linking to new contents and useful older videos. (They are scannable by almost any smartphone, and older ones with a free QR reader app).
Making these instruments is straightforward; the pre-made cigar box simplifies construction, and the neck design featured in the series is both stable and easy to assemble.
The Cigar Box Stick Dulcimer Book is now available, complementing the online series with full-sized plans and maker's notes. You can find it on Amazon globally.
This book guides you in constructing a Cigar Box Guitar-style stick dulcimer, featuring a one-piece continuous neck and DIY piezo pickups.
with all the notes included, chapter by chapter, focusing on simple luthier tips and techniques. The QR codes in the book help guide you with the making process, as well as linking to new contents and useful older videos. (They are scannable by almost any smartphone, and older ones with a free QR reader app).
Welcome to this ten-part video series on making a cigar box stick dulcimer. These videos will support the notes and plans in the book, available on Amazon.
The video series primarily focus on the making of a traditional cigar box guitar style instrument, one of the easiest places to start for the first time makers, using a real cigar box with a long continuous neck providing strength a and stability, flat paddle headstock 4-strings and a piezo pickup.
We will cover the creation, shaping, and fretting of the neck and fitting to the body, the wiring of a piezo pickup, and setting up the instrument.
Cigar box stick dulcimers, while a simple instrument to make and play, will give you much enjoyment.
Extras and the Book and Download: The two additional plans in the book expand the building options and cover building a soundbox from scratch, using traditional tonewoods rather than a readymade box. Included are both 3 and 4 string design options, which feature bolt-on or dovetailed necks.
The book edition features full-colour photos of the instruments, full maker's notes, and QR codes to connect to the video episodes online. At the back of the book, there is the complete set of plans for all three instrument designs in a multi-page format to cut out and glue or tape together.
Printmaking the next year’s instrument labels for my upcoming lyres, epinettes, moraharpa, english style violin and Stick Dulcimers. These ones are narrow violin style and larger ones with more information.
I am using Rubine Red Cranfield washable oil based relief ink, Fine Japanese wash printmaking papers, with a few larger labels in Nepalese Lokta paper.
For full video see my channel
The strong and thin Japanese washi paper allows the use of a spoon as abarren to make the prints
Book available - Psaltery Making: Maker's Notes and plans: for Chromatic and Diatonic models:
https://mybook.to/bowedpsaltery
(Book has full size plans for the soprano model in C, Diatonic Model in D as well as the Bow Bending template, notes and plans as shown in this video.)
Digital plan version are also available here:
https://payhip.com/b/j8S6
Digital plans include Bow templates, instrument plans include soprano in C and alto G plans, as well as Diatonic model in D and g
Psaltery Making: Maker's Notes and plans: for Chromatic and Diatonic models available now:
https://mybook.to/bowedpsaltery
(Book has full size plans for the soprano model in C, Diatonic Model in D as well as the Bow Bending template, notes and plans as shown in this video.)
Digital plans are also available here:
https://payhip.com/b/j8S6
Plans include Bow templates, instrument plans include soprano in C and G plans, as well as Diatonic model in D
Plans are for my Soprano model in C version, 18" long, small and compact, my version inspired by Edgar Stahmer and Ronald Roberts design, with small changes internal and external for a better sound, Its a good alto instrument, the pins on the bridge help with the spacing of the strings.
Psaltery Making: Maker's Notes and plans: for Chromatic and Diatonic models available now:
https://mybook.to/bowedpsaltery
(Book has full size plans for the soprano model in C, Diatonic Model in D as well as the Bow Bending template, notes and plans as shown in this video.)
Digital plans are also available here:
https://payhip.com/b/j8S6
Plans include Bow templates, instrument plans include soprano in C and G plans, as well as Diatonic model in D
Psaltery Making: Maker's Notes and plans: for Chromatic and Diatonic models available now:
https://mybook.to/bowedpsaltery
(Book has full size plans for the soprano model in C, Diatonic Model in D as well as the Bow Bending template, notes and plans as shown in this video.)
Digital plans are also available here:
https://payhip.com/b/j8S6
Plans include Bow templates, soprano in C and G plans, as well as Diatonic model in D
Disclaimer: Always follow safe practices while working with tools. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Viewers should undertake the use of materials and methods as shown in these videos after evaluation, and at their own risk.
Plans include bow templates, instrument plans include soprano in C and G plans, as well as Diatonic model in D
#luthier zither #Streichpsalter #michaeljking #plans #psaltery #bowedpsaltery #psalteryPsaltery Making: Maker's Notes and plans: for Chromatic and Diatonic models available, see profile link or copy URL below:
https://mybook.to/bowedpsaltery
(Book has full size plans for the soprano model in C, Diatonic Model in D as well as the Bow Bending template, notes and plans as shown in this video.)
The second book is my Kantele Making Plans book, that has all my kantele plans in a multi-page format in 8.5” by 11” size, 5-String, 11-String, 15-string, Piccolo Kantele, along with patterns for long and short-scale 10-string models)
Kantele Making Plans book are available now on Amazon, worldwide.
Patterns included:
5 String Kantele
11 String Kantele
15-String Drone Kantele
Piccolo kantele
10 String
10 String Bronze/Short scale
String charts and cutting lists provided.
all plans /patterns in multipage format, wide overlap, cut and paste/tape together.
Physical copies are available from Amazon:
https://mybook.to/kantele-making-books
Today marks the launch of two books from my Kantele-Making Series.
The first is the 5-String Kantele book, a print edition of my original 2004 e-book, updated and revised for 2025, with added QR codes to YouTube videos, along with plans full size at the back of the book in multi-page format to fit the compact 5.5” x 8.5 size. This is a guide to get you started in making kanteles.
The second book is my Kantele Making Plans book, that has all my kantele plans in a multi-page format in 8.5” by 11” size, 5-String, 11-String, 15-string, Piccolo Kantele, along with patterns for long and short-scale 10-string models)
This is an electric kantele tuned A B C# D E F# G A B C# D
strings were not long fitted and you can see me tugging the srting to help ease them in, usually after a few days they stabilise very nicely.
IOS app for iPhone or iPad, "Tune my string"
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tune-my...
gStrings on android will work in a similar way, "gStrings"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...
iPhone image:
Image by svstudioart on Freepik
see my electric Kantele pages for more info
https://www.michaeljking.com
The Stick Dulcimer Making Book with full sized plans and course notes, available for sale on Amazon,
https://mybook.to/stick-dulcimer-book
available as a standard paperback or hardcover version:
The book leads you through the Stick Dulcimer making course with all the updates included, chapter by chapter, focusing on simple luthier tips and techniques. The QR codes in the book help guide you with the making process, as well as linking to new contents and useful older videos. (They are scannable by almost any smartphone, and older ones with a free QR reader app).
The methods in the course could apply to many other kinds of string instrument.
I have spent the last two years working on this, updating my processes, filming extra content, and many months of formatting and editing. The book has plenty of content to explore, for players, as well as makers. I really hope for the book helps you on your creative journey!
If you have questions, please let me know! Michael J King
#stickdulcimer#dulcimer#Appalachian#luthier
Download edition/book/plans for Stick Dulcimer:
https://payhip.com/lyreshopFull Stick Dulcimer making course on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6E70E85773B6A204
I have had this jig in use for many years but never filmed. Cherry wood Psaltery back, planed and ready to glue. The jig is a very simple construction with battens, ladder rungs and wedges, more battens and bias tape and string, steel eyes, and tied on to small boat cleats.
This video follows the pdf guide in my 7 String Lyre making Download,
Download includes PDF plans information to build plus extras.
see link
https://payhip.com/b/Lv2Tp
Etsy Shop for Instruments strings and other accessories:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Thelyreshop
To let the soundboard vibrate more while maintaining structural stability, we thicken and angle the area at the bottom. We also add a foot to the bottom of the playing area for structural reasons, following the Trossingen lyre as a guide.
More videos will follow, feel free to leave comments or questions on the video or email me for more information.
Latest work at Instagram:
7 String Hybrid Viking/Kravik model in A C DE F G A tuning
6 String Viking in A, B or C tuning depending on strings
7 String travel lyre, sized to fit in carry-on luggage on Ryan Air!
(note I have widened the latest design to have more soundbox size)
I am still taking orders for 7 string models for 2025 though my order book is full at present for any custom models, working my way through orders one at a time, message me for details on availability or if you have any questions
Always follow safe practices while working with tools. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods as shown in these pages after evaluation, and at their own risk.
New book in the Daily Action List series, book available on Amazon worldwide.
This book is the prequel to my acclaimed Daily Action List series, bringing everything back to basics and full circle. In this comprehensive guide, you'll find a streamlined approach to tackling your daily tasks using the powerful and time-tested Ivy Lee Method. For an entire year, this book will be your companion, helping you maintain focus and achieve your goals with unparalleled clarity and efficiency.
One year of To-Do lists using the Ivy Lee method, pocketable 5"x8" format.
"The Ivy Lee method is powerful in its simplicity, each day, write six things to do, listing them in priority, crossing off tasks as you complete them. Prior to ending the day, take a moment to plan for tomorrow and transfer any incomplete tasks onto the new list. arrowing down the focus each day and implementing it is all in your hands!"
Update to the 2010 video series demonstrating the side lamination techniques, plans for the side jig is in the updated plans download and the Printed edition of the Stick Dulcimer making Book, available soon.
I am always trying to improve, simplifying and refining, the new plans and notes its been over 20 years of making these now.
Disclaimer: Always follow safe practices while working with tools. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Viewers should undertake the use of materials and methods as shown in these videos after evaluation, and at their own risk.
