theskashow

1. 1.5 inches, for no reason besides that's what the finger board started life as.2. you could add more by using the calculator. 16 gives you two full octaves.3. I usually go thinners so I don't have to hollow out the back of the fret board, this was a more traditional build so I went a little thicker. 3 could be fine if you hollow out the back.

I have used several different styles of holes, its more look than anything. as for size I just went with easy dimensional lumber on this one to make it simple. I have done cigar box dulcimers with much smaller dimensions.

If you wanted to add kerfboards on the top and bottom around the inside edge you could do that for strength. This is all straight lines and super solid so they are not needed.

The body could be any size and if you go to the scale calculator you could scale it down.

The tuners are for a guitar but you could probably get other types to work. The neck was 1.5 inches thick but just make sure it works with the tuners you pick.

https://www.stewmac.com/fretcalculator.html

That is good looking, I'm sure he is going to have a great time with it. You'll be building wim a strum stick he can carry around in no time.

The 2X2 was nominal, with no power tools I was not willing to use something I would have to mill down. the laths were right about 1.5" wide but as long as the stock you use is all the same you will be fine. The 2X2 gets hollowed out so it isn't to bad on size or weight. I wanted to get the neck and scroll out of the same piece so it just simplified things. I have done them with thinner fret boards and it didn't seem to make a noticeable difference. my others have been cigar box and whatever happens to be laying around so run wild with what you use.

Definition of civilization1a : a relatively high level of cultural and technological development; specifically : the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attainedBut I don't think the ones way back when would have been this nice.

Thanks. I think this design would actually work really well being held together with raw hide. That might be fun to try.

I have found that a little bit of glue is a great addition to this retread.

That would be awesome. This thing is pretty light to begin with but that could lower the weight and add a little more rigidity.

are you doing one with more of a sack on the back or just the board to tie to? I would like to do another canvas that I could swap out for more of an overnight or day pack.

Sorry it's taken a bit to get back to you. Probably about 50 or 60 if you have to buy everything. The tuners can be expensive but can also be scavenged from broken instruments. Also if you go to a music shop that does repairs and tell them what you are doing they can help with those and the fret wire.

28.25 is what I used, seemed to make the measurements easier, but as long as you put in your distance from top nut to bottom nut you will be fine. The nice thing is if you are off you can put it into the calculator and get out the right distances.

Mine has been good for a few years. If you are worried you could to the two vertical pieces out of thicker stock.