Carbon Compact hammer dulcimer
On this page:
carbon fiber hammer dulcimers
carbon fiber mountain dulcimers
Carbon fiber reinforced with resin is a wonderful material with many space age uses that require strength with light weight. I’ve used it in boats and airplanes, and over the years I have explored the potential of its surprisingly good acoustic properties. My carbon fiber dulcimers are now my favorites due to their wonderful tone, light weight, and tuning stability. Carbon plays an important roll in my current hammers also.
DULCIMER HAMMERS
Carbon Flex-Shaft hammers are the result of many years experimenting to achieve the best tone and playability. Carbon fiber has the best physical properties for making the flexible shafts. An optional ergonomic hand grip is available to ease wrist, finger, and joint problems. See the Hammers page for photos and details.
HAMMER DULCIMERS
Nicholas Blanton and I now make hammer dulcimers with carbon fiber backs and resin-sealed interiors. These features improve tone, strength, and tuning stability while reducing weight. See the Dulcimer page for models and prices.
My current experimental dulcimers use mostly carbon fiber components, including the soundboard. Tone is so pleasing that I almost never play my other dulcimers.
The first such dulcimer to be completed was a RIZZETTA COMPACT model. It is several pounds lighter than all-wood COMPACTS or COMPACTS with carbon backs and redwood soundboards, making it easier to carry. The carbon soundboard is an important feature for tone and tuning stability. Carbon soundboards typically impart a rather “glassy” and attractive bell-like tone. My prototype carbon Compact is made to be very light weight and is therefore strung with lighter gauge strings. While the volume is very good, it is not quite as loud as some of my heavier dulcimers with redwood soundboards and heavier gauge strings. However, the tone is sweet, rich, articulate, and musical with a lush warmth and balance throughout the entire range. Sustain is controlled to a pleasing level and individual notes are well-defined with great clarity and very good projection. Tone is slightly reminiscent of a mahogany soundboard dulcimer but with an especially nice and strong tone for its size. Dulcimers with carbon soundboards tend to sound great with all hammers from soft to hard, making them especially versatile.
The soundboard, back, and frame, are carbon fiber. Wood is still used for bridges, pin blocks, and internal braces. The exceptional properties of carbon allow me to save a lot of weight while still making a professional, high quality dulcimer that stays in tune. Weight is 10 lbs., about 60% the weight of an all-wood COMPACT. Since the carbon structure is impervious to moisture, humidity has no effect on tuning. This greatly reduces the risks of traveling or performing outdoors.
The twill weave pattern of the carbon cloth shows through on the frame rails.
On the first carbon Compact I made the soundboard purple just for fun! Later dulcimers, like the ER below, have natural carbon black soundboards. My usual decorative soundholes are absent. Soundholes would weaken critical areas of the top and add weight by requiring heavier bracing, so soundholes are in the back and sides.
Rizzetta Carbon Extended Range hammer dulcimer.
My newest dulcimer is a carbon EXTENDED RANGE model which I’ve been playing in recent concerts. The soundboard is natural uni-directional carbon while back and sides are carbon twill weave.
ER with carbon reinforced Bubinga wood frame rails.
Carbon frame rails are overlaid with highly figured bubinga wood decorated with abalone inlay.
Top view of Carbon Extended Range hammer dulcimer.
I may build a few carbon dulcimers to be sold when completed rather than built on order. Prices will be higher than for non-carbon dulcimers.
MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS
For information on carbon fiber mountain dulcimers go to the Mountain Dulcimer page. Mountain Dulcimers
Carbon Fiber Mountain Dulcimer
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I do not have a walk-in store, but my dulcimers can be seen and played by appointment at my Inwood studio or at some of the festivals where I perform, teach, or exhibit.
