Problem with dimensions for Hammered Dulcimer

[David Knutson]

I'm working on my first dulcimer and have a problem with the plans I have. There are 2 measurments that essentially set the length of the longest and shortest strings. The drawing says the short string measurement should be 13.125 in. If I put a ruler on the drawing, I see the line as being 13-in even - so 1/8-in shorter than what's written. The same problem with the bottom - the shown is 1/8-in longer than the actual measurement.

I'm trying to decide whether to use the printed measurements or the actual measurements. How critical is this string length? Is 1/8 not enough to worry about?

BTW - all the other dimensions given seem to be as printed.

[Barry Daniels]

I would put more faith in the written dimensions than the drawing.

[Jim McConkey]

I agree with Barry. Definitely go with the printed measurements. Printers are not perfect.

But to answer your question, small length differences should not matter much. You can always compensate by tuning. If the difference gets to be too big, you may need a different gauge string, but probably not for that small an amount.

[Clay Schaeffer]

With hammered dulcimers the "treble" courses are a ratio of the strings length on both sides of the "central" bridge so you want to make the bridge movable - only held in place by string tension, so slight adjustments can be made to tune the string length in relation to both sides of the bridge.
As Barry and Jim mentioned a small deviation in the actual length is less critical than the ratio of the string lengths to one another. A large change in length will affect the tension needed to bring the string to pitch and can cause some strings to play differently than others.