CHAPTER 4: Dulcimers in the British Isles since 1800 > Dulcimers in the Midlands & the North

Bill Fell - bridges

Note that since the bridges are relatively thick and placed diagonally on the soundboard, their holes are are not perpedicular to the strings; the holes in a thin bridge may be bored perpendicularly without causing any problems, but in a thick bridge they would foul the strings.

The solution is to bore the holes at the same angle as that at which the bridge will be placed to the strings.

This is particularly necessary with the bass bridge, the angle of which to the soundboard is more acute; thus the angle of boring will not be the same for the two bridges, and they will therefore not be interchangeable.

The bridges are rather shorter and stubbier than others comparable, and rather thicker at the base.