Fellenbaum Stringed Instruments

A musical instrument should appeal to all of the senses.
It should be pleasing to the ear, attractive to the eye, and delicate to the touch.

Such is the philosophy behind each and every instrument Tom Fellenbaum creates. Fellenbaum Stringed Instruments specializes in dulcimers and also builds guitars, bouzoukis and mandolins.

Two different styles of Appalachian, or mountain, dulcimers are available: the hourglass and the teardrop. Each shape offers its own unique sound. The teardrop tends to be deeper and more resonant, while the hourglass can be slightly louder and brighter in tone.

Tone also depends on the types of woods used in construction. The hardwoods used (from softest to hardest, or from most mellow to brightest) are: Mahogany, Cherry, Walnut, African Padauk, Curly Maple, Birdseye Maple, Bolivian Rosewood, and East Indian Rosewood. Tom prefers a softwood, such as Red Spruce or Western Red Cedar, for the top. These give a more resonant and richer tone and also age very nicely.

Tom has recently switched to a flathead design for his headstocks and uses guitar tuners with a 14:1 tuning ratio. Traditional headstocks with geared banjo tuners (4:1 ratio) are still available.

Tom's standard soundhole design for his dulcimers are the "F" hole shapes. Handcut rosettes are an attractive alternative for teardrop style dulcimers. Custom soundhole designs are taken into consideration. Each instrument comes with a case.

Tom's workshop is located next to the Acoustic Corner showroom, which features the dulcimers, celtic mandolins, and other instruments of Fellenbaum Stringed Instruments. For more information, including current price lists and digital imagery, please him, or visit his website, celticmandolins.com.