Questions: Instrument Plan #39

by Deb Suran

Originally published in American Lutherie #101, 2010

Remco Busink from the Netherlands asks:

Two months ago I ordered GAL Instrument Plan #39 of the hammered dulcimer. The instrument is almost finished and I need to know what the numbers are in the string gauge table.

Plan author Deb Suran of Deer Isle, Maine responds:

The numbers are W&M music wire gauges. I would suggest purchasing plated music wire from a supplier to the music trades (piano / harpsichord / dulcimer strings), and not from a hardware store or industrial supplier. Hardware store wire is oiled, not plated, and will rust.