Kudzu Patch Dulcimer
Ben Seymour s Kudzu Patch dulcimers are constructed in the traditional
Pennsylvania Dutch hourglass shape. His dulcimers feature precision
machined tuners, a unique tailpiece facilitating the use of loop end or
ball end strings, and Ben s signature leaf-shaped soundholes.
Both bridge and nut are grooved for stringing either with four equidistant
strings or with doubled treble strings. Kudzu Patch dulcimers
are fine instruments, boasting a big sound and a full, rich tone.
Kudzu Patch standard dulcimers come in Short and Long
fretboard lengths. Vibrating String Length VSL, or scale length, for
Short fretboards is 26 15/16 ; VSL is 28 1/4 for Long models. Depth
of standard model dulcimers is 2. Other models include:
Baritone dulcimers Tuned A-E-A for a deep, rich sound,
amplified by an increased depth of 2 3/8.
Babydoll The cute little guy. Tuned to a high G-D-G;
Jazz Has the same VSL as the Babydoll, and is tuned from
treble to bass D-D-G-high B, facilitating easy jazz chords. Built in the
standard hourglass shape, or in the distinctive S shape upon
request, with your choice of four or five strings.
See Prices Terms page for ordering information.
Below are examples of the different types of Kudzu Patch dulcimers, with details
on the particular instrument. Some of those pictured are early instruments
with larger soundholes. Ben later began making smaller soundholes for esthetic
reasons; this does not affect the volume or quality of sound.
Click on the thumbnails for enlarged views.
dulcimer is made of palm wood, which is in the grass family, so one
might say this is Ben s grass dulcimer.
Zebrawood dulcimer with a western red cedar back. VSL 26 15/16
Western red cedar top with quilted maple sides, back and fretboard
was brought to Ben for repair by Phil Goodrich, who had purchased it
many years ago. When Ben looked into the soundhole, he saw
001 on the label inside--this was the first
built, around 1994. It possesses the same great
tone and huge volume that all of Bens dulcimers have.
Listen to the tunes Ben played on it by clicking the titles at left.
These instruments all have been ordered by and sold to
individuals unless otherwise indicated.
owns this rosewood back and sides dulcimer.
Custom split fretboard dulcimer with Indian rosewood false back and sides,
and a spruce back and western red cedar top, made for Richard Latker Hong Kong.
This is a Teardrop Dulcinator with walnut back and sides, a birdseye maple top and a
walnut fretboard. The soundholes are horned toad silhouettes. It has an excellent, clear voice.
to hear this and other dulcinators played by Ben.
Rosewood Dulcimer has a western red cedar top and a
bookmatched, figured rosewood back. Sides are slightly deeper at 2
3/8. Fretboard is mahogany with an ebony fingerboard.
Especially remarkable for its excellent sustain. A fingerpicker s
teardrop dulcimer with western red cedar top. This
dulcimer has a tone like a cello -- full-bodied and resonant.
dulcimer long standard with spruce top. This was my first time using
leopardwood, and it may well be my last--I found that I was very allergic
to its dust. An exotically beautiful dulcimer with a crisp and
dulcimer. Technically, the palm tree is a member of the grass
family; its wood is stringy and is not normally used to build most
things that common woods are usually employed in. To Ben, this means
CHALLENGE.. The result is a surprisingly fine-sounding instrument.
This is one of Ben s favorites to play. NFS
Yin/Yang Maple Dulcimer has a quad bookmatched flamed maple
back, lightly flamed maple sides and quarter-sawn redwood top.
Soundholes have inlaid quilted maple details. Fretboard is ebony
w/flamed maple sides and birdseye strum hollow. Sound is bright
Doll with false back, built for Becky. Bubinga top, sides
and false back, with western red cedar back. Ankh soundholes and abalone fretboard dots. Back
quilted maple ankh inlaid in ebony diamond. Articulate mellow
Doll teardrop style with laminated alternating African mahogany
and sycamore back. Sides are walnut sycamore; fretboard is walnut
and fingerboard is sycamore. Very sweet tone and excellent action.
Two-Point Teardrop has a western red cedar top. Back
and sides are built from colorful walnut, including both heartwood
Rose dulcimer. Quilted maple back, sides and fretboard with
manufactured rose motif inlay.
has a steel cone and a banjo-like sound. Ben made this for
The Scottish dulcimer. Soundholes are Scottish lions rampant in a
top with a pattern very like ermine. Celtic cross inlaid in
sides of headstock. A beauty with a huge sound.
her new bass. Hers was an experimental model, made all
of walnut except for a spruce back. The false back is
walnut. It is an outstanding bass dulcimer.
TX exceptional custom model has a divided fretboard: melody side
diatonic and the middle and bass chromatic. Walnut back and sides,
western red cedar top, ebony fretboard and overlay headstock.
Jenny Banefield s Reidsville, NC beautiful
walnut dulcimer, with butterfly soundholes and a walnut slice
Wayne Seymour Reidsville, NC--Ben s brother owns this lovely teardrop, inlaid on
the back with a reproduction of a drawing of cosmos flowers
originally rendered by their mother, the late Christine Watson
Beautiful quarter-sawn lacy sycamore dulcimer made for Grieg Vanlandingham Kingsport,TN.
Listen to Ben play it on YouTube
Dulcinator 3, made with a western red cedar top, rosewood back, sides, and
false back, built for Cliff Cyphers Texas.
The grand Pleiades Dulcimer, made of cherry with a spruce top, and full of stars.
This dulcimer was custom-made for Jeff Menzies Ontario. It has a short standard body with a 26 1/2 VSL.
The top is mulberry; the back and sides are walnut.
Lynn Parson s curly cherry galax with a spruce top and morning glory inlays.
Don Country Strickland s custom walnut back and sides, spruce top dulcimer with sycamore inlay.
Kokopelli Dulcimer with walnut back and sides and western red cedar for
the top; catalox overlay on the fretboard.
Ben received the wrong size cases and the manufacturer gave him credit but didn t want them back,
so Ben just made an instrument that would fit them. Walnut with a redwood top and saligna fretboard.
Magna Oblonga Dulcimelos Excelsior.
This instrument, made mostly of koa wood from Hawai i, was sent to New Hope, Minnesota.
Ben gave a Kudzu Patch dulcimer to Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls in March 2004.
Galax Dulcimers
Ben Seymour makes dulcimers including Galax style and other instruments, and repairs stringed instruments. Gingerthistle performs Appalachian and Celtic.
Multiple-instrument customer Greg Gunner says, The
Gaskins/Melton Dulcimer arrived safely today It is a real beauty. The consistent high quality of your instruments
continues to amaze me. It has a wonderful swarm of bees sound that
makes Galax-style dulcimers so unique, and the workmanship is top-notch.
Paul Tantillo wrote of his new cherry Galax: Hi, Ben - I just wanted to let you know the dulcimer
arrived safe and sound yesterday. The wood - amazingexquisite. The scrollhead - poignant,
wonderfully graceful. The sound - great,
beautifully balanced. Actually, I m surprised the drones don t dominate more, like they do in
a bagpipe tuning on a regular dulcimer. On this one all the strings kind of unite as a whole.
The scale sounds perfect to my ear. Craftsmanship - it s such an extremely fine piece of
instrument-building, Ben. When you get an instrument this solid you just know itit s real.
I also appreciate your attention to historical accuracy. This is a real, true Virginia dulcimer,
and they re a dying breed as far as I can see. I feel privileged to own this one I really
love dulcimers and I m really happy to have this one in my keeping. It s certainly one of the
finest I own, probably the best. Thank you so much.
David Sigsbee said, With more than a little excitement, I report that I got the dulcimer, safe,
sound, and whole Opened the box, was almost shocked by how beautiful the wood was.
The wood is wonderfully grained. The sound is bright and crisp the first thing my wife noticed.
The action is easy and precise, and the tone and resonance are as good as I have heard.
I m a real happy camper with this dulcimer. The cat sound holes, which I sometimes had self-doubts
about requesting how untraditional do I want to be. fit the instrument perfectly.
If I am ever in one of those environments where people seem to expect dulcimers to have
a name, I will call it Zeke after your cat. Thanks for creating a real treasure for me.
Ben Seymour s Kudzu Patch dulcimers are constructed in the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch hourglass shape. His dulcimers feature precision machined tuners, a.
Ben Seymour s Kudzu Patch dulcimers are constructed in the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch hourglass shape. His dulcimers feature precision machined tuners.
Everythingdulcimer.com Tindle Music Company Mountain Dulcimer music.html Kudzu Patch free tabs posted anywhere as.
Kudzu Patch Dulcimers Dulcimer Antecedents Strings Repairs Client s Comments: Ben s Ceramic Drums Other Instruments Ben s Tablature Page Prices, Terms.
Ben Seymour Luthier and oldtime musician Tryon, NC Polk County Ben Seymour has been building dulcimers of his own Kudzu Patch design and other stringed.
