German Scheitholt

German Scheitholt

This scheitholt appears to be an early 19th-century instrument, and is an exemplar of the predecessor to the Appalachian dulcimer. The fretboard and the body are the same, with frets extending down only one side of the instrument, the remaining strings likely serving as drones.

DS-5

A

Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, Tennessee

S. Conatser, Z. Law

36" x 3 3/4" x 2 1/8"

wood; metal frets, nut, and bridge; dark finish, appears to be painted; straight-sided instrument 2" wider at the tailpiece than at the headstock; headstock is a trapezoid-shaped block with 7holes for tuning pins or pegs, only 3 of which are filled; tailpiece has 8 holes with evidence of additional holes which may have served as string mounts; sides and tailpiece from a solid piece of wood; no raised fretboard; 14 frets, mounted directly into the top of the instrument at the edge; two round sound holes in the top of the instrument; overall good condition