Whamdiddle Maple Bones with Traditional Swiss Style Floral Design
Inlaid with natural Chrysocolla

The floral design on these Maple bones is handcarved by master luthier Rick Fogel. This design is the same "Fern with Berries" signature image seen on Rick's Whamdiddle dulcimers. He carves the image using a special method known as kerbschnitzen, which is Swiss for engraving carving.

Fine woodcrafters call the technique "chip carving." Rick takes chip carving one step further by inlaying the design with Chrysocolla, a hard bright blue turquoise-like mineral.

What is Chrysocolla?
Chrysocolla occurs in the oxidized zone of copper deposits, mainly in arid climates. The mineral appears widely in the Southwest U.S.

According to Wikipedia, "the name comes from the Greek chrysos, 'gold,' and kolla, 'glue,' in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold." The term "was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BCE."

How the Inlay is Made
To create the inlay, Rick first grinds small nuggets of the mineral into powder using a "hammel." Next, he mixes the pulverized mineral with epoxy to form a flowable medium. Then he fills the chip carving with the Chrysocolla and epoxy compound.

After the inlay hardens, the instrument surface is belt-sanded with 120 grit sandpaper. But we are not done yet. Rick carefully re-sands the surface by hand (also using 120 grit sandpaper) to eliminate any minor imperfections or blemishes. He creates a fine-quality old-world finish by placing the bones under a bright light and scraping the instrument surface the traditional way - by hand, using a "really sharp" hunting knife. Finally, Rick rubs marine spar varnish into the wood which protects your inlaid instruments from moisture and sunlight.

Maple is a popular domestic wood that delivers a magnificent medium-soft low tone.
The wood is a uniformly pale reddish brown to light tan. It has a fine uniform texture and is very strong and hard with close grain. Because of its strength and stiffness, it ranks as one of the more valuable hardwoods.

The wood has a very fine and even texture, and the grain is typically straight, but it can also be curly or wavy. The wood is described as close-grained and subdued, sometimes with decorative figuring including, bird's eye, maple burl, blistered, leaf, and fiddleback.

Many players, including myself, prefer maple because of its comfortable grip and heft, and for the nice warm tone it generates.

Figures are approximate (but pretty darn close)--

• Length: Classic Long, 8" (20cm)
• Width: Regular, 1-1/8" to 1-1/4" (29mm to 32mm)
• Thickness: 1/4" to 3/8"
• Composition: Domestic Maple hardwood
• Camber (arc): 28 degrees
• Average Weight: 2.1 oz
• Color: Lt beige
• Specific Gravity: .63
• Density: 45 pcf
• Hardness: 1450 Janka

Handcrafted By a Master Luthier with a Graduate Degree in Physics

Whamdiddle bones are magnificent instruments. They are handcrafted from domestic and exotic hardwoods by Rick Fogel. Rick is a master luthier in Seattle, Washington who holds a master of science degree in Physics. This winning combination of top-grade material, brilliant artistry, and scientific expertise explains why Whamdiddle bones sound as good as they look.

Great Looks, Solid Design, Superior Tone
Take a close look at the marvelous color and fascinating wood grain of these Whamdiddle bones. They are less oval than minstrel style bones. And the "flat" shape fits especially comfortable in your hands. But the first thing you notice when you grab a pair is their substantial heft. Even the lightweight bones feel full in your grip. Best of all, Whamdiddle bones deliver a full rich range of tones when you rattle them.

Crafted From Quartersawn Lumber, the Prime Working Stock for Quality Musical Instruments
Why do Whamdiddle bones reveal spectacular grain patterns, warp less, and generate better tone? "Because," Rick explains, "they are made from quartersawn lumber."


So yes, musical bones made from quartersawn lumber are decidedly prime quality instruments. But the ultimate test, of course, is to try them yourself.

Largest Selection of Whamdiddle Bones on the Internet
...plus those Famous Laminated Bones!
On this website is the largest selection of Whamdiddle bones on the internet. No other store offers you a larger choice of Whamdiddle bones that you can view and purchase by simply clicking a button.

Please note that each carefully matched pair is expertly hand-crafted, but no two pairs are exactly alike. (i.e. Some pairs might vary slightly from another in width and thickness.)

Where does Rick find the exotic, rare, and domestic species of wood for these gorgeous bones? "It's scrap wood left over from the dulcimers I make," he says. So if you see something you really like, get it now. Because when a species of Whamdiddle bones get sold out, they might be gone forever.

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