While I derive considerable satisfaction from completing and delivering instruments to my clients, there is nothing so satisfying as developing a new instrum...

The Stephens Lutherie Skunkworks has been making the most of “sheltering in place” and cranking out prototypes for the next generation of instruments. There ...

Now that the evolution of the Fingerstyle Dulcimer has pretty much stabilized, it seems appropriate to pull all of my thoughts on how to use and care for the...

Once again Aaron is serving as the guinea pig in chief to drive the latest double back design to perfection. I caught Aaron at Dulcimer U last week to deliv...

Tests on the prototype bolt on bridge went very well and the concept has now been integrated into the Aaron O'Rourke Fingrestyle soundboard. So what does it...

With considerable help from my webmaster (who happens to be my daughter), I have finally managed to get a significant portion of my wood inventory online. Th...

The latest issue of Dulcimer Player News is all about innovations and innovators in the dulcimer (mountain and hammer) field. My Aaron O'Rourke Fingerstyle ...

I realize that things have been quiet at Stephens Lutherie of late, but that is not because nothing has been going on. Aaron and I continue to discuss the la...

I just finished resawing backs, tops and sides from boards for the next build. If you have given me the specifications for an instrument, it's now in proces...

I have been collecting materials for the first build of the Aaron O’Rourke Fingrestyle Dulcimers and am set to begin construction.  I recently updated my web...

The first production Aaron O’Rourke Fingerstyle Dulcimer has been in Aaron’s hands for over a month now and he has verified some thoughts that I had after my...

The instrument formerly known as the Aaron O’Rourke Nylon String Dulcimer is no more. Hereafter, it will be referred to as the Aaron O’Rourke Fingerstyle Dul...

It turns out that the gestation period for a new dulcimer is also close to nine months. With apologies to all the true mothers of the world, there are other ...

My dulcimers rely heavily on the accuracy of my computer controlled (CNC) router. I would even say that without it, I could not produce my current dulcimer d...

The big day is almost here! For several months I have been preparing three nylon string instruments for sound comparison tests with Aaron. There are three ...

As Wayne Henderson likes to say about building a great guitar, all you have to do is carve away everything that isn't a great instrument. The difference betw...

The photos show the seven instruments that are currently making their way through the shop. Four are steel strings and three are nylon strings. Note that t...

See the potential Aaron is opening up for this new instrument.

Today I finished rough sanding 14 soundboards that were previously bookmatched and glued together. These will have more impact on the final tone of the inst...