Forum Activity for @johnnyb

String Sources, gauges, types

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Thanks, everyone!

I had a set of guitar strings laying  around so i was able to meet my immediate need and it worked fine. I suspected, as Ken said, a string is string.... But I wanted to make sure before I tried. I already broke a string and I didn't want to break the dulcimer, too!

(Mental note to self: tune down, not up. The strings won't stretch that far...).

@ Ken Hulme- that's the way it came, as far as gauges go. It sounds nice so I've no reason to change it at this time.

String Sources, gauges, types

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Where is a good source of strings?

I am able to get them from the luthier, but I'd like to have a backup plan in case he retires.

Its easy to find 3 & 4- string sets, but I have a five- string with the following gauges:

.011

.011

.013

.009

.024

Are these basically banjo strings? Guitar?

Does it matter, as long as the gauges match?

Should I buy a set of something plus singles? All singles?

updated by @johnnyb: 09/29/21 06:25:53PM

fingerstyle playing on a budget

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

It is, as you say, Ddadd. 

So far I am pleased with the setup, it has a pleasing sound.

fingerstyle playing on a budget

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Thanks for all the advice! 

I ended up buying one of Bill Bergs 5-string instruments. Only slightly more than I was looking to spend, but it came with a nice case, a noter, picks, Korg tuner. Happy so far! Only questions I have so far:

1)I can't find many examples of five string setups online, and the ones that do reference two bass strings, but mine came with the same size string as the melody strings next to the bass string. Normal?

2) I also can't find many resources for pure noter playing. Everything seems to be chords, which I am loving, but I still want to try noter playing. Is all noter playing pretty much by ear?

fingerstyle playing on a budget

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Ya got $200, and you wanna get a decent new (not used) dulcimer.

You're interested in learning to play all styles, especially fingerstyle, but also with noter, chords, etc.

I've looked at Berg's, but they're all 4 and 5-string instruments- but definitely in my price range.

Recommendations?

I understand (perhaps incorrectly) that fingerstyle playing is difficult with doubled strings?