David, check out sksmithmusic.com and you will find lots of information there that will be helpful to you. I like the section on virtual classroom since it is really well done and there is another with some great links to other amazing players and instructors.
Okay, David. When I've gotten some old dulcimers to fix and loan out to folks that might like to learn how to play....and there are more then a few that have that "fixed bridge"....I fill that in...and make a FLOATING BRIDGE that I can put in the right place and then find the right distance. It doesn't always work, as frets are sometimes off. You are right on the Warren May dulcimers. those can spoil you. you ought to think about coming to Berea, Kentucky for the gathering there. That's where Warren May's shop is.
Thanks Irene. Yes, I made fret dots before on one of the dulcimers I built and 2 of the license plate guitars. I think I used mother of pearl on the dulcimer, and abalone on the license plate guitars. I don't know how much I want to mess around with this dulcimer, I don't think it was very well built to begin with. I'm thinking of getting it to play as good as it can, and saving up for a Warren May. After tuning that one I bought for my girlfriend for Christmas and playing it for a few minutes I'm spoiled...
Damn, good point, Ken! I just went and duplicated the nut and bridge that were on there...as you can see from the picture, the fretboard is cut out where the bridge sat, so the original design doesn't allow for adjustment. But if the nut and bridge were square instead of rounded, am I correct that inner nut- 7th.fret x 2 should equal vibrating string length (inner nut- inner bridge?) If that is the case, the bridge is way off no matter how I measure it...
Looks good. With the rounded tops you will need to measure from the end of the slot on the fret board side of the nut to the end of the slot on the fret side of the bridge to determine the vibrating string length and placement of the bridge. When the nut and bridge have a flat face this is easier to do as you just measure from one face to the other.
GREAT, just saw the whole dulcimer. You also might like to add "dots" to various frets that will help you play along. Many dulcimer friends have come to me with old dulcimers and want to add dots to their dulcimers. Ask a luthier or even yourself can do some research on how and what kind of dots you'd like. aloha, irene
Thanks Ken, it sounds real good...
David, check out sksmithmusic.com and you will find lots of information there that will be helpful to you. I like the section on virtual classroom since it is really well done and there is another with some great links to other amazing players and instructors.
Okay, David. When I've gotten some old dulcimers to fix and loan out to folks that might like to learn how to play....and there are more then a few that have that "fixed bridge"....I fill that in...and make a FLOATING BRIDGE that I can put in the right place and then find the right distance. It doesn't always work, as frets are sometimes off. You are right on the Warren May dulcimers. those can spoil you. you ought to think about coming to Berea, Kentucky for the gathering there. That's where Warren May's shop is.
Yes, David, you are correct.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Well I put her back together and tuned her DAA. Strings aren't buzzing anymore, and I left the bridge just a touch higher than it was.
On the melody string I have: A open, B, C#, D, E, F#, G. Is that what they should be?
Thanks Irene. Yes, I made fret dots before on one of the dulcimers I built and 2 of the license plate guitars. I think I used mother of pearl on the dulcimer, and abalone on the license plate guitars. I don't know how much I want to mess around with this dulcimer, I don't think it was very well built to begin with. I'm thinking of getting it to play as good as it can, and saving up for a Warren May. After tuning that one I bought for my girlfriend for Christmas and playing it for a few minutes I'm spoiled...
Damn, good point, Ken! I just went and duplicated the nut and bridge that were on there...as you can see from the picture, the fretboard is cut out where the bridge sat, so the original design doesn't allow for adjustment. But if the nut and bridge were square instead of rounded, am I correct that inner nut- 7th.fret x 2 should equal vibrating string length (inner nut- inner bridge?) If that is the case, the bridge is way off no matter how I measure it...
Looks good. With the rounded tops you will need to measure from the end of the slot on the fret board side of the nut to the end of the slot on the fret side of the bridge to determine the vibrating string length and placement of the bridge. When the nut and bridge have a flat face this is easier to do as you just measure from one face to the other.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
GREAT, just saw the whole dulcimer. You also might like to add "dots" to various frets that will help you play along. Many dulcimer friends have come to me with old dulcimers and want to add dots to their dulcimers. Ask a luthier or even yourself can do some research on how and what kind of dots you'd like. aloha, irene
this looks good. Let's see the whole dulcimer next photo.
New nut and bridge I made