Forum Activity for @beverly-r

Dulcimer tuning problem

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

Great information!  I didn't know until now about just intonation or natural temperament.  I read through the linked discussion thread about JI and that describes it perfectly.  And yes, the length of the first fret is less than the length of the second so I believe that confirms it.  I'm pretty sure when I was first learning to play years ago, I was playing melody/drone style and not chords so I wouldn't have noticed it then.  I'll also try tuning to DAA to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks, everyone, for all your help!  I learned a lot from this discussion.

Dulcimer tuning problem

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

Thanks for all the good advice!  Here is more information.  This is a Warren May dulcimer.  He taught industrial arts at my high school in 1973 and I bought the dulcimer then.  I learned to play it a little at the time, then neglected it for many years while I was working.  When I retired just recently I decided to get serious about learning to play it, so I had the strings replaced.  The intonation issue is pretty noticeable on chords.  I didn't notice it when I first got it, which makes me think that it is something that happened over the years.  I am embarrassed to say that I left it in a college dorm room over Christmas break when it wasn't heated, and I have wondered if that had anything to do with it.  I'm attaching photos.

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful responses!

Dulcimer tuning problem

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

I tune the open strings to DAD, but the rest of the frets don't follow suit.  For example, my open melody string will be tuned to D, but the E on the first fret is slightly off pitch.  And the F# on the second fret is off pitch even more, etc.  I hope that's a clearer explanation of what's happening.

I'm pretty sure it used to be in tune when I first bought it.  Whatever has happened seems to have happened over the years.  If it is the bridge that is the issue, then that would be repairable? 

Thanks for your responses!

 

Dulcimer tuning problem

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

I got my first dulcimer in 1973.  Now the frets seem to be out of alignment because it is impossible to tune--I get one fret right but the others are off.  I think it may be because (I'm sad to admit) I didn't take proper care of it, and left it in a dorm room that wasn't temp controlled over the holidays. Is this something that can be repaired? 

FOTMD's 10th Birthday Pickled Dulcimer Contest!! (contest CLOSED)

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