Forum Activity for @pattyfromor

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
10/10/23 05:52:55PM
9 posts

Electric dulcimer wiring diagrams or instructions?


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Thanks, John. I found some wiring instructions for a mini-humbucker that may be all we need. (Not really sure yet!) The diagrams I found were for Piezo, but it might not be all that different--just two wires!

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
10/10/23 02:28:55PM
9 posts

Electric dulcimer wiring diagrams or instructions?


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Hi, My husband is going to make me an electric dulcimer, and I picked up a humbucker pickup & bridge recommended by a former builder on the web and am ready to buy an output jack, but we really are clueless about wiring the pieces up. Can anyone recommend a book (there are two for guitars on Amazon) or anyone who sells diagrams for dulcimer? We'd like to go as simple as possible on this first one.

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
09/04/20 11:32:44AM
9 posts

Want to get a fretting printout for a 24" VSL


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Thanks, Ken. I tried running the ekips calculator and couldn't get it to print onto my mac, even with adobe flash, but found a zip file of guitar templates on handmade music (not a secure site, apparently) in half-inch VSL increments. That should work!

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
09/03/20 06:00:28PM
9 posts

Want to get a fretting printout for a 24" VSL


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Thanks for the info John, unfortunately that calculator doesn't appear to handle "+" frets. Also, we already have the calculations in inches, we are looking for a paper (or digital) printout. But thanks anyway!

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
09/03/20 04:24:32PM
9 posts

Want to get a fretting printout for a 24" VSL


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

My boyfriend (bless his heart) wants to make me a custom dulcimer for my small hands, and using Richard Ash's Diatonic book as a guide, printed out a rough layout for a 1-15 fret fingerboard, including 1.5, 6.5, 8.5 and 13.5 frets. However we're not sure it's accurate enough to use as a cutting guide. Does anyone know of a dulcimer maker who will sell us a printout he can use? Thanks!

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
10/20/19 04:44:43PM
9 posts

It was a defective string!


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

Thanks for your interesting comments. If it happens again I will try just loosening and re-seating the string before I replace it.

patty

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
10/19/19 09:55:21PM
9 posts

It was a defective string!


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

I just ran into this problem and I wondered how common this is (I'm a very new dulcimer owner). I began to notice a rather persistent very high harmonic every time I strummed, no matter which strings or notes I was strumming. The more I played, the more I noticed it and the more irritating it became. Today I couldn't stand it any more and began to troubleshoot. It was the A string only, and at first I thought it might be hitting a fret, but even when I was playing on it, it didn't come anywhere near any higher frets. Then I thought it might be resonating with one of the D strings, but careful testing proved that wrong. I thought, OMG, it's a problem with my dulcimer! Argghh! $$$$!! The strange thing was, it was harmonizing with itself--it sounded like a built-in harmonic on the A string all by itself. I thought, what could make that happen? Well, what if there were a defect in the string, a weakness somewhere in it that effectively made it two semi-separate strings, each vibrating at its own rate. With several fingers crossed, I RnR'd the string with a new one. Ta-da—Problem solved! No more irritating sound! And no repair bill! O happy day!


updated by @pattyfromor: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
09/13/19 05:19:47PM
9 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks to everyone who's welcomed me here! To Irene (whom I tried to reply to earlier but apparently forgot to hit the post button), I just hold it on my lap when I'm sitting. I love the drone sound too, to me it's a big part of the specialness of the mountain dulcimer, but I also want to play chords. I love lots of kinds of music, including jazz, and want to play it all! To Terry, I will keep in mind about the bar stool, but not without a seat belt!

I do have another question—is anyone familiar with Harris & Young dulcimers? I'm guessing that they are no longer (or not much anyway) active? Nothing shows up on Googlemaps except a house when I search for their address.

pattyfromor
@pattyfromor
09/12/19 08:32:13PM
9 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Hi, I'm Patty, I live in Beavercreek Oregon, and about 10 days ago a little voice in my head said 'you need to find a dulcimer.' Coincidentally, there was a like-new Folkcraft on CraigsList and when I saw it I happily got it, and have been picking up accessories and books and as much info as I have time to read right now. I joined Fotmd so I could look at how people had made cheap guitar stands work for dulcimers. Heartened, I ordered a likely looking stand from Amazon and it got here today, and I didn't have to do a thing to it except to lower the top extender a couple or 3 inches so it cradles the upper headstock. If anyone's looking for a cheap stand right now, it was $11.98, and it's called the 'Chromacast Upright Guitar Stand Two Tier Adjustable-Extended Height'. The supports on the bottom are about 5.75" across, plenty narrow enough to hold a lady with curves, without me having to tweak it. it clears the floor as it is by a good half inch. A couple pieces of pipe insulation on the supports would move it up farther. (Yes, I am lazy.)

Yahoo! One less thing to worry about. I also need to thank the person who posted a photo of their dulcimer on top of a cheap keyboard stand--I set mine up in my living room with the music stand behind it and it's the perfect height for me to stand up and play.

Looks like I joined the right Mountain Dulcimer group!! Lotsa smart people here!

ps. for instrument junkies, it's a 2007 D Series, made by S. J. Ash of 100% black walnut.


chromacast2.JPG chromacast2.JPG - 262KB

updated by @pattyfromor: 09/12/19 08:39:06PM