Forum Activity for @nathina

It Came today.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The McSpadden arrived. Not a mark on it, and was never used. The case is new no scuffing again. Will post pics tomorrow. It is signed by Larry. I spent the evening fixing it, thought the price was too low, as the keys wouldn't hold and it was strung wrong. Restrung it, and 4 lock washers and as good as new. Will Tune it to dADD, and try to find out more information from McSpadden on its history. The washers in the keys were suppose to be spring type, but I guess the age and storage caused them to loose their tension. Replaced with lock washers and good to go. Restringing properly tonight. It is a Model M8-W signed by Larry.

Dulcimer Dimensions

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

What were the actual listed sizes. There are specific 23" VSL, 26, 28, 28.5.. Each Luthier likes their own width for a specific model. Sound box depth depths are usually 3 inches for some 2.xx for others which includes the height of the fret board. If the keys are up they may add that in also to the total height. I have measured mine and the VSLs are exact to the manufacturer, and depth as to the model. A bright sound may be due to what wood was used in the soundboard.

About Picks.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Like hammers for the HD. I have two I like for the big one, 1 I like for the 16/15 but won't use on the bigger one.

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hole into the end block I can do, as I am going to install some strap buttons. Through the soundboard and soldering are not my forte.

About Picks.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Being an HD player and the fact that I love wood, I decided to try some different woods and a bone and horn for picks. From left the right is Palmwood, Coconut, BONE, Ebony, HORN, Tamarind and Haldu. Tried them quickly and yes they each sound different some more than others. And they feel great. Just came today.

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

If you were going for an instrument with a larger sound board, an HD, then wood type is very important. The best woods are AAA redwood, becoming very pricey, but the grain is tight and strait and you get great rich deep tones. Next would be red cedar, then American Mahogany. For bright tones you want a grain that is not as straight such as lacewood. The sound turns back on itself and the tone is very "bright". But for a MD, with a smaller sound board the difference of woods is more esthetic. Ken is correct, don't get spruce top. The wood tends to be too soft, and at least to me, the sound is sort of tiny. You might also want to consider a used McSpadden. There are numerous resales currently on the web. I just an early pre McSpadden name brand for very little. Coming today, I will post a pic.

updated by @nathina: 11/07/20 02:03:31PM

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Which it means pulling of a possibly glued bridge and drilling more holes into the soundboard?

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just tested the Kmise. It works fine, no soundboard tap or anything. If you tap directly on the unit it will produce a noise, so I might have to move its location, if I find that I touch it while playing. Probably because it is created for a small soundboard, has a volume control, and has worked well for violins as I have learned. The Schaller, as yet I don't know. It is a powerful pickup and might give me ambient noise problems. The Kmise was useless on the HD. The sound pickup radius was very limited. It didn't work well on a 16/15 and was of no value on my bigger HD. 

In regards to the under saddle pickups? Don't they have to go under the bridge or are limited by the type of sound hole?

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The Schaller Oyster, a very good piezo with no preamp requirement. I use it for the my 16/15 HD, and will use one on a McSpadden. The only downside is the hanging cord, but will tether it somehow. I have used Schallers on acoustic guitars and the output is great.

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I added a small piezo that I liked and had from another project. Designed for a small sound board it was perfect for the Ron Gibson. Unobtrusive, with volume control, can plug directly into an amp without a preamp. I will add a Schaller oyster to the McSpadden coming tomorrow.

updated by @nathina: 11/06/20 07:33:22PM

Buying a used McSpadden questions

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

I hope so. See when it comes Will post pics.

Buying a used McSpadden questions

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

I just purchased an older McSpadden with the horseshoe logo. From the pictures it appears it was never used. The case shows no internal wear whatsoever. I will know more once I receive it. The label as from the Dulcimer Shoppe and I will see if it has a number. The dulcimer itself has no scratches and the finish is still full and intact. From the pic it doesn't look like a ply on the back but matching panels

Questions about the bridge

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

I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. This is the md that is being sent. 

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. Oh the picture that I posted initially is not the McSpadden I bought. Here is the one I chose. 

updated by @nathina: 11/04/20 08:04:01PM

Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String

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

The Ron Gibson came today. A really nice instrument.  Now I have to get a pick that will work in the hollow, otherwise all my picks, and I have many, are too stiff for the strings and I'll have to play on the fret board. 

Questions about the bridge

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

I have traced this as a McSpadden late 1980's. The question is about the bridge. What is it made of and is this typical of a McSpadden? 

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Now traced the symbol to then end of the 1980's. Still trying to find if it changed in 1989, 1990, 1991.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I have traced the symbol which was still in use to the 1980's. It seems to have changed to McSpadden name in 1990's but trying to find out what year?

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Thanks

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I though McSpadden burned is name into the toe.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Trying to figure out the Luthier with this symbol?

updated by @nathina: 11/03/20 12:52:14PM

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

What if I removed some of the harmony notes and rewrote it for the key of D 2 octaves?

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

 
With the HD, chords are played from the bottom note to the top. However each note takes up part of the time signature. So trying to put chords into the song, shortens the melody note, and the tune goes bye bye. A harmony note can be played along with the melody, but the tendency is to play too much harmony and loose the melody. This is a song that I experimented with recording. The song is by Joshua Messick, it uses bass support for the melody, so nothing is lost. I played it on the big HD and you can hear the difference between the bright and my EXR. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/woodland-wonderlust-experiment-1

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thank you, I bought the Ron Gibson Teardrop and now have to become acquainted with it.

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

 

I am starting to figure out the harmony, not well yet, but I find enhanced tunes sometimes tend to drown the melody so I rewrite them to sound better. I also have a 16/15 "bright" HD, so called because it uses lacewood as the sound board. Most burled woods or patterned wood will feed the tone back into the wood giving it a higher tone. I use it for the Celtic tunes, and I also rewrote a George Gershwin tune for the 16/15. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/someone-to-watch-over-me-key-f

I wonder if it can be converted to the MD?

Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String

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

Downloaded it. Thanks

Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String

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

Just bought a RG Barbara Ellen. I know woods, and sounds, structure etc. but know little about the MD and playing as yet. I will attach a piezo, one that I have always liked and use for my smaller HD. Otherwise I have been told to tune it to DAD, then DAA, then CCG, if I want to go Asian GGG. Are there requirements for different string dia. for different tunings? 

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I play the Hammered dulcimer EXR 4/19/21/9 for contemporary music and 16/15 "Bright" for Celtic. Having evaluated many in woods, technical, audio, it took me over a year to get my larger one.