Ebony makes very good nuts and frets. Personally, I prefer bone as I believe it produces a cleaner tone. Whenever you use ebony, consider the following link: http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/ebony-dark-outlook-dark-woods/ .
Frets are one part of the whole system that makes the sound you hear when you play. A general rule is that that stiffer the material used, the brighter the tone. A maple soundboard will produce a brighter tone than spruce. The same holds true for your frets, but to a lesser degree. Brass is softer than stainless and will (modestly) soften your sound. Whatever frets you choose, you will eventually need to replace them. Once you find a good luthier who can talk to you about fret material, choose the fret material for the sound you wish to produce rather than how long the fret will last. (While you are at it, talk to the luthier about the saddle and nut material you are using. These will also have an impact on the sound your instrument produces.)
Gale,
Please keep in mind that, just because an instrument has a diatonic fretboard, it does not automatically become a dulcimer. The dulciborn is really an instrument called a Weissenborn to which a diatonic fretboard has been added and two strings removed. The Weissenborn and dulciborn are very solidly in the guitar family. The main difference is that, being in the zither family, the dulcimer has its strings all the way across the soundbox. A Weissenborn/Dulciborn, being in the guitar family, has the string attached to the soundboard and does not stretch across the entire soundbox.
Musicians who can play the dulcimer will find the transition to a dulciborn easier. However, as with those who play the Gallier "dulcimer" (actually a three course lap guitar), you will find that your instrument sounds like a guitar, even when playing dulcimer songs.
As most of our ear are very used to hearing a guitar, this instrument may sound more familiar to your ears. Instrument sound is a choice a musician makes. If you like the sound, play it.
Matt
No, sorry, I won't be in the state on Saturday. When do we meet in November? Are you going to any nearby festivals?
Do you know if your dulcimer has a zero fret or a nut? If it has a nut, I would check to see if the nut is properly adjusted.
Paula, happy to look at it during the next jam,..., when is that exactly? It almost sounds like your fretboard is warped. If you have a good straight edge, usually a metal ruler 18" or longer will do, place it on the frets between the strings without touching the nut or saddle. The straight edge should touch all of the frets. See if the straightedge rocks on the center frets. It so, the fret board may have bowed out and is causing your problem. It doesn't sound like your fretboard bowed inward as you said the action is too high by the upper frets, not the middle.
Paula, a few questions first. Are all the strings hitting the frets? All the frets or just one or two? Can you post a picture of the nut and the saddle? If you are lucky, you just have a loose fret that needs to be reset. I have had more luck replacing the saddle than replacing the nut. If the nut is does not appear to be worn or broken, it is likely the problem is with the frets rather than the nut. Matt
John, yea, most braces on mountain dulcimers are like bicycles for fish. If you can safely take them out through the sound holes it is probably a good idea. If the brace needs to stay, I usually drill a small hole in the back and glue in a dowel plug when done. The guys at Folkcraft have done some cool work with laser cutting figures to glue in the holes after fixing, but that requires a good laser cutter.
If you are working on a baritone or bass dulcimer, carefully consider before removing the brace. The larger sound board may need them. Also consider the choice carefully if the soundboard is spruce, cedar or other softwood. Those board may need the extra support.
PS. I am not your standard dulcimer maker and will probably put some people's backs up with my comment on bracing. Conversely, I brace all of my instruments as I do not attach the fretboard to the soundboard. To each their own.
Why bother worrying about the string gauge? If the string is too thick for your preferences, the actual gauge doesn't matter. Just go to your local music store with your instrument and have the clerk pull out strings and compare them. You won't know what gauge you prefer until you have tried a few. My local Guitar Center sells individuals strings for $1. Just buy a couple different thinner strings and try them all until you find one you like!
I do not think 3/4 pvc is a good idea. The biggest problem with pvc is that it bends, thicker pipe less, thinner pipe more. If you want to stay with 3/4, I strongly suggest building a "walker" type stand. The type I built relies on a single upright which would be wobbly if 3/4".
I leave an instrument on my stand as the stand is very steady. Besides, neither of my cats is big enough to knock it over.
Joseph Besse said:
Thanks for the PDF list Matt. I decided to use all 3/4" tubing and stick to a sit-down stand. Hope this works OK. BTW, I assume you do not leave the stand un-attended for fear of someone knocking it down when not playing.
Joseph,
1" PVC tubing fits snugly inside 1 1/4" tubing. I used those sizes. My parts list is attached. s you can see, I started with a slightly taller stand, but needed to cut it down just a bit.
Good Luck,
Matt
PS. I haven't unloaded a pdf to this site yet. If it doesn't display properly, I will upload a jpg.
Joseph,
I used a pipe clamp. First I used a band saw to cut four slits down the pipe from one end. This gives just enough room that the pipe clamp can tightened and hold up the top. I was concerned that the band saw would not cut wide enough slits, but it worked just fine.
Don't really like that I need to use a screwdriver to tighten the clamps. If I do this again I will replace the screws with a thumb screws or something similar.
Matt
Gail,
I was laid up this summer with a very broken ankle and spent most of my time in a wheelchair. I just posted in the for sale forum the stand that came out of that situation. It works very well while sitting and reasonably well while standing (though you might not use that for a little bit.) I have attached a picture.
If you know someone reasonably handy, they could probably make you one based on my pictures. If you want to purchase mine, great! Please, measure the width of the wheelchair or other chair you will use. This stand accommodates up to 27 1/2 inches. If you will need something wider, let me know and I will make a new one.
If someone chooses to make one for you and that person has questions, feel free to have the contact me.
Matt Berg
Rich,
The longer the VSL, the more space between frets. Unfortunately, that also means more difficulty reaching chords. If you are looking for a rich mellow sound, you might want to try a spruce or cedar sound board. Hardwood sound boards tend to emphasize the higher notes and sound more "twangy." Softwoods have more of the lower undertones.
McSpadden and Folkcraft have two different approaches to the "rich" sound. McSpadden makes what they call a possum board and Folkcraft uses a false bottom. Both are designed to lift the bottom of the instrument off of the players legs so that if can vibrate and produce a more resonant sound. Some like the sound, others feel it is moving away from the traditional dulcimer sound.
As with any instrument, let your own ears be your guide. If you go to their websites, you can find videos of musicians playing different instruments.
Good luck,
Matt
http://mid.auctivacommerce.com/ from Shanghia, China sells extremely low priced musical accessories, including strings. In particular, they sell 12 tuners (6R-6L) for $6.00 (see 12 string guitar tuners.) Also, 10 packs of 10 gauge strings for $1.00. However, unless you plan to buy in bulk and can wait 4-6 weeks for delivery, I can't recommend them. As with any internet order, watch the shipping costs. I haven't been thrilled with their nylon strings (not a problem unless you play ukulele), but the steel strings are good. I always carry extras at festivals. If you bump into me, I am happy to share.
One warning, if you purchase an instrument made with plywood, it will not change in tone. Only real (non-engineered wood) will adjust to the music.
Real wood instruments adjust to the sounds they "hear". The boom box method is fine, but keep in mind it picks up the sound you play. Some people favor "Marleying" their instrument, placing the instrument on a speaker and blasting the bass. This is fine, but your instrument will adjust to the bass.
My instruments are stored in the same room where I practice. That way, the instruments adjust to the type of music that I play.
As always, my thoughts are worth what you paid to get them.
