Helpful video. I’d watched the first bit and didn’t understand how the S was made (snugging one string then the other, then snipping). It’s a little clearer on subsequent strings. Certainly answers the order in which to do them!
I try to not normally remove all the strings at once, but this is where it ended up at hour 3!
photo of scrollhead
Hello all!
I literally spent 4 hours last night trying to replace strings on my Warren May hourglass scroll head (2024). I have restrung before but wasn’t sure I was going it “right” (I’d just cut the string 1/2 inches beyond post, stick it in hole and wind away.) I looked at several videos but the lighting or camera angle were such that it was hard to really so down into the depths of the scroll head. The tips I picked up included:
Each string travels beneath the more proximal posts until it gets to its post.
start with 2nd string as it has the furthest to travel under the 3 other posts.
String is wound so that it pulls over the top of the post
My issues: it seems like the strings going under the proximal posts would rub on them.
the hole in the tuner seems to be at the opposite end of where you’d want it
It also seems impossible that strings don’t rub against each other with scrollhead. (yes I know paddle heads are easier)
lots of reference to not cutting string right away but anchoring it with some kind of S anchor and then barely having to wind?
Right now my poor dulcimer is naked and sad while I wait for more .014 ball ends to arrive
And I was wondering why I’d let Ron Ewing talk me into a 1.5 fret on the beautiful dulcimer he just made for me…now I know how to use it!
Thanks for sharing! Sounds fantastic.
I’m very interested in early music. I know this sounds silly, but I feel somehow “wrong” playing it on my mountain dulcimer. I feel a bit of the “purist” vibe that I just should stick to noter and drone. I only ever play chords in my larger dulcimer group when absolutely forced upon me! They’re very accommodating otherwise and let me miter away while they struggle with complicated fingering, god bless them 😉
I know music and instruments are organic and ever evolving, and I needn’t put them in specific boxes. That being said, I’ll prob buy the psaltry from hobgoblin within the month!
Hello all, as I sit here trying to tune my diatonic and them my more modern dulcimers to somehow play “Gaudete,” I’m thinking maybe I need to add a plucked psaltry to my collection. I’ve always loved early music, used to play harpsichord. I’ve wanted to learn to play the lute since I was a kid, but the instruments and instructors are hard to come by. I think a plucked psaltry might scratch the itch. Any ideas of starter psaltries (not bowed) around $300? It needs to be good enough to not be discouraging.
also, any suggestions on how to play “Gaudete” on either my Ewing dulcimer (1.5, 6.5) or my Dan Cox dulcimore?
thanks!
Mr May said the wedge-shaped bridge was not original and kindly sent me two normal ones in the mail!
One other question: I went to swap out the original machine heads on one of my May dulcimers with the same mini-rotomatics in a different color. The shop I took it to noted that the new tuners didn't quite fit correctly and had to use extra washers. I'll ask Mr May, but the shop wondered if he'd shortened the tuners somehow.
This dulcimer is green poplar and came with gold tuners, which I don't love. Black or chrome don't quite look right either. I wish there was some kind of ivory-looking option that would fit, but the space is tight and I'd rather not drill a bunch of new holes...
Hi, if you're still looking for a well-loved Warren May dulcimer, I have a 2006 all cherry hourdrop with no "extra" frets (so no 6.5). It's in lovely shape. There's a hard case which is not in lovely shape but serviceable. I can send pics if interested, thanks. I'm in Madison, WI.
Hello everyone!
I have a 2006 cherry Warren May hourdrop, haven't spent too much time with it yet but noticed it has a floating bridge that is wedge shaped. I restrung a few days ago and I'm assuming the "lower" end of the bridge goes under the heavier bass string- is this correct? What's the advantage to this wedge shape vs a flat-top bridge? A have a recent May that has a floating bridge that's even on the top.
if it matters, it's tuned to DAA and has no extra frets 😉
Hi folks, I'm a relative beginner to the dulcimer. I am drawn to noter/drone playing and have a lovely Dan Cox dulcimore I generally keep in DAA and play solo. I also have a recent Warren May in poplar with (I think) a 6.5 fret but no other additional; I use this when playing with my group. I usually keep this in DAD and without a noter (although occasionally will use one).
First question: I don't really know what the "temperament" of the May is, and if that makes a difference if I tune it to DAA or other configurations. I don't really understand temperament I guess.
Second question: Ron Ewing is building me a dulcimer right now, and I'd like it to be as versatile as possible- good with various tunings, good for noter-drone, finger style and maybe simple chording. Besides a 6.5 fret, should I get a 13.5? A 1.5? I'm somewhat a traditionalist but would like to not limit my options too much early on. I am certain however that I'm never going to want to be playing tons of chords (having failed at guitar, banjo and ukulele!) but also it's prob easier to add frets in the future than take them away.
could be there's no "Goldilocks" but just wanting input from folks who know more than me! Ron, if you're reading this post, please be patient with my questions 😉
Thanks all for the comments. I'm only about 45 min north of the Janesville group, and they're quite active and welcoming online. There's a smaller group here in Madison, who are mostly all in the Janesville group as well. During my online chatter with the Janesville group I've identified several other folks near me who want to join up. I've already got an invite to a member's house this weekend to go over a few tunes. The community seems welcoming, relaxed, and just what I'm looking for 👍
Hello all,
I have a very "spoiled" problem! Just starting out on the dulcimer with an hourdrop all-walnut model by Warren May that I bought from him last year: 6.5 fret present (as I think all his models have now), currently tuned to DAD. I then fell in love last week with an hourglass poplar model with a lot of green color, absolutely beautiful. It's currently being finished up in his workshop; admittedly an impulsive purchase which now leads to my questions ;)
Obviously I'm a novice and barely know what I'll end up needing/liking. That being said, how do I best take advantage of having two dulcimers by same luthier, each with a 6.5 fret, 4 strings, same length/size, different woods and different shapes? I know the woods will have different warmth/brightness, etc. Maybe keep the poplar in DAA? I'm interested in noter/drone playing although also joining a club nearby. Any thoughts appreciated! I'm quite probably over-thinking this as I don't have the second dulcimer in my hands yet!
PS: every time I need to restring, I wistfully think about some day having a flat-headed one 😉
Hi everyone, looking to buy some strings for my Warren May dulcimer, takes ball end. In his papers that came with the dulcimer he notes .012, .012, .014 and .022 for the string sizes. Most of the “sets” I’m seeing are different gauges or are loop end. I went to d’addario web site to look at just getting individual strings but the options were a bit overwhelming. Any suggestions?
Thank you all for your guidance! Yes, I figured out you don’t remove all the strings at once once I realized the bridge has fallen off and was somewhere on the living room rug 😉. I need to take it in to a luthier here to get something addressed and he’s going to help me with replacing the bridge in the right spot. I think I saw a video on how to figure out where the bridge should be, but now I can’t locate it.
Hello! I have a 2006 Warren May all cherry dulcimer I bought used a few weeks ago and am just learning about. I’m in the process of restringing and just wondering, while I have it “naked,” if I should do anything more than wipe it down with a very slightly damp cloth. It looks to be in very good condition.
one other question: this dulcimer has no extra frets. I’m thinking of leaving it tuned to DAA. I do have another instrument coming next week that has a 6.5 fret, also from Warren May. Should I leave that tuned to DAD or do his dulcimers in general do better with DAA? Please forgive my ignorance. I do have a background in piano but know nothing really about different modes, etc, etc what I’ve tried to pick up from this site so far. Thanks!
