Dwain, thanks for the offer, but it had the fine tuners with it. I hope to buy one of your Bear Meadow concert dulcimers in the not too distant future. BTW, here are better photos of the pegs installed.
Curt
Hello,
I have installed new rosewood pegs on my Sunhearth (photo attached), tuned it up and WOW! Now I know why Sunhearth dulcimers have such a good reputation. The sound is great!
While doing some research on the internet about Sunhearth dulcimers, I ran into some information, and a photo (attached) that has made me wonder about the originality of the tuners that I took off. While I think that most of us would agree that the rosewood pegs look great, I have found some information, mostly on this forum, that has surprised me.
There was a story about Walter Martin and his dulcimers in DPN Vol 15, #3 (July/September 1989). It was mentioned that he used either gold-plated Schaller or Grover machine pegs OR Rosewood friction pegs. And there is a photo that was taken of some dulcimers hanging in his shop that was posted by Leo Kretzner on this forum previously.
So.... The tuners may of been original. I kept them and can always put them back on, but I do like the rosewood pegs, and since the dulcimer does not have a 6.5 fret, I will probably just leave it in Ionian.
BTW, I bought a good peg shaver, and a set of Rosewood Viola pegs on eBay (Dwain, thanks for the information about the pegs). They were easy to install myself. I think Mr. Martin would be pleased with the result.
Curt DeBaun III
Ken,
I am pretty sure that the existing holes have not been modified since they held the original pegs. Would not some off-the-shelf pegs fit. If so, what size?
I am more than willing to take the dulcimer to a string shop, if that is needed.
Thanks,
Curt
Thanks to everyone who responded. It appears that the tuners were replacements. I removed them and happily there was no damage done in their installation. So, I will put the dulcimer back to the way it was originally. It was mentioned that the original pegs were viola rosewood pegs, and from all of the illustrations that I have seen, they seem to have been mass produced pegs, although hand-carved pegs were offered as an upgrade.
Any chance that I could fit these myself? It was mentioned that I should take the dulcimer to a string shop and have them fitted there.
Thanks to all,
Curt DeBaun III
Hello,
I'm glad to be a new member of the group. Last week I saw a very nice Sunhearth dulcimer pop up on ebay, and I was able to grab it for $495. I great deal! It was #240, built 12/9/75. I've had a bit of buyers remorse, as I was really wanting an unmodified one, but right after I paid for it, the reality set in that it had mechanical tuners on it. I have since received it, and it is a beautiful instrument, but I have to wonder if it originally had wooden tuning pegs. I would like to hear from someone who knows Sunhearth dulcimers as to the originality of it, and if they were pegs, should I try to replace them. I must admit I would rather have the mechanical tuners, but I am a bit of a nut about keeping things original.
Thanks,
Curt DeBaun III
