Forum Activity for @marg

I like how we can have a discussion where we can ask a question and get different feel backs (without anyone thinking we own them something), as any one member would ask another member.

I am working with Wayne @ GT & have been since before my first reply within these discussions. Wayne has been very nice with all of my questions as you have been.Thank you all for your input - and you are right - the best action height is different for each of us. I am new playing the dulcimer and most anything you have said has help.

I saw some members (in a another discussion) were talking about playing chores and developing strength in their hands besides quicker moment. I many try some of their suggestions & see if that helps to strengthen my hand for playing the dulciborn before I see to having the action lowered any. I wouldn't want to alter any of the tone, it is beautiful

I had sweet help today practicing - see photo

Hi Frank,

I missed this post of yours yesterday. But I see I have said very much the same thing about contracted out building in the Far East. I have been designing, placing orders and importing resonator guitars from the Far East for about 6 years. It is a laborious and risky process . I'm at the point where I have literally one named technician who I trust to inspect parts and undertake assembly- I do all the finishing work in my workshop which takes around 4 hours per instrument, sometimes longer. I have had around 1000 instruments across my work bench- and I'll be at it again today. The downside is it is hugely time intensive to getmy guitars right - and I couldn't live off what I earn (I don't need to, which is why no one else does what I do!!!). The upside is that I work form home when I want to and if the sun is shining I go for a bike ride and if the surf's up I go surfing I don't need to advertise,the musicians I supplydo that for me, and I always have a full order book stretching a couple of months ahead.

So Gold Tonesinconsistencies with these batches come as no surprise.

It is great to hear that you are taking the trouble to inspect and set-up the instruments you sell Frank - Good for you!!! That'ssuch an important service for musicians

Marg - The best that Gold Tone could probably manage is an inspection to check that all is well and that the instrument could be set-up for the needs of a player - there just is not the margin in this type of business for anything else at the price. Guitarists are very used to buying an instrument off the shelf and at the same time paying themusic shop's technician to set it upfor their style of playing. Even if you bought a new Martin D-28 guitar made in the USA for a retail of $2000the instrument would need a set-up!!!!!I sounds like Wayne should be able to take the action a little lower for you and show you how to change your strings.

Frank Ledgerwood said:

Now to the Dulciborn. I was fortunate in the fact that I went several times to GT and hand picked the D'borns I sold. I would select maybe 1 out of every 4-5 I looked at and then I set them up. A couple that got past me as when all mine would be sold and I would have an order where I couldn't drive 1000 miles rt to set up 1 instrument...

A quick overview. Gold Tone does not build any instruments. With the Dulciborn, Wayne worked with a Weissenborn contractor to build a finger board/fretted version. Something this contractor had never done but the only builder who agreed to try this. Thru many prototypes, they came to a working version that Wayne was satisfied with and gave the nod. Now fast forward to a shipment of a hundred Dulciborns that are not quite spec'ed as the agreed upon prototype.....The first batch had somewhat rough fret boards, high action and were fixed as best as possible. My personal D'born is one. The second batch had a cleaner board, but there were inconsistencies in every instrument from strings not aligned with fretboard to a sloping/twisting of the fret board(sounds like the one you played), which required a complete removal of frets, leveling of board and re-installing of frets. This batch is the most prevalent out there. I was down there when the prototypes (for a third batch) came in that addressed the fret board issue. The probable main cause was in the scalloped fret board not having enough integrity to stay true/flat and a weissenborn body that had minimal bracing to support/maintain a flat raised and fretted board. Weissenborns are not fretted and played with a slide. Frets are just markers and a slide is used. The new batch has corrected the string height problem. I waited to see a consistency in this group, which I have so I have my first ones coming to me this week. There was talk to discontinue the Dulciborns which I'm glad didn't happen as there are many happy owners, despite the growing pains. I tried once to find the most affordable Weissenborn builder to build a body any I would finish with Fret board and bridge. He wanted $1500.

No, not playing the last fret but that is where was noted for taking the height. Having the action high doesn't just effect the last fret but from 10 - 11 on up and I do play these frets.

Wayne set it up for me & knew I was looking for a low action, but as you said what is low or high to one may not be for another. I just received it Friday and Wayne knows the upper frets are a problem for me, while I wait for him to get back with me - saw this discussion & jump in for info. since I knew you had one & set up dulciborns for sale thought you would have some ideas. I do think that the "typical" height for the dulciborns are to high unless you have strong hands & or been playing for many years.

I have an older dulcimer with low action & plays very easy. The dulciborn (on the upper frets), I need to press so hard for the string to reach the fret, my hand shakes. I may never get the dulciborn to play as easy as my dulcimer but at least so my hand doesn't shake. It seems if sanding is the way to go, it would need to be sanded down almost 1/16" & that much may effect the lower frets. So, in a holding period over the weekend & collecting info.

Thanks Frank, love listening to your videos

m.

Frank Ledgerwood said:

You wrote "What I don't understand is if the action can be fixed by some sanding, why doesn't Gold Tone do this?"Many builders, including GT tend to set strings a little high. It's much easier to lower the action than to raise it, file or sanding to lower and new nut and saddle to raise it. This can often be resolved at point of purchase. Unless purchased online where convenience can negate service. A search in your area should find several qualified shops that can resolve your problem.

What is a "typical" height for one person may be too high (or low) for another. It may also be that the dulciborn string height at the last fret might be too high for me, I've just never found a use for the last fret. But that's just me. I didn't measure the Dulciborn but also played about 7 other Dulcimers of several different MFGers and didn't notice anything different about the D'born. 40 years of playing has probably jaded my fingers.....

(There was talk to discontinue the Dulciborns which I'm glad didn't happen as there are many happy owners, despite the growing pains.)

Yes, I am also happy they did not discontinue the Dulciborns. They already have a beautiful instrument, just a bit more adjusting on the height and they'll have something very wonderful - there now but needs easier playing.

Frank Ledgerwood said:

Now to the Dulciborn. I was fortunate in the fact that I went several times to GT and hand picked the D'borns I sold. I would select maybe 1 out of every 4-5 I looked at and then I set them up. A couple that got past me as when all mine would be sold and I would have an order where I couldn't drive 1000 miles rt to set up 1 instrument...

A quick overview. Gold Tone does not build any instruments. With the Dulciborn, Wayne worked with a Weissenborn contractor to build a finger board/fretted version. Something this contractor had never done but the only builder who agreed to try this. Thru many prototypes, they came to a working version that Wayne was satisfied with and gave the nod. Now fast forward to a shipment of a hundred Dulciborns that are not quite spec'ed as the agreed upon prototype.....The first batch had somewhat rough fret boards, high action and were fixed as best as possible. My personal D'born is one. The second batch had a cleaner board, but there were inconsistencies in every instrument from strings not aligned with fretboard to a sloping/twisting of the fret board(sounds like the one you played), which required a complete removal of frets, leveling of board and re-installing of frets. This batch is the most prevalent out there. I was down there when the prototypes (for a third batch) came in that addressed the fret board issue. The probable main cause was in the scalloped fret board not having enough integrity to stay true/flat and a weissenborn body that had minimal bracing to support/maintain a flat raised and fretted board. Weissenborns are not fretted and played with a slide. Frets are just markers and a slide is used. The new batch has corrected the string height problem. I waited to see a consistency in this group, which I have so I have my first ones coming to me this week. There was talk to discontinue the Dulciborns which I'm glad didn't happen as there are many happy owners, despite the growing pains. I tried once to find the most affordable Weissenborn builder to build a body any I would finish with Fret board and bridge. He wanted $1500.

(The action above the octave fret was about typical, but very playable. )

What does typical mean, the action is high?

Frank Ledgerwood said:

With out seeing the Dulciborn you have I couldn't say the reason for sure, the extreme height your dealing with. Lowering the saddle shouldn't be an issue and should be a cure. Today I was down at Mike Clemmers store playing one of the new ones, straight from GT, for several hours and loved it, can't wait for my new one to arrive. The action above the octave fret was about typical, but very playable. As far as a warranty issue goes after sanding down the saddle? I wouldn't know why it would be brought up in a conversation....

( It is an easy job to lift out the bone (or plastic) saddle,)

How would I do this?

First would need to move the strings, they are in pins, not even sure how to remove the pins. I have always just looped my strings around a peg -- all out in the open.

Robin Clark said:

Hi Marg,

I found this photo of a dulciborne on the internet. The saddle is sitting really high.

I know a bit about Weissenborns and a bit about dulcimers and a bit about Chinese instrument manufacture of Weissenborns - long story, but I run a small specialist guitar business and have had Weissenborns build for my businessin the past.

Original Weissenborns (1920s) have a slightly higher bridge than acoustic guitarsbut not a higher saddle (as shown in the photo of the dulciborn above). In fact, on an old Weissenborn, the break angle across the saddle is the same as a standard acoustic guitar. Here is a photo of a 1920s Weissenborn:

The high saddle on 'out-of-the-box' Dulciborns does not surprise me at all. I have seen numerous Chinese Weissenborn copies with an unnecessarily high saddle dropped into the bridge slot at the factory. It is an easy job to lift out the bone (or plastic) saddle, mark a pencil line across it about a 1/16" from the bottom, place some sandpaper on a flat surface and sand off to the line. Then re-fit the saddle and test the height of the action. Keep going as required until you get the action you want.

What does surprise about the Dulciborn is the use of a raised fretboard which requires a higher bridge? I know the raised fretboard is a significant feature of the traditional dulcimer and very useful if you are a noter drone player - but in this case it seems like over engineering as 95% of players use DAdd and chord melody playing. I think I would have tried out a lower fretboard and standard acoustic guitar bridge height rather than trying to make the instrument look like a dulcimer for no real advantage. Also I would have shaped a little relief into the fretboard and compensated the saddle. Weissenborns have no frets and a high action for Hawaiian slide guitar playing - hence the bridge is high and not compensated (no need as there are no frets). The problem with a high bridge (particularly if the saddle is then high too) is the torsional stress it places on the guitar top - you have to beef things up more thus reducing the top's ability to vibrate.There can be no 'neck set' on a Weissenborn - the top is flat from nut tobridge, so a little relief sanded in to the fretboardbefore installation of the frets would work wonders for clean playing at a lower action - perhaps this has been done by Gold Tone?

The concept is a great one - and the results seem to meet the goal of producing a louder acoustic lap dulcimer. I think I would have been a bit more radical and really thought about the instrument from a players perspective (low action, much lighter build, compensated for DAdd).

Mind you - don't take what I say as Gospel - In my opinion everything great about Appalachian dulcimer designs and playing styles had actually been perfected by 1890 And it has been downhill ever since then

Robin

I have a saddle like the one in the photo but not the fret board, mine is solid no openings. I took a photo today of the string height, tiny bit more than 3/16" from fret to string at last fret. I can see where it maybe wouldn't be 1/8" but not this much higher.

Frank, on the new ones coming & the one you played, about how high was the action?

Robin, thanks -

What I don't understand is if the action can be fixed by some sanding, why doesn't Gold Tone do this? The only concern I have hear has been the height of the strings, everyone loves the tone but a bit easier playing would make it my go to dulcimer.

I must confess I do not know enough about this to comment intelligently. I had a friend, who is also a Dulciborn owner, take mine in to a reputable shop in Lansing, Michigan. She asked them to lower the action. They did and it is much more playable. Beyond that, I couldn't really say how they did it.

Hi Marg,

I found this photo of a dulciborne on the internet. The saddle is sitting really high.

I know a bit about Weissenborns and a bit about dulcimers and a bit about Chinese instrument manufacture of Weissenborns - long story, but I run a small specialist guitar business and have had Weissenborns build for my businessin the past.

Original Weissenborns (1920s) have a slightly higher bridge than acoustic guitarsbut not a higher saddle (as shown in the photo of the dulciborn above). In fact, on an old Weissenborn, the break angle across the saddle is the same as a standard acoustic guitar. Here is a photo of a 1920s Weissenborn:

The high saddle on 'out-of-the-box' Dulciborns does not surprise me at all. I have seen numerous Chinese Weissenborn copies with an unnecessarily high saddle dropped into the bridge slot at the factory. It is an easy job to lift out the bone (or plastic) saddle, mark a pencil line across it about a 1/16" from the bottom, place some sandpaper on a flat surface and sand off to the line. Then re-fit the saddle and test the height of the action. Keep going as required until you get the action you want.

What does surprise about the Dulciborn is the use of a raised fretboard which requires a higher bridge? I know the raised fretboard is a significant feature of the traditional dulcimer and very useful if you are a noter drone player - but in this case it seems like over engineering as 95% of players use DAdd and chord melody playing. I think I would have tried out a lower fretboard and standard acoustic guitar bridge height rather than trying to make the instrument look like a dulcimer for no real advantage. Also I would have shaped a little relief into the fretboard and compensated the saddle. Weissenborns have no frets and a high action for Hawaiian slide guitar playing - hence the bridge is high and not compensated (no need as there are no frets). The problem with a high bridge (particularly if the saddle is then high too) is the torsional stress it places on the guitar top - you have to beef things up more thus reducing the top's ability to vibrate.There can be no 'neck set' on a Weissenborn - the top is flat from nut tobridge, so a little relief sanded in to the fretboardbefore installation of the frets would work wonders for clean playing at a lower action - perhaps this has been done by Gold Tone?

The concept is a great one - and the results seem to meet the goal of producing a louder acoustic lap dulcimer. I think I would have been a bit more radical and really thought about the instrument from a players perspective (low action, much lighter build, compensated for DAdd).

Mind you - don't take what I say as Gospel - In my opinion everything great about Appalachian dulcimer designs and playing styles had actually been perfected by 1890 And it has been downhill ever since then

Robin

Joy,

You said, you hadthe action lowered - how did you go about this? Did the Luthier sand the bottom of the bridge or saddle? Or something else? Was that all that was needed to make it very playable?

Joy W. said:

I've had one for a while. The string action was set very high. Much too high, in fact, for me to play it. I've taken it to a Luthier and had frets added and the action lowered. Last month I had it set up so I could play with four equidistant strings and for me, it is much better that way. My instrument is not without some issues though. When I tune it, all is fine, but once I begin using frets (particularly the middle string), it is sharp. I have to do some fancy "almost in tune" tuning so that I can play without making my ears cringe. I have several other dulcimer and none have that issue except the Dulciborn.

Wayne Rogers wrote & said he did play the dulciborn personally & he says it played perfectly. Is that the difference from a man's hand & a woman's? As Paula asked: 'You do need strong hands" Is this a gender issue?

Wayne said the saddle can easily be sanded down to lower, same as you so I guess I need to find someone who can do this. Hopefully that will work and I can enjoy this beautiful instrument.

If anyone know's anyone in the Houston area they have faith in, do let me know. Only place I can think of is a music store where someone there knows some about fixing dulcimers.

Joy, when you had your's lowered, how did they do it? Has it made it much easier to play now?

I wouldn't be worried if we were talking a slight adjustment of height but it is almost impossible to sound a tone on upper frets.When the string is difficult to push all the way to the fret board, it is too high & that's what this is.

I think some sanding could probably take care of it, just wonder why Gold Tone didn't do it to start with.

No, the fret board is not scalloped.

If I would get a luthier to lower the height by sanding, wouldn't that mess up the warranty? If I don't have a luthier near me, could a guitar shop or music store to do this?

The sound is so beautiful I want to be able to play the dulciborn. Thank you for all your replies, they do help in trying to decide net steps.

Frank Ledgerwood said:

If the fret board is scalloped, it is an older version. If it's solid with no scalloped than it's the new version. The fix for the new version is a simple lowering of the saddle. A job most luthiers wouldn't charge more that 25-30$, unless he has to chase around newly created buzzing frets. Many builders, including GT tend to set strings a little high. It's much easier to lower the action than to raise it, file or sanding to lower and new nut and saddle to raise it. For some, that little extra height is too much. You wrote... " The string height over the 17th fret should be 1/8" for low action" Is that specifically for a Dulcimer ? If sothen none of myMcSpaddens or Blue Lion qualify as low action either.

Action is a personal thing. Most professional musicians dropping thousands of $$ on a newacquisitionwill send it straight to theirpreferred Luthier to be set up to their specs. I bought my first "high end" Banjo a short time ago and first thing I did, even though action was good, was to replace the bridge to make it better for my wants.

Thanks, that's a lots of info, but this dulciborn is new, just came & action is high - so sure if they pulled an older one that's why or if it's a newer one there is still a problem.

Luthiers guidelines include:

The string height over the 17th fret should be 1/8" for low action

But on the dulciborn is a bit more than 1/16 higher than 1/8. That'sdifference, 1/16" makes a big difference. the higher frets can not be press to the fret board.

It seems Gold Tone could when setting them up either sand the bridge down some or file notches in the bridge. I'm not asking for me to try anything but when you go & set yours up would you or could you do this if need be & if so couldn't Gold Tone also do this in setting the action?

Frank Ledgerwood said:

Now to the Dulciborn. I was fortunate in the fact that I went several times to GT and hand picked the D'borns I sold. I would select maybe 1 out of every 4-5 I looked at and then I set them up. A couple that got past me as when all mine would be sold and I would have an order where I couldn't drive 1000 miles rt to set up 1 instrument...

A quick overview. Gold Tone does not build any instruments. With the Dulciborn, Wayne worked with a Weissenborn contractor to build a finger board/fretted version. Something this contractor had never done but the only builder who agreed to try this. Thru many prototypes, they came to a working version that Wayne was satisfied with and gave the nod. Now fast forward to a shipment of a hundred Dulciborns that are not quite spec'ed as the agreed upon prototype.....The first batch had somewhat rough fret boards, high action and were fixed as best as possible. My personal D'born is one. The second batch had a cleaner board, but there were inconsistencies in every instrument from strings not aligned with fretboard to a sloping/twisting of the fret board(sounds like the one you played), which required a complete removal of frets, leveling of board and re-installing of frets. This batch is the most prevalent out there. I was down there when the prototypes (for a third batch) came in that addressed the fret board issue. The probable main cause was in the scalloped fret board not having enough integrity to stay true/flat and a weissenborn body that had minimal bracing to support/maintain a flat raised and fretted board. Weissenborns are not fretted and played with a slide. Frets are just markers and a slide is used. The new batch has corrected the string height problem. I waited to see a consistency in this group, which I have so I have my first ones coming to me this week. There was talk to discontinue the Dulciborns which I'm glad didn't happen as there are many happy owners, despite the growing pains. I tried once to find the most affordable Weissenborn builder to build a body any I would finish with Fret board and bridge. He wanted $1500.

I have myhand shake from trying to press the strings.If the string is difficult to push all the way to the fret board, it is too high. Why would the strings be 1/16"plus higher than luthiers guidelines say? Are they set high to get the volume?

So - to answer your question, yes I have notice this action is too high & hard to press but the sound is beautiful. So how do we lower the action and does that affect the tone at all?

Paula Brawdy said:

I played a friends. You do need strong hands. It is a goldtone that she has. I think you would get used to that, but it takes a lot more hand strength due to strings being higher and just how tight the strings are. I have fairly strong hands for a woman because I play other instruments. I did love the sound and the volume of it. But haven't plunged.

I'm curious if other women noticed this?

Another question, please:

On the Dulciborn the action up toward the bridge is high. On the 17th fret where luthiers guidelines say - the string height should be 1/8" this one is a bit more than 1/16" higher than 1/8".

Should the dulciborn have notches in the bridge or should this one, or should it be lowered by sanding and why would it be so high? For the Volume

Photos showing the quarters under the strings and video showing not being able to sound a tone.

I was playing a dulciborn today and I alsolove the sound and the volume.

But I do have an issue with the hight of the strings. I was told they were low and real easy to play and they are on the lower frets but anything over 10 or 11 starts becoming to hard to press. By the time I'm up to 13, I can not sound a tone at all.

I measured the strings to my dulcimer and with a quarter at the same spot on both my dulcimer & the dulciborn around 14-15 fret, 1 quarter fit fine on the dulcimer and 2 quarters plus extra space on the dulciborn.

Would that not be high action? And why would the action be fine 1-8 only to raise up as it goes higher, shouldn't the strings be more even?

Frank & John, have you had this problem? You say you set up the ones you have, do you set them up to be lower at the higher frets also and is 2 quarters to much? Or is this how the instrument is made, to have your hand shake from trying to press the strings?

Any one with ideas, can the action be lowered up on the higher frets?

marg

Very nice playing Joy!!! And a wonderful tune you wrote too! Thank you for the information on the action and intonation issues. Both are definitely issues I'd have trouble with.

Here is a video of a song I recently wrote for the Dulciborn. It is called, "When Bears Dance" and I am playing four equidistant strings tuned DGdd.

I've had one for a while. The string action was set very high. Much too high, in fact, for me to play it. I've taken it to a Luthier and had frets added and the action lowered. Last month I had it set up so I could play with four equidistant strings and for me, it is much better that way. My instrument is not without some issues though. When I tune it, all is fine, but once I begin using frets (particularly the middle string), it is sharp. I have to do some fancy "almost in tune" tuning so that I can play without making my ears cringe. I have several other dulcimer and none have that issue except the Dulciborn.

I played a friends. You do need strong hands. It is a goldtone that she has. I think you would get used to that, but it takes a lot more hand strength due to strings being higher and just how tight the strings are. I have fairly strong hands for a woman because I play other instruments. I did love the sound and the volume of it. But haven't plunged.

I'm curious if other women noticed this?

I have watched your videos many times, they are lovely

Frank Ledgerwood said:

Hi, Just thought I'd throw in my $.2 worth. I too sell the Dulciborn. I've got several vids on You Tube and the couple I did with Bing, I'm playing the Dulciborn. I spent several days down at Gold Tone, setting up the instruments that I sell and will be heading down again in a couple of weeks to set up some more with and without extra frets. I sold 6 at Coshocton last weekend. All to people who were hearing them for the first time. A quote from a new owner just receiving hers in the mail today "My Gorgeous Dulciborn arrived today, Love it, Love it, Love it!" I did a Video interview with Wayne Rogers, owner of GT which will be on their site as well as my site shortly, discussing the creation of the Dulciborn. My site, Dulciborn.com will be launched shortly, since site and domain name has been OK'd by Wayne. Yes, body of a Weissenborn and Dulcimer Fretboard. They also come standard with a Transducer Pick up and Hardshell Case. I'll never stop playing my MT. Dulcimers, but the Dulciborn is a great addition to mine and any players "quiver". The tone is unlike any Dulcimer and the volume puts you equal to any other acoustic instrument. It's why I committed 100% of my spare time and energy(soon to be full time) to promoting and selling the Dulciborn. Any ?? Let me know, The "Dulciborn Guy"

I would love to hear you play a dulciborn, Guy. If you & Frank can find the right one for you with low action, maybe we should start a new Interest Group.

Thanks Frank

How is the action? I tend to like instruments with a fairly low action.

I'm thinking of getting one, they sound beautiful & seem to be loud even without the hook up. Would you say yours is mellow or bright or can it be both depending on where you strum. I have watched a few video and they sound different but I'm not sure it's not the players. I don't have a collection of dulcimers, only one other so this may end up being my go to. The few people I know that have one don't seem to play their much, is it just for sometimes or could it be for all the time.

Thank you for your reply so fast.

I love mine! It is one honking instrument. Definitely a presence in a crowd. It sounds great.

WELL, I am also learning clawhammer banjo and mandolin so I don't have much time to practice. I had no trouble playing it but I am a bass player used to playing with some force. I did not notice any hard pressing necessary.

Now that you have had the dulciborn for almost 2 months, what can you tell me about it. Is the action ok & strings easy to press or do I need to work at pressing them?

Just got my used Dulciborn from eBay and it is fab! I put a lab strap on it to keep it from falling off my lap. It has volume!

Weissenborns do have hollow necks, as the sides of the guitars come all the way up to the nut area. The strings are set up very high, to keep the steel bar from hitting the fret board. You can't play them with your fingers in the normal way, you have to use the bar. But by slanting the bar, you can get notes in between the frets. The frets may be inlaid strips of wood or metal, rather than actual frets. Most lap/console/pedal steel guitars have painted on frets. The frets are only used as visual guides where to place the bar. All of this also applies to resophonic guitars, such as National and Dobro models. The "hubcap thingie" is a resonator, hence the resophonic name.(Banjo resonators are a different thingie.) I love the sound of those Weissenborns, more than the resos, and electric steel guitars, but that's just personal taste.

Paul

Weissenborn guitars were some of the 1st made to be played exclusively Hawaiian style, with a bar. They have a longer body that comes up the neck (which I believe is hollow.)

Here's a video of Cindy Cashdollar playing one made in 1927.

What it seems you have in a dulciborn is that type body with a dulcimer fingerboard with frets. You get the deeper sound of the guitar with the fretting of a dulcimer.

Rob

Chuck - once you try it, I think you'll love the Possum Board effect. If you want to play quieter, there are many ways to soften your sound and only a few to amplify it. Don't use "rubber", even in strips, on a possum board to hold the dulcimer above the surface; it will substantially reduce the effect. To hold the dulcimer in place there are number of turnbuckle, bungee, and rubber band ideas that will work better than rubber underneath that will not dampen the effect of the suspension.

A strap is a strap is a strap. You could always use a length of clothesline!

I wouldn't trust any of those ideas to stay on. Some adhesives might damage the finish, but in any case, if the strap disconnects while you are playing, your dulcimer could sustain major damage when it hits the floor. If you aren't comfortable putting strap buttons on, have it done at a guitar store. Almost all of my instruments also have some type of Strap Locks on them. I have a couple of guitars that were damaged when they hit the floor or ground.

Paul

HI Chuck

The velcro that I used has the sticky back that I put on the Dulcimer and on the strap. I did also sew it to the strap. But if you can't sew it I would think that a little hot glue might work or perhaps contact cement. I also put a buckle in my strap so I dont have to unfasten the Velcro each time, this also makes the strap adjustable.

Hope this helps

Ed Day

That's the commercial that I was thinking about. The one with the "really handsome, clean cut" French male model. I just have a lousy memory.

Carrie Barnes said:

Can't put ANYTHING on the Internet that isn't true.....................BONJOUR!

The one big thing Bonnie and Clyde had a talent for was breaking the law and it caught up with them. Maybe they were the inspiration for "I Fought the Law and the Law Won",

Would have loved to haved peeped inside her 'carry case' ??? And would her ultimate playing mode have been 'Dead' ?

JohnH

Everyone knows that you can't put anything false on the internet, Right????????????

This was a hoot. Someone had fun coming up with it.