Forum Activity for @strumelia

I had a middle string on one of my banjos that has had an annoying 'wolf tone' lately. i tried a few tricks like paper in the bridge slot, and a pad under the tailpiece, but those didn't do a thing. Though the strings aren't that old (6 months?) I changed that one string today and the annoying tone was gone .

I suggest the Just Strings brand generic strings... the SIT strings for $2.09 a set are perfectly good loop-end strings for DAA. I use them all the time. Almost all strings in the world are made by one or two companies and then 'branded' by Martin, D'Addario, D'Arco, etc. So, IMHO it doesn't pay to pay for "brand name" strings.

I'm also guilty of leaving string sets on too long.

Old strings stretch unevenly under stress, theypick upa coating of oxidation, and I'm sure do other undesirable things as well.

It's amazing how much better a dulcimer sounds when I replace its old rusty strings with bright new ones.

Gayle -- there's frugal and then there's cheap. Playing old strings isn't frugal; it's being cheap. A set of strings is only a couple bucks if you order a couple sets at a time from www.juststrings.com , and still only about five bucks a set from a local acoustic music shop. If you do not have at least one spare set of strings on hand you are doing yourself a disservice, and if you don't change your strings at the bare minimum of once a year you're doing your dulcimer, and your audience, a disservice as well.

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.

I agree with Robin, most timbers change their characteristics as they age. Oak for example, becomes extremly hard, I have a piece which came from Bristol Cathredral School which I know to be at least 400 yrs old, like iron !, and some spruce which I abandoned during a build because it was'nt working nice, but have just planed up, went like a dream ! As for instruments, I regard them in the same way as I might my favourite walking boots, 'orrible when new, but a delight to wear now that they have settled down and relaxed into doing the business !!!

JohnH

I agree - as an instrument ages it often improves in tone and volume. New instruments can sound just a little "tight" to my ears. But buy a nice sounding new dulcimer and in years to come it could well become a classic I'm not sure if that has to do with playing or just the aging of the wood - or perhaps a combination? Some older instruments that have been in attics and not played much at all still have that 'aged' tone. Also some new instruments built from aged or reclaimed wood sound wonderful. I had a batch of dulcimers delivered recently from the Hagen family workshop and a couple of them sounded particularly wonderful. I asked Chas about them and he said that the tops on those instruments were from a billet of cherry that had been cut over 50 years ago - so there was my answer!

Gayle, I know a pretty accomplished mandolin player who echos folkfan's advice. He told me to put my instruments near the speakers of my stereo and let the wood vibrate to the music. That way they would be "improving with age" not only when I play, but during all the down time, too. I can't say I've actually done that, though.

Oh, and I am a big believer in changing strings. New strings sound better and are much easier on your fingertips.

In Search of the Wild Dulcimer is both an historical artifact and still a useful guide to the instrumnet. It's nice that its available in digital form, but you can also find hard copies for sale at reasonable prices on Ebay and elsewhere.

http://www.acousticguitar.com/gear/advice/vibration.shtml

This will give you some information on the change. I've use a "put it on a boom box" approach for years. I turn my stereo on with a new instrument resting across it, turn it up, and leave the house. Fortunately I have no really close neighbors who have ever complained.

Gayle, I agree wholeheartedly with Rob's comments. Here is the url for Robert Force's website. You can download the book, albums and tab book for free.

http://robertforce.com/

You can download the entire book from www.robertforce.com . I think it's great that he has made it available to all in (I think) pdf format. There is also "The Wild Dulcimer Songbook" on there too for free download. Has a lot of great tunes in it.

I'm not the one to ask about changing strings. I don't change mine nearly as often as I "should" on guitars or dulcimers. If I have a gig then I change them on the guitar(s) or dulcimer(s) I'll be playing. I know I ought to change them a lot more often than I do, but I can hear the difference and most of the time, after about 2 days of fussing, I think I did the right thing.

Yes, it's true. That's why bluegrass guitarists want Martin guitars from the '40's & '50s and why violinists want an Amati or Stadavarius.

Isn't that a GREAT book? It revolutionized my playing 2 years ago when I finally got a copy! Everyone with a dulcimer should have it.

Very nice Paula! I'll look forward to hearing how you like it!

Check with Lauri Cole who is a member on this forum. She has a wonderful guitar stand that fits any Mountain Dulcimer which should include the Modern Mountain Dulcimer. It is made mostly of wood and folds in or out depending on the size of the dulcimer that is being held. The price is pretty reasonable.

Dennis

Thank you Sir!

Thanks Mary!

They are such nice folks. I enjoyed chatting with them at dulcimer U. Will email him this week and see.

I'm sure if you called or emailed him, he could tell you if your MMD would fit....

Cheryl Johnson said:

Thanks Jan....I forgot that Doug had stands. They look like they will hold a MMD.....I should have checked while I was at Dulcimer U and the Felts were there also but it never occurred to me....grrrrr. :)

Thanks Jan....I forgot that Doug had stands. They look like they will hold a MMD.....I should have checked while I was at Dulcimer U and the Felts were there also but it never occurred to me....grrrrr. :)

I have a really nice one made by Doug Felts. I've been very happy with mine...it seems to adjust to all the sizes of dulcimers I own (but I don't have a MMD! Hope this helps!

http://www.dulcimerbaglady.com/woodendulcimerstand.htm

The stand is adjustable for width and depth-I think it would work for just about any guitar.

Thanks Phil! Is that an electric guitar stand then?? My acoustic stands are wide so the dulcimer would slip through the arms. I'll have to do a bit more searching.......

Thanks again for the photos, I' have a much better idea of what I'm after now!!

Here's some pics:

Thanks Phil. None of my guitar stands fit.......do you have a pic by chance?

CJ

Hey CJ, I use a guitar stand-the kind that doesn't have an upper part.It adjusts to fit any dulcimer or guitar. Our friend Dave-O uses guitar stands with the upper part but he modifys them to fit his MMD's (which he has many of)

Hello,

Does anyone know who might build a stand that will fit a Modern Mountain Dulcimer?? I emailed David McKinney a couple times (maker of MMD) but he doesn't respond. I thought perhaps one of you who owns this instrument may have a stand that fits. My current stand holds every size except the MMD :(

Thanks!

Jan Potts said:

And if you have a simple cardboard box more or less the correct size, you can buy the plastic handles or attach one of your own design.

I HAVE reshaped the foam of an hourglass dulcimer foam case to accommodate a Banjammer, but I spent hours on it and the end result wasn't great (needs several more hours of work).

I recently bought a 36"LL Bean zippered nylon snowshoe bag. It's deep enough to carry an instrument or two in soft cases or bags, folding stand, folding stool, music folders, etc. It has carry straps and weighs just ounces. Part of it is mesh, though, so it might not provide much protection from the weather. I got it mainly so I could transport a bunch of stuff in one trip, like to a jam. It would also work great just as a misc. gear bag to be carried in addition to your instrument in a more protective case. I have anLL Bean VISA card, so I bought it with some of my Bonus Coupons.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/509573?nav=bc&subrnd=0&page=... #

And if you have a simple cardboard box more or less the correct size, you can buy the plastic handles or attach one of your own design.

I HAVE reshaped the foam of an hourglass dulcimer foam case to accommodate a Banjammer, but I spent hours on it and the end result wasn't great (needs several more hours of work).

I recently bought a 36"LL Bean zippered nylon snowshoe bag. It's deep enough to carry an instrument or two in soft cases or bags, folding stand, folding stool, music folders, etc. It has carry straps and weighs just ounces. Part of it is mesh, though, so it might not provide much protection from the weather. I got it mainly so I could transport a bunch of stuff in one trip, like to a jam. It would also work great just as a misc. gear bag to be carried in addition to your instrument in a more protective case. I have anLL Bean VISA card, so I bought it with some of my Bonus Coupons.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/509573?nav=bc&subrnd=0&page=... #

Thanks Ken, As they say" "Waste not, want not."

Kenneth W. Longfield said:

John, that's a neat case. Very handy (pardon the pun).

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

John, that's a neat case. Very handy (pardon the pun).

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

John W. McKinstry said:

Hi Raven, I recently received an inexpensive cardboard bodied dulcimer in a carboard case. The case had a handle on it so the shipping container could become a carryingcase. I can now lend this dulcimer to a few people and don't have to buy an expensive case for an inexpensive dulcimer.

Hi Raven, I recently received an inexpensive cardboard bodied dulcimer in a carboard case. The case had a handle on it so the shipping container could become a carryingcase. I can now lend this dulcimer to a few people and don't have to buy an expensive case for an inexpensive dulcimer.

I have a hard case that I use with my Dulcimette when it might get banged around,like in the back of the car on a trip or something. I have no idea what it was made for, but it's well made and opens at the end (bizarre!) so I can just slide the dulcimette in its soft foam envelope/tube in and out very easily. It is 31.5 inches long.

I have also used a Hercules gear bag, long enough to carry a dulcimer and lots of music.

sweat pant legs and gun cases................lol...

For a double layer of protection, I used to insert one leg of the jogging pants into the other then carry the
"case" by the upper part. Never did get around to adding a draw string. heheheeee

Kevin Messenger said:

Hey everybody has an old pair of sweat pants. I use the when carring my dulcimers to differnt venues . Just sew the leg bottoms up and use the drawstring to close em up.

Lisa, I think I remember seeing the "instructions" for making those in an old, old copy of DPN. I'll have to look thru' mine to see if'n I'm right.

... an' be sure to rosin th' bow .............

mAYBE IF THE SWEAT PANTS ARE ROOMY ENOUGH you can stash a dulcimer in each leg while you're wearing them....just don't sit down! lol