Forum Activity for @dusty

For folks who are still nervous about changing strings, there are several video demos out there about how to do it.  Just a few months ago on the first and second Dulcimer Road videocasts, Butch Ross demonstrated how he changes strings.  Note how he uses a capo to help hold the string in place while he winds it. (Now why didn't I think of that?)

Here is his demonstration on a flat head dulcimer: https://youtu.be/AyqayWugB9w?t=1m22s

And here is his demonstration on a scroll head dulcimer: https://youtu.be/sSwOjjhI_8Q?t=57s

Also note how Butch makes a loop end string out of a ball end string without removing the ball but by pushing the other end of the string through it.  (Now why didn't I think of that either?)

Some of you might like to check out this site:

http://www.thebluegrasssituation.com/search?term=banjo

Thanks, Marg, for that illustrated set of instructions.  I know this isn't the only way to do it, but several people have described this in words and I really needed a close up photo of how it looks when done properly!  The few times I have put new strings on, I end up with a big mess...which I try to ignore as long as I can get the notes I need.  I am going to also bite the bullet and make myself change a few strings soon...I need to get some with odd sizes though, so I'll need to go across town to Guitar Center....that may be awhile...

Interesting that you can only get ball ends because I have a whole drawer full of loop end strings and seem to mostly need the ball ends.

I also like the Sticky Grip picks...I buy mine from Mike Clemmer.  I can set the pick down on my instrument while I'm attending to passing out music or getting something out of my case, or writing notes on my tab, and it doesn't slide off...many folks find that very impressive!

Nice work kusani.  We all do what it takes to make things work for us.  I personally find a bit of roughing up with 60 grit sandpaper gives a more sure grip on my favorite picks.

I've never had that problem.  I'm lucky I guess.

I really like the GuitarMoose Sticky Grip picks.

http://guitarmoose.com/products

I want to keep control of my pick without gripping it too tight, and not worry about it slipping in my fingers.  I tried the sticky 'monkey stuff' and other substances but just wasn't pleased.  The solution is a pick that doesn't slip, I have total control without having to grip it tightly and don't have any 'greasy stuff' to wipe off my fingers.  Using hollow punches, 220 grit abrasive paper and a 'tiny' drop of super glue, I made two discs for each pick and applied one to each side.

 Works beautifully!!!  You can see I am still experimenting with various pick styles. 

Personally, I really enjoy just playing the dulcimer ON THE LITTLE T.V. TABLE with my little 4 feet on the bottom of the dulcimer.  In the early books on dulcimers, Jean Ritchie has many photos of folks playing them on tables....but mostly she played her on her lap. Makes more sound on the little table...looks ready to play all the time sitting on my little table.  yeah, and I play it often.  While I'm in the shop working as I am today, I'm thinking what songs I'm going to play on my dulcimer when I get back in the house.  ha.  (How can I keep from singing) in the tune that's going on in my head today. 

When I use my Jim VanderWoude possum board, it goes on my lap, just like a dulcimer w/o a possum board. The possum board also has strap pins on it, if you want to attach your strap right to the possum board.

yep, I've got two "rescued" dulcimers that I've found and fixing the seconed one up now. Loved the little feet on them, GREAT SOUND....I've made 18 dulcimers and so this last one I put little knobs on the back....great sound again. If I knew how to put photos on here, I'd post 'em.  I'll learn.  ha. as I've got photos I want to put up.  I've learned so much from this site.  I mostly make harps and bowed psalteries...but play these with my husband that plays autoharp and guitar.  Pictures coming when I can figure it out.  Thanks so much for responding.  I like the folding table you have.  aloha, irene

That certainly is a distinctive style of instrument, from the unusual scroll head to the relief slots in the top of the tail.  I wish you well in finding our more about Mister Pyle.

Here's a link to a short discussion about Pyle and his dulcimer from Everything Dulcimer.com:  http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31812

If you google his name along with the word dulcimer you'll find several mentions of him...

Irene possum boards help with the sound of dulcimers some of the older style dulcimers have feet on the back so when you play placing the dulcimer on top a table this helps with increasing the sound.

I have a folding table, size of a tv tray. 

this is very interesting.  do you put this on your lap or on the table to play?  thanks for the pictures, they say 1,000 words. 

Thank you for the warm welcome.  I peeked and poked around on the Dulcimer and found an orange sticker inside one of the cross-shaped sound holes.  It identifies the builder as Paul W. Pyle.  Each of the other sound holes have the "serial number" of 1023 written by hand.  

 20160520_082903.jpg - 139KB

I got an adjustable possum board from Jim VanderWoude at Evart. It fits all my dulcimers. I added rubber tubing to the posts and some additional felt in a couple spots to make sure the dulcimers don't get scratched. Very well made and thought out. It folds up too, for storage/travel.

 IMG_20150830_145323.jpg - 60KB

(the heavier string I had put on that day was just a bit wider then the originals and that was what was causing the issue.)

This may very well be the problem, I will check this out - if it is sitting in the slot.

thanks so much

Double check your nut and bridge and make sure that string is fully set in the slots.   I had that problem awhile back and even though it looked fine, what I found was that the slot in the nut let that string go from time to time.   I had to widen that slot and deepen it a bit..........no problem after that.  I would guess that the heavier string I had put on that day was just a bit wider then the originals and that was what was causing the issue.

.24 - .26 wound string is what I use.  Flappy as in maybe strumming too hard and the string jumps back vibrating flappy, hard to explain. No problem with easy strums, maybe instead of strumming across I go down some. Need to see if I can figure it out. Trying to figure out somethings is sometimes harder than fixing the problem but I will. Strange it's only a problem with the Mcspadden, beautiful voice just flappy a bit sometimes on the bass string.

thanks, as always

For a bass string in the 27"-29" range I would go with a .024 or .026 wound string tuned to the D or C below middle C.  It should not be flappy at all, if by "flappy" you mean loose.

Here is my alternative to a possum board, I call them 'skunk boards':  They are made them from misc. lumber in my shop.  They each have 4 stick-on non=skid plastic feet on the bottom and 2 feet on the tops. The top two feet on each are the only contact with the dulcimer. These skunk boards provide minimum dampening of the sound; they are small and easy to transport and fit under any style of dulcimer. They are not visible when placed under the dulcimer. :) 

I have found for years just using a cheap $8.00 or so T.V. tray.....then I got a black (good grief plastic) bigger adjustable one that is larger to accomadate a "found dulcimer" at an antique store....that had 4 little wood pegs on it.  wayyyyyyyyyyy more sound and easy.  I think I got that for $13.00 at Walmart.  I keep these at various kids houses as i take my dulcimer and play for the families that I visit.  Truely, the old style had 4 little pegs or something to set these on tables.  you can get a cute little table and cut the legs off and be comfortable playing your dulcimer at home and with others.  playing them on the lap really does dull the sound.  That's why you see soooooooo many various ways of making them louder....love looking at all the photos on this site. THIS IS A FANTASTIC SITE....glad to learn one more thing about "possum boards". 

Here is my alternative to a possum board, I call them 'skunk boards':  They are made them from misc. lumber in my shop.  They each have 4 stick-on non=skid plastic feet on the bottom and 2 feet on the tops.  The top two feet on each are the only contact with the dulcimer.  These skunk boards provide minimum dampening of the sound; they are small and easy to transport and fit under any style of dulcimer.  They are not visible when placed under the dulcimer.  :) 

Welcome Claud!

If you click on the "Forums" link along the top of any page, you'll see we have forums that focus on various subjects.  I'd suggest you make a new discussion in this forum:  http://fotmd.com/forums/forum/instruments-discussing-specific-features-luthiers-instrument-problems-questions  and put Pyle's name in the thread subject line.  That way, more folks will see it and possibly someone will have more info for you about it.  

Did you look on the INSIDE of the dulcimer for any labels with maker info?  I ask that because it's possible the taped on label in your photo was the name of the dulcimer's owner, not the person who actually made it.

some of the discussions:

Possum Boards revisited

New Possum Board  

Possum Board Question: Pros And Cons  

 If you do a search on possum board you will find lots of good info on the forum discussions on what they are for and now to make one, as in part of the post below - I hope you don't mind ken my reposting part of your post.

Ken posted:

"Dulcimer on a table - whether 5/8" or 3" thick -- is better than dulcimer on the lap.  The lap is soft and absorbs sound. Tables are hard and reflect sound making the dulcimer louder.  However.  Dulcimer suspended even 1/8" above a "table" gives you even more volume because it frees up the entire back of the instrument so it can vibrate."

I have a bass string that is flappy, I have a 26 on it -  Mcspadden 28.5.

    It had a 24 but that was flappy also, am I going the wrong way. I wanted a deepper bass. Yes, I know about the string calculator,  it has a really low gage size, I have never used a bass that size (19- 20)  Mcspadden has string set they sell with .023 for the bass - so my question on the flappy bass, what size should I be looking for? There isn't much difference between 23 & 24 and the 24 was also flappy.

   What can I use for a good bass sound but not flappy.

Thanks

Pardon my ignorance... What is a "Possum Board"?  Is that something to help hold it on your lap?

The dulcimer hides the painting so it's almost a secret painting but I didn't like it with nothing on it, had to give it it's own personality. I don't really use a possum board but when there was a discussion awhile back, i needed to make myself one. All in learning on our dulcimer journey.

Thanks lexie

Hello everybody.  I just wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for having such a great wealth of information on here!

My name is Claud.  I currently reside in Austin, Texas, but will be moving to Lenoir, NC in the next month.  So happy to be heading back to the Mountains where I was happiest!

I have always been a fan of Mountain music and enjoyed the stringed instruments the most.  I have no skills, but lots of desire to learn how to play.

My treasure is a Paul W. Pyle Dulcimer that I "rescued" from someone that was selling it.  They explained that they had no clue what it really was.  I am very curious about the history of this instrument and hope to learn as much as I can about the builder/musician Paul W. Pyle.  I know he is from Tennessee and has written a few books and tabs and also did some teaching about Mountain music.

If anyone has any more information on how to learn more about the dulcimer I have, I would be forever grateful.

Claud Yeiser

I've recently re-strung my dulcimer. I keep it tuned DAA for now, but I have an oddity in tuning.

After bass is tuned to a pitch pipe's D, I do the typical relative tuning of the A strings using bass 4th fret. This sounds fine. Also, if I walk a scale up from open to 7th fret, I get a normal D or A scale on the respective strings.

But when I hold 3rd fret on the melody pair and strum, the result is a significant dissonance in the bass. The 3 upper strings sound fine together, but the bass is off.

For the moment, I've gone to tuning the other way, tuning bass to A 3rd fret. So this sounds fine, but of course now it's off elsewhere.

As a mathematician, knowing that I can get a correct scale on all strings individually (so the frets are of course properly placed) but I can't tune one to another and expect to get a matching chord elsewhere on the fretboard is a deep weirdness to me. I mean, this is about sonic frequency, and all things being equal -- frets placed right, relative tune from one to another -- these ought to be Right.

Can anyone offer an explanation for why I get this discordance?

Marge, that is one beautiful possum board.

What gauge string would one suggest for a 28.5 inch VSL. Presently I'm using 10, 13, 22wound. On one Dulcimer they seem fine on another of the same VSL they can seem a bit flappy.

What my brother Ken said!  Enjoy your dulcimer journey!

My possum board, I painted mine

 P. board.jpg - 95KB

I have done this many times and the strings hold tight

Totally Agree with Dusty. I love to dabble with every instrument I can try. I do however have my favorites. My Banjo and Dulcimer are in the lead along with my guitar, mandolin,uke, recorder and harmonica. Phewww. That keeps me busy. Lots of fun and yes, worth well because we all need to relax and enjoy things that pleases us without the worry of how much money we can make when we learn a particular instrument. My first admirer was Wayne Newton. He can play lots of different instruments. So Robin, Go ahead and enjoy. Your worth it !! 

Glad to hear that things worked out. Enjoy that dulcimer.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I have put planetary tuners on all of my steel string banjos, but my nylon string banjoleles have friction tuners as does my favourite dulcimer.  I think you can see Pete's guitar tuners here.  He had three Grover Rotomatics and one cheap knock off that he put on when one of the Grovers got busted.

 Pete's strap.jpg - 12KB