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Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 9

Bing Futch: Dulcimer Road Warrior

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Bing Futch has embraced the mountain dulcimer as his first and foremost instrument. Known for touring around the US in his RV, Bing plays many diverse styles from traditional folk to rock to original compositions to the blues -- all on the dulcimer.

For episode resources:  http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/009.html

The advice to Jane was just what I needed to read because I'm champing at the bit to get a new dulcimer and was ready to call a builder in my area to set up an appointment to try out his instruments.  My dulcimer was made in '87 by someone who built as a hobby.  The action is high and probably is meant to be played with a noter, which is how I started.  I belong to a group in Berea, KY and the leader has brought 3 of her dulcimers for me to play--Folkcraft, Blue Lion and McSpadden.  I, too, want a warmer, mellower sound and so far found it in the McSpadden.  But I want to buy an instrument I can try out before I buy.

The length on my dulcimer from nut to bridge is 27" and I feel like I'm scrunching to reach the 9th and 10th frets.  I am an average size woman with small hands.  I know what I want in sound but am confused by some of the language when I've done research.  What is considered a starter or beginner dulcimer?  McSpadden's website refers to "bridge compensation option" if you want to play in DAD.  What's that?

I was planning to wait until the Ohio Valley Gathering in Feb. in hopes of trying out several instruments.  What other things should I look for? Dulcinina from the Beginner Group.

Hi Jane. From the comments you have made, I think your student dulcimer may be the same model as my first dulcimer. if you want to chat about them, "follow" me and I will message you back with some of the things I have found helpful. 

Here comes a "minority report"!  I don't like the various "squeakless" varieties at all.  I'm with Linda Brockinton in thinking that they sound dull or muffled.  I'm happy to accept a bit of squeak if that's the price I have to pay to achieve a lively sound.  (Guy is quite right about taking care to lift off the pressure when sliding on a wound string so as not to squeak too much, however.) 

jane when you are ready for a new dulcimer i would suggest attending a dulcimer festival where the instruments of several luthiiers are available.
you can compare and choose the one you like best

Thanks for that John.

I like the elixirs too! They don't seem to muffle like some of the others that I have tried. Sometimes I just use regular "non squeakless" strings and try to take more care on my wound strings to lift off the pressure when I slide so I don't squeak too much.

Hi Anne,

There are a lot of different sets of lyrics for this song, and a bit of variation in the tunes.

'Whip Jamboree' has a similar tune.

This one is pretty standard :

Let me know if a sound clip would help.

Jane, you've gotten lots of good replies so far.  

I notice you say it's a 'student sized' 26" with DAd tuning.  I assume that along with the shorter scale length, the "student' means it's also a smaller shallower body.  Though small tweaks can indeed change an instrument's sound a little bit, changing strings in my opinion is not likely to make a small soundbox entry-level short scale dulcimer sound "very warm and rich".  More than any other factor, I would say that dulcimers with larger or deeper (taller) bodies/soundboxes will sound deeper, richer, and warmer.  Think about the difference in tone between a smaller tenor guitar and a large dreadnaught guitar.  Or between different sized wooden recorders.  Perhaps an extreme example, but- you can't make a viola sound like a cello by changing strings.

The good news?- you may have to have more than one dulcimer for different sounds.   

If you are going to be playing mostly in DAA instead of DAD, I find that changing the treble string to a heavier gauge which matches the middle string gives a better sound. Otherwise that upper string can sound kind of floppy and lifeless IMO. 

I like CGC a lot. Especially if I am playing a tune that hangs out lot in the upper range of the instrument. The upper notes in DAD don't have the same ring to them IMO.

robert nailed it.  i have built 2 instruments (more than once) that were identical and made from the same board that sounded totaly

different.  lynn mc spaden told me the thickness of the top had more to do with the tone than the type of wood used.

Jane. Every dulcimer like every person has its own voice. People can change, dulcimers can't..  There is a tyranry of tuning when in a group that says everybody must tune to Dad... But at home alone find the key that sound best. At some point you want to try different tuning / modes.. Daa will definitely sound a bit more warmer. The dulcimer was never intended to be tuned only to one key and one mode. This is what makes this seemingly simple instrument so complex and exciting..  Robert.

Yes, I've heard Santiano on Youtube. It's so rollicking .... I'm not sure if it was a version by Tri Yann, a group I like very much. I found them at the same time as I discovered Malicorne..., as well as the talented Denez Prigent. Such a wealth of music that we miss out on if we stick solely to English language songs....

Anne, Santiano is a French version of the English sea shanty Santy Anno (or Santy Anna). You can hear it on Youtube by the Kingston Trio. Sorry, no dulcimer tab.

Any dulcimer tabs/music for Santiano? ...

Marc.mathieu, connaissez-vous cette chanson ?

I agree with Dusty.  There are so many factors that affect the sound of a dulcimer tha wood selection plays a very tiny part.  Volume of the body -- length without head x width x depth will affect the sound more -- larger volumes give a more 'mellow' sound. Buy what looks good to you, and most importantly what sounds the way you want. 

Jane, You have gotten some excellent responses from the great people and players on this board.

I agree with Dusty, that while wood can definitely affect the timbre of your instrument, it has much more to do with how the instrument is built, and how it is played.

I find that paying great attention to my technique, using as little pressure as possible when I fret, and using a light touch on my picking hand. Regardless of whether I'm finger picking or using a pick to strum I have to be careful of how I'm playing... not digging into the strings very hard to play them, but getting  a nice brush on top of the strings to set them vibrating.

I have personally found that the longest VSL my body can manage seems to also help me as far as sustain goes... so while you don't want an instrument that is too long for your body, you don't want to go too short either. 

Size, build, materials and technique all play their own part in the tonal quality of your sound.

Jane, some woods do indeed create a slightly warmer sound than others, but many other aspects of dulcimer design have an even greater effect.  A Blue Lion dulcimer will always sound bigger and warmer than a Pritchard replica no matter what woods are chosen.

I suggest you listen to other dulcimer players and when you hear a tone you like, inquire about who made the dulcimer.  Then you can talk further with the luthier.

But as Dan says above, take your time.  There are a lot of variables of dulcimer construction and you need to develop your preferences before you know what your ideal dulcimer would be.  It took me about 3 years of playing before I knew the kinds of attributes I want on a dulcimer.

I think that you will find that walnut will fit you're needs very well.  In the meantime, don't be in a big hurry.  Ask questions, listen and watch the sound files and videos here on FOTMD.  We are all willing to share our experiences and knowledge with our newer players.  Several of our members are builders as well as good players. I've been on my own dulcimer journey for six years and have enjoyed every moment (aside from a few ill advised purchases on Ebay).  We all enjoy sharing our adventures during our journey and welcome you and look forward to hearing yours too.

jane it sounds like the dulcimer.....especially the top is birch plywood.  there is not much you can do to improve or change the

tone.  you might try tuning in ionian (Daa)

Jane, you've received good advice so far. Try CGc tuning and see what you think. The deeper sound might please you.

You might also increase the gauge of your bass string to .024 or even .026, but your melody and middle string should probably not be increased much.

Also, if you angle the dulcimer up a tiny bit so that it is not sitting flat on your lap, you will likely get more vibration from the bottom, which should open up the sound a bit.  You could also place your dulcimer on a wooden table and see if the increased resonance and sustain is something you like. If so, you might play with a possom board, or at least a wooden plank under your dulcimer.

I don't know if any of these changes would really produce a warmer, richer sound, but they will make slight changes and perhaps you'll like what you hear.

Jane, CGC is one step lower than DAD and may suit you needs.  "Warm Rich" sound is a very subjective phrase.  What sounds warm and rich to you're ears may not sound that way to mine.  You are presently using larger guage strings on you're melody and middle strings than I have used on my dulcimers with the same VSL.  What woods were used on your dulcimer and who built it?  If that person is still building and has a website they may be able to give you better information.

"

Jane, you can still use you're DAD tab if you tune down to CGC.

I have a sneaking suspicion that you've maxed out the amount of 'warm rich' sound that simply changing strings can give you.

Have you tried dropping down and playing in C -- CGG or CGc?  You say you have a "student size" instrument, and I don't know what that means -- who made the instrument?  What is the max width, length and depth?  Dulcimers with more cubic inches of internal volume generally have a more 'mellow' sound, than small instruments.   As do dulcimers with VSLs longer than 26" or even 27".

You can certainly try nylon/gut strings, but to work best you may need to change out the nut and bridge for ones with wider notches.  Start with nylon gauges about the same as your steel strings.

Joe, you're right! This is an american dulcimer, not an epinette.

looks like an american dulcimer.  epinettes that i have seen have many more strings.

I think a happy player will be a better player.

Rob points out the alternative to the more expensive flat-wound (or wound in general) bass strings -- a plain steel/phosphor bronze bass string.  There's no String Law which says you must use a wound bass string.  Often the olde tymers just used a heavier gauge plain string.  I find they work just fine for me too.

My Keith Young dulcimer came with a set of his squeakless strings on it.  It is an unwound bass string, .024 phosphor bronze.  It doesn't have quite the sustain I like, but it sounds good.  You can check any of my videos with the Young and see how that sounds. 

 I think I'll go on Just Strings and order a set, at least a couple squeakless wound, to try out! 

It probably doesn't make sense to buy whole sets of squeakless strings for dulcimers since only the wound bass string is technically squeakless.  And as Ken says above, if you play in a drone style you don't fret the bass string anyway, so don't worry about it.

I buy .24 gauge squeakless strings in bulk from JustStrings and Folkcraft which I use on my standard-sized dulcimers.  The ones I buy have the plastic coating like the Elixir strings that Kristi mentions above.  I remember Linda Brockinton commenting once that she found those squeekless strings to have a muted tone and didn't like them. I have never noticed that personally.

No.  The Echo Super Vamper is a regular 10 hole diatonic.  I have no idea why they used the word "Echo".

I use the Folkcraft sets with the flat wound bass strings. Certainly cuts out the noise when you slide on the string. If you don't play chords, squeakiness strings are not needed, IMO, as plain  steel strings do not squeak.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Very nice, thanks.

Yes, McSpadden squeakless strings are flat-wound.

Jim

Does the Echo have a tremolo sound?

No, not on this one. I have a Doug Berch dulcimer with a passive pickup, so I have that ability to plug in already. I considered it with this Folkcraft Custom (theirs are really nice active pickups). But, I decided that I didn't need two dulcimers with pickups. Plus, I decided I didn't want the "barn door" type pickup.......it just distracts from the beauty of the wood. But, that's just me. I also have a nice amp and mic setup I can use, if I need to amp this Folkcraft. When I visited there this past summer, Richard said they sell a lot of dulcimers with the pickup and they really like it. It's a personal choice to get it or not. 

This is a Marine Band Special in C that was given to me by my ex-father-in-law.  It's a 12 hole diatonic with a wooden comb.

This is a 10 hole Hohner Echo Super Vamper in A that I bought in Scotland circa 1969 when my Marine Band in A crapped out.  It's identical to the Marine Band except for the top cover plate.  I haven't been to the British Isles in many years and am not sure if these are still available over there.  Perhaps they now sell Marine Bands over there.

I've used McSpadden squeakless strings. I have them on two instruments right now. To me they are warm and mellow, but not mushy or muddy.  I like them.