Hi Dana,
Having been down some medical rabbit holes, I do believe that humor helps. Joke books, knock knock jokes, funny movies -- anything for a giggle. Great time to catch up on all the funny cat videos on Youtube. Sometimes the brain can't focus on a book but will rally for Groucho Marx or the Three Stooges. I do wish you every success in the days ahead.
How wonderful that you played for the folks in the waiting room Dana. Music is such good medicine, a real tonic.
Your new report sounds very encouraging- you must be a real strong woman...that cancer didn't know who it was messing with. BIIIG hug to you and warmest wishes for a strong recovery.
Dana, A lot of hard stuff going on. Prayers and thoughts with you through this difficult period in time. Sorry for the loss of your sister--way too young. May she rest in peace.
That is so great that you played for the folks in the waiting room. I hope the guy picks it up and comes to you for more tunes on it and those who just look at them, well hope you encourage them to get to strumming.
It is a nice way to relax people, I have played mine during my monthly treatment of chemo for RA, it has given those who are feeling bad a smile.
Good Wishes for the possible lessons and your treatments.....will be thinking of you.
Dana R. McCall said:
Lexie the only one that plays is the guy that puts you under for surgery. He has built five and says he plays chord style. The others just have them I told them I'd give lessons. And I have played for the radiation waiting room. Loaned a dulcimer to a fellow patient that wants to learn. He is picking out some hymns by ear.
Dana, so glad to hear the good news and that you are feeling good! I hope you continue to improve and get to the point where the surgery can be done soon. Thinking of you.
Wonderful news Dana and so happy you are feeling good. Did you play your Doctor's and Staff a song on your Dulcimer?
It is terrific maybe you will be able to meet with them and play together.
You and your family are in my prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Dana, and your family at this time of sorrow and troubles. As we go into Spring, I hope this special time of year, one of renewal and rebirth, will bring with it a special gift of renewal and rebirth into health for you.
Take care of yourself and your family, sounds like you have had a time.
You and your family are in my prayers.
Hey Dana, sorry about all that has happened to you and your family. Prayers and thoughts are with you that all will go well.
Ben
You will be in our thoughts and prayers Dana. God bless.. Kevin.
Oh my, Dana. So sorry to hear all that! Hope everything goes well.... you know you're in my prayers as well.
That's way too much to have to bear- may you forge ahead with gentle strength.
Sending you my haertfelt wishes for a strong recovery and hugs hugs to you, Dana.
Dana, I am so sorry for everything you are going through. Just know that we are all keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and wishing you the very best.
i'm sure thats your problem. you have to remove the fret and deepen the slot in the fretboard. if the tang is crooked or.....the fret is beat up.....or filed down too much you will need to install a new one.
it's not hard to do. good luck. if you get the slot a bit too wide and the fret is loose use a little
super glue.
I've had it happen to me when I first started making MD's, when you hit the center of the fret 1st, it bends the ends up. Now I tap an end to get it started then move along until it'spartially seated then finish using a flat metal bar across the top of the fret and tap on that to finish seating the fret [fretboard already installed] or press them in using my drillpress. I've also started making finished frets when replacing or installing on a finished fretboard.
The builder may have cut the fret to exact length, cutting with side cutters or equivalent warps the tang, or it was a bit short from the kit maker to begin with.
Look for something that seems to make the strings to change [affects] length, for example, one string making contact at the rear of the bridge/nut [open] and the front when pressed or if there is a zero fret involved, a string that does not touch or is not bent over it. Flat is string too long, sharp too short from fret to bridge. The inside edges [fret side] of the nut/bridge should be taller than the outside.
The fret was probably bent up on the ends during installation and the ends were filed down to make them level
One other thing I can think of right now, make sure the 2 strings are the same gage.
Umm, that's pretty much an open ended question. Generally the tools needed, something to remove the bad fret with a minimum of tear out, cutter to cut the new fret material, file[s] for the ends/leveling/shaping, a hammer, a small block of hard cushioning material to minimize damage when installing the fret, a short straight edge to check the height across 3 frets, tape to protect the fretboard around the work. You also need to match the fretwire used so you may need a vernier caliper.
A question I have is what leads you to believe the fret is the problem for a bit of flatness in one string? I would look at the nut/zero fret/bridge/string first since the flat sound is more likely to be the cause in those areas. And just a note, it could be either string. A bad fret would more likely cause a buzz or dead sound [clunk]. Lay a straight edge [or press a string across the to adjoining frets] and examine the fret in question, light between the fret and straight edge/string verifies too low . The fret may have been flattened to match heights and never re-rounded.
Anyone know anything aboutMorgan McKay Dulcimers?
A friend has lent me one she has never played ( an unwanted gift from years ago) with a view to possibly purchasing it. It's signed inside and dated Nov. 1977. Don't know what it'd be worth either...
Anne
Like Dusty I buy both locally and from JustStrings. Never had a problem with them in all the years I've ordered from them. Often they send little extras, like string cleaning cloths or flat picks. I usually get a dozen of each of my most common gauges (18, 14, 12).
Banjo, rather than Mandolin, strings are the most common "crossover instrument" strings. I believe Jean Ritchie talked about using banjo 2nd and 3rd on dulcimer.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have an order coming from Just strings. the local store doesn't carry every gauge or length I'd need. i.e. they have mandolin strings but they are too short.
For the record, I've never had the "mess" Steve did with the ball of strings fromJust Strings. I just remove one at a time and the ball stays intact. It is quite compact, in fact, much more so than the individual strings in a packet. I keep it all in the ziploc bag they come in.
In general, steel is steel and strings are strings. The quality will not vary from one retailer to another, but there are variables for wound strings that might be a matter of personal preference. I prefer the tone of bronze wound strings to nickel strings, for example, but I would not say that they are better, merely that I prefer the tone.
I do indeed buy bulk wound strings and have done so from both Just Strings and Folkcraft. However, I try to buy as much as I can from my local music stores. You never know, but you might find yourself in a bind, with a workshop or gig the next day, and you need a string or two. If there are no brick-and-mortar stores around, you will be up that proverbial creek without a paddle. Strings are cheap, so even though it costs a little more, I buy as much as possible from my local music stores. Plus, you might just meet someone interested in the dulcimer.
Monica, sorry. I forgot that Gary's website was hacked and down at the present time. I have never had any problem with Just Strings. Good prices and good service.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The biggest difference is that JustStrings will send you a ball of strings. I did that once and saved money, but had a big mess! McSpadden's will be individually packed. I don't know about Folkcraft, but you could ask.
You can also check out bulk strings at www.cbgitty.com
I think all of them are the "ball-end" type with the brass rings, not the plain loops, but I use them here.
Can't access their website
But you are satisfied with just strings?
Ken Longfield said:
Not to confuse things even more, have you checked the price at Prussia Valley. Contact Gary Sager and see what he sells strings for. I buy bulk strings from Just Strings.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Not to confuse things even more, have you checked the price at Prussia Valley. Contact Gary Sager and see what he sells strings for. I buy bulk strings from Just Strings.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
For a pack of 12 bulk strings,plain steel loop ends ,010 , the prices are as follows :
Mcspadden $12.50
Folkcraft $6.49
JustStrings $3.62
Wondering about the difference in quality?
This video showshow to turn them into loop ends very easily.
Tumbleweed said:
Hi Monica
I have the same problem with my local music stores and it didn't matter if I asked for dulcimer strings or guitar strings or asked by gauge. I couldn't get what I need. I need loop ends and in my area they just don't carry them. I was even told by one store there is no such thing, wow. I have to order them off the internet.
TW
Thank you for the Suggestion Nicholas. The problem is that the music store doesn't carry all the gauges I want such as .023 phosphor bronze.
But today I put in an order at Juststrings,com
Nicholas Carey said:
IF you need loop-end strongs, it's pretty easy to remove the ball from a ball-end string to make it loop end string. Some strong, you can just pop the ball out:
Other strings might need an assist from a pair of dykes (side cutters) or needle-nose pliers:
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Strings/Loops/loops.html
You just want to ensure that you don't kink the wire as that makes a weak point at which the string will fail at significantly lower tension.
Hi Monica
I have the same problem with my local music stores and it didn't matter if I asked for dulcimer strings or guitar strings or asked by gauge. I couldn't get what I need. I need loop ends and in my area they just don't carry them. I was even told by one store there is no such thing, wow. I have to order them off the internet.
TW
