Forum Activity for @skip

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.

updated by @skip: 02/08/16 03:30:43PM

Morgan McKay Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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

updated by @anne-bowman: 06/11/15 07:42:49AM

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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."

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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."

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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."

who to buy strings from ?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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?

updated by @monica: 02/26/19 01:31:20AM

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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.

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Excellent !!

Thank you

Dan

Dan Goad said:

Monica, you miht like this website.

http://www.juststrings.com/

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My dulcimers are 26" And .012 .014 and .022 are just right but I missed your mentioning a 28" scale. In that case .010 .012 and .022 are better IF your tuning DA dd. If your tuning Daa then the heavier set will be better... Take Linda's advise... Bob.

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Monica, you miht like this website.

http://www.juststrings.com/

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi Linda,

At the moment .010 and .014, but its time to change the strings . All I could get here was .011, .015 and .026 loop ends. I spoke with the builder and yes the .026 will be too heavy. wondering about the other 2 now.

Linda W. Collins said:

Monica, For the top and middle strings, are you using .010 and .012? For your fret scale, those may be better than the .012 and .014; however, the instrument maker will advise you on which strings are best. What to watch for, if you use a thicker string, is that the tension not be too much, compared to the other strings. They should all have about the same amount of tension.

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

yes i am familiar with those as well

Thanks

robert schuler said:

Those are common size guitar strings, they should have had them. Ask for guitar string's, if you ask for dulcimer they probably don't know what your talking about. I always use D'Adario j64. They are .012 .014 .022. They are loop end... Bob.

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Monica, For the top and middle strings, are you using .010 and .012? For your fret scale, those may be better than the .012 and .014; however, the instrument maker will advise you on which strings are best. What to watch for, if you use a thicker string, is that the tension not be too much, compared to the other strings. They should all have about the same amount of tension.

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Those are common size guitar strings, they should have had them. Ask for guitar string's, if you ask for dulcimer they probably don't know what your talking about. I always use D'Adario j64. They are .012 .014 .022. They are loop end... Bob.

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks Ron..

a question about Strings

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My local music store doesn't carry dulcimers and they don't carry .022 or .023 strings. They only have .026 for the bass string. Is that to heavy for a 28vsl?

updated by @monica: 08/01/23 07:08:13AM

I have one of each also. The hourglass I have is a Folkcraft. The teardrop I made myself in a class. To me the teardrop sounds louder and better (could it be that I'm biased, sure). Both slide around in my lap even with the strap on. I think this is because when I play I'm usually on the couch and not sitting straight up so my legs are not far enough apart. But I use that strap to counteract this and can usually control the sliding around enough. Plus I usually tap my foot anyway so it's bouncing up and down too. Overall I would say I prefer the teardrop - again I'm probably biased but that's ok.

I have 2 hourglass and 1 teardrop. No trouble keeping any of them in place on my lap. I have a slight preference for hourglass due to aesthestics, not sound.

The shallow bodied, slope shouldered, tapered scrollClifford Glen dulcimer in what is known as the 'North Carolina' patternis my absolute favourite dulcimer shape. It does surprise me that none of the larger workshops has ventured into this pattern as, in my book, it beats the Kentucky hourglass hands down for aesthetics

I only have an hourglass but if I buy another dulcimer I would want the teardrop. I would tune them different and be able to remember which is which.

TW

I have one of each. Like them both. Some tunes sound better on the teardrop and some sound better on the hourglass. Since 3 points define a plane (in geometry) I find the teardrop rocks less when you really hard strum. Kind of like the difference between a 3 legged stool and a 4 legged one - the 4 will rock and the 3 will be stable. my 2 cents

I build both hourglass and teardrops. I prefer the hourglass just because I like the look of that shape.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I build hourglass dulcimers for sale because that's what most folks like. But my personal playing dulcimers are mostly teardrop. Teardrop's have a distinctly different sound, a more focused bolder sound. That is why you see them more in baritone and bass instruments. The problem with most of the teardrop's on the market are made too skinny and unsubstantial. I found that building them with a wider bout they sit quite well on my lap. I also like the elliptical shaped Galex design. I built a very wide body model that plays best on a table top. Never played a box dulcimer, something to look forward to... All dulcimers are fun to play no matter what shape your dulcimer's in... Bob

I meant the Simerman shiftsto my RIGHT - dyslexia!!

Linda W. Collins said:

Hi James,

Working with a variety of students, with a variety of body shapes, I find the hourglass to be preferable from an ergonomics standpoint. The teardrop can be difficult for some folks to get positioned in a stable fashion against their belly! The only difficulty I've had with an hourglass shaped dulcimer is with the concert model Simerman; it tends to shift around my body to the left, due to the large lower bout, so that I have to periodically "retrieve" it!

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

Hourglass for me too Linda. I'll always be one of "your beginners", and you are absolutely right. I've purchased several tear drop dulcimers and ended up selling them all on this forum or ebay. Now, if I could just get rid of my little pot belly.......I could...........hmm.

I have not played a tear drop shaped mountain dulcimer, but have wondered about them so it is a good question.

I have two different sized hour glass shaped dulcimers and I really like playing my shorter one, my longer one slips a little bit, but thus far neither have slipped off my lap.

Interesting observation Linda, nice to know.

Hi James,

Working with a variety of students, with a variety of body shapes, I find the hourglass to be preferable from an ergonomics standpoint. The teardrop can be difficult for some folks to get positioned in a stable fashion against their belly! The only difficulty I've had with an hourglass shaped dulcimer is with the concert model Simerman; it tends to shift around my body to the left, due to the large lower bout, so that I have to periodically "retrieve" it!

Linda

www.cabinhillmusic.com

I have never played a teardrop. Aesthetically I find the hourglass more appealing . I imagine it sits more comfortably on the lap as well.

Fantastic Cynthia, and love the name of your Club. I wish you much Fun with it.

Cynthia Wigington said:

Thank you. I am already haltingly starting a bim bim BOM Dulcimer Club here. Attraction rather than promotion I always say. I have to give you this link because it's under copyright, but this is the fruit of kind James Phillips, played on his Cox zither pin, bagpipe tuned Ccc, which seems to have dropped to AAA.I bought this and another Cox from him tuned equidistand DAdA.

I just love singing harmony with a bagpipe tuned dulcimer. I'm in heaven. Bless you and this site.

Thanks everyone Babs and all, love your tuning talk, it really helps a newbee to learn and put it into perspective; It put me into experimental mode and I tune to what sounds nice to my ear and each re-tuning I listen to my fret board.

I have kept it simple and have learned major or minor keys. I am not afraid of tuning have learned what my lil butternut dulci can do and respect those limits and haven't broken any more strings, but earlier when I broke strings, it just gave me the opportunity to learn to change them.

With suggestions from other Friends, I have on hand lighter strings and will have no wound bass string and in time I will have 3 dulci's and I believe I will tune in 3 different tunnings.

I don't always comment, but I sure keep up on reading and learning from your responses.

Thank you. I am already haltingly starting a bim bim BOM Dulcimer Club here. Attraction rather than promotion I always say. I have to give you this link because it's under copyright, but this is the fruit of kind James Phillips, played on his Cox zither pin, bagpipe tuned Ccc, which seems to have dropped to AAA.I bought this and another Cox from him tuned equidistand DAdA.

I just love singing harmony with a bagpipe tuned dulcimer. I'm in heaven. Bless you and this site.