Van, thanks for your input....I think it will be a perfect fit for me. I Love the way the scroll looks....but functionally its just not quite as easy as the flat head on my MMD. When I talked to Sue at McSpadden she said they were getting very popular and she had just sold two others before I called. I'm wondering if eventually smaller scales will be the most common dulcimers?
CJ
Cheryl, The folks at McSpadden know their products - So you can trust what they tell you. I'm actually going there tomorrow and will meet them on Thursday because they won't be open at the time we arrive. Jim is a master at repairing dulcimers and I have had nothing but pleasant experiences with everyone I've come in contact with from the Dulcimer Shoppe. I highly recommend the squeakless strings if you are going to get a new dulcimer, or even if you put them on your current one, you will be pleasantly surprised how nice it is not to hear so much squeaking when sliding across the strings.
Hope this information helps...
Keep a strummin' & pickin',
Glynda
P.S. did the picture come through on my previous email?
Cheryl Johnson said:
Glynda, Thank you very much for posting. I have an all cherry mcspadden and an MMD in Redwood/Walnut. I like the shorter scale length of the MMD, and I also want to keep the Cherry for its sound, but would sure like a little shorter scale length. Sue at McSpadden said there is no discernible difference in sound or tone since the body size is the same on both the 26 VSL and the 28.6. So why not go shorter, is what I'm thinking. Plus after going through a couple sets of strings I'm not loving the scroll head on my McSpadden....thinking that nice flat head looks awfully good! :)
Sarah....would love to hear your David Lynch...have you recorded it yet?
Thanks again,
Cheryl
Sarah!! I saw that one....so cute!
Glynda, Thank you very much for posting. I have an all cherry mcspadden and an MMD in Redwood/Walnut. I like the shorter scale length of the MMD, and I also want to keep the Cherry for its sound, but would sure like a little shorter scale length. Sue at McSpadden said there is no discernible difference in sound or tone since the body size is the same on both the 26 VSL and the 28.6. So why not go shorter, is what I'm thinking. Plus after going through a couple sets of strings I'm not loving the scroll head on my McSpadden....thinking that nice flat head looks awfully good! :)
Sarah....would love to hear your David Lynch...have you recorded it yet?
Thanks again,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
YES, I have not only played one, but have bought TWO. I love the 26" VSL. My teardrop is a little softer than the walnut and both have ebony fretboards. As far as I'm concerned the ease of playing works for me. I also have a cherry McSpadden and I really can't tell much difference in sound. The volume of the teardrop is a little less than the walnut and cherry, but that "might" be because of the shape or wood rather than anything else. I highly recommend the 26" VSL.The cherry is in the middle of this picture, so you can see there is very little difference in overall length of the instruments. The walnut is solid walnut, the teardrop is walnut/spruce.
I was looking at McSpadden's site today and saw they make a 26" VSL dulcimer with the same body as the 28.5" VSL. Has anyone played these...I'm wondering if there is a difference in sound, volume, tone?? I think I would love the shorter scale length, but not at the expense of sound.
Thanks!!
CJ
