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  #1  
Old 04-09-2010, 07:45 PM
OC1 OC1 is offline
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Default 4th build - not exactly a guitar

I know this is a bit stretch to classify this as a guitar, but it has strings! Sixty six of them to be precise.
After building 3 guitars, building hammered dulcimmer felt like building a bird house. Anyhow, plays fantastic and I spent 4 days on it that included french polishing. Mahogany top and rosewood burl sides. kids love it and nobody here knows how to play it.



It takes probably more time to string it and tune it than make it.
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My Guitars:
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-LaPatrie Presentation, factory rejected
-Takamine AN10
- My own build DeJonge Standard Steel String
- My own build Santos Hernandez cypress flamengo
- My own build Bubinga Tornavoz classical
- My own build Hammered Dulcimer
- My own build Travel Guitar
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Old 04-09-2010, 08:00 PM
WhistlingFish WhistlingFish is offline
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Neat! Sound clips please - when you find someone who can play it!
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Old 04-09-2010, 08:04 PM
D. Churchland D. Churchland is offline
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I would hate to tune that sucker, looks amazing though!
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Formerly known as, "Will Kirk"
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  #4  
Old 04-09-2010, 11:10 PM
jarfly jarfly is offline
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I'd hate to buy strings for that sucker. I've always been awed by those though! That burl is lovely!!!
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  #5  
Old 04-10-2010, 09:23 AM
OC1 OC1 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jarfly View Post
I'd hate to buy strings for that sucker. I've always been awed by those though! That burl is lovely!!!
Strings for those type of instruments come in a form of music wire in a coil. It is cheap, 50 feet of string wire cost less than a set of guitar strings. This is one of the biggest dulcimer that are there and it uses only 4 different gauges of strings.
As in piano, you don't really replace the strings very often (many pianos have strings for life as the full restringing would probably cost as much as a new piano). Stringing of this took about 2 hours.
The problem is tunning as the tuning Zither pins are very sensitive - there are no gears. A good reliable tuner is essential. I couldn't tune it with peterson strobo tuner so I got Korg orchestral tuner and that is absolute joy of tuners. Still half price of peterson! Why I was struggling with peterson for so long? If you are looking for absolutely great tuner Korg OT120 it is... very fast response and superb accuracy. You can even tune percussions as it reacts to everything correctly.

My young kid play on this but she is 5 yo so the "music" feels more like a throwing bunch of pianos from balcony. Not sure if I should record that :-), I think it would hurt my case.
__________________
My Guitars:
-Lucida $60 new with soundport arguably now plays like $85 one
-LaPatrie Presentation, factory rejected
-Takamine AN10
- My own build DeJonge Standard Steel String
- My own build Santos Hernandez cypress flamengo
- My own build Bubinga Tornavoz classical
- My own build Hammered Dulcimer
- My own build Travel Guitar

Last edited by OC1; 04-10-2010 at 09:33 AM.
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  #6  
Old 04-10-2010, 06:50 PM
OC1 OC1 is offline
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Here is a sound sample - but bear in mind I have no idea how to play on this thing, so i was just playing whatever by ear often hammering the wrong notes. I just put the recorder on a recycle box near the dulcimer...

http://www.supload.com/listen?s=K0iQiF

P.S. Will Kirk, I just listened to your soundclicks - boy, do I love that sound on the Afrika song!
__________________
My Guitars:
-Lucida $60 new with soundport arguably now plays like $85 one
-LaPatrie Presentation, factory rejected
-Takamine AN10
- My own build DeJonge Standard Steel String
- My own build Santos Hernandez cypress flamengo
- My own build Bubinga Tornavoz classical
- My own build Hammered Dulcimer
- My own build Travel Guitar

Last edited by OC1; 04-10-2010 at 06:56 PM.
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