The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-21-2018, 04:22 PM
guitar344 guitar344 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 626
Default Do dulcimer strings break easiy?

How long do they last? Are they delicate like mandolin strings?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-21-2018, 07:25 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

E-mail the manufacturer, take his word for it, and enjoy playing your dulcimer...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-21-2018, 08:49 PM
frankmcr frankmcr is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 5,337
Default

What makes you think mandolin strings are fragile???
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:24 PM
guitar344 guitar344 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 626
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by frankmcr View Post
What makes you think mandolin strings are fragile???
The e string. How delicate are dulcimer strings?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-21-2018, 09:51 PM
frankmcr frankmcr is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 5,337
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by guitar344 View Post
The e string. How delicate are dulcimer strings?
Standard gauges for bluegrass mandolin are 11-40.

Three .012s and a .020 is a common set for mtn dulcimer.

Last edited by frankmcr; 02-21-2018 at 09:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-21-2018, 11:17 PM
jim1960 jim1960 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 5,961
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by guitar344 View Post
How long do they last? Are they delicate like mandolin strings?
That probably depends on how you play it. I play with a combination of fingerstyle and strumming but I do it all with fingers and my nails. I've never broken a string. If you're using some kind of plectrum, I suppose that would increase your chances.
__________________
Jim
2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi
2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood
2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar
2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce
2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce
1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce

along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos.

YouTube
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-22-2018, 12:41 AM
DenverSteve's Avatar
DenverSteve DenverSteve is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 11,893
Default

Yes they are. Don’t put them on your guitar.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-22-2018, 04:17 AM
icuker icuker is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 550
Default

I've never had any trouble and I use a pick most of the time. The strings on mine are fairly loose as it is.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-01-2018, 07:30 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chugiak, Alaska
Posts: 31,164
Default

The problem is that there’s very little that’s standardized about mountain dulcimers. I use an exceptionally heavy set on my stage dulcimers: .014’s on the double unisons, a .017 on the middle string, and a .026 wound on the bass. I have zero problem with breakage.

So not only do string gauges factor into this, so does scale length, and again there’s great variation in that.

If you use the wispy little gauges that most mountain dulcimer players use, yes, breakage can become a problem, particularly if the strings are on the instrument for months and months. But if you keep them at least somewhat fresh and use beefier gauges, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-28-2018, 11:46 AM
PHJim PHJim is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 667
Default

Since our local music stores don't carry dulcimer strings, I use medium banjo strings. I use the first and fifth for the first course, the second for my middle string and the fourth for the bass string.
Of course I have a pile of spare banjo 3rd strings.
I have never broken a dulcimer string, but have broken many guitar strings.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:42 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=