Hey, Michael. Don't worry about "going over stuff other people have done better". Nobody on RUclips has done a video series better than yours. Thanks again!
I know just enough about creating instruments like the stick dulcimer to truly appreciate your craftsmanship and your generosity in sharing your knowledge. I watched every video in the series and enjoyed each one... and I learned a lot too. Thank you!
Just awesome, Michael!! I'm always amazed that such a small delicate instrument can put out such a powerful sound! Love the Eddie Van Halen hand-runs! :) Cheers!
Thanks Michael, such an informative series on stick dulcimer making, your videos are amazing. I am almost ready to string up my dulcimer after following your very detailed plans. Thank you. Next is the 5 string piccolo kantele. Will send you a video of how my dulcimer sounds when I get it together.
@LutherRay Thankyou very much for your compliments, The videos were a far bigger undertaking than I originally thought but it was worthwhile braking things down. I am very glad the videos have been an inspiration, you can see that It is just a series of smaller steps and you have the skills already it sounds, I wish you the best of luck!
Thank you Michael, a very interesting and informative series....I've learned a great deal and am hoping to apply some of that knowledge to making an Appalachian dulcimer.
Yes do try the lower tuning, you have a larger body on your instrument that should support a deeper sound. If the tuning is still an issue you can make a stepped mandolin type bridge to compensate all the strings, Simply measure the string length of each string when it is in tune with the octave harmonic as a reference and then file the wood bridge so the high point is individually set.
Thank you so much for posting these videos. After over a year full of stops, starts, ordering parts, and learning new techniques, (never mind how many times I've had to run back to RUclips to check to see if I'm doing something right!) I've finished a stick dulcimer of my own. It sounds and looks great. One question - is there a TAB somewhere, or name, for your 'theme song' that you use for your video series? It sounds great and would be nice to learn. Thanks again!
The ebony inlay gives a harder wearing strip without adding weight to the bridge, I feel its a nice aesthetic touch too. Acoustically I think a hard maple bridge works just as well without it, the strings don't seem to cut into the bridge too much. In the video I was very happy with the sound from the mock-up bridge I quickly made. Most Stick dulcimers have simple wood bridges, nothing. A Bone one will change the sound, making a harsher sound with steel strings,
Yes, they are really amazing, their small size and the sound, I am still suprised by the tones I can get from them!! I look forward to seeing your work!
Thank you Michael for sharing your knowledge. I have learned a great deal from your videos and and was inspired by them. I'm now about half way thru my first stick dulcimer. Best regards.
@arccertif Strumsticks were one of the first commercial stick dulcimers available and are a fantastic economical design and easy to make, their website has a video how they make them! ;)
@deathslice60 I have one available for sale now if you are interested ;) but I plan to just make 5-10 a year of these as I make many other kinds of instrument too.
How come everybody has to play that same damn song when playing a stick dulcimer/strumstick. Switch it up a little.... Though when I finally get my hands on one of these things I will have to teach myself the song but never play it again afterwards.
Hey, Michael. Don't worry about "going over stuff other people have done better". Nobody on RUclips has done a video series better than yours. Thanks again!
I know just enough about creating instruments like the stick dulcimer to truly appreciate your craftsmanship and your generosity in sharing your knowledge.
I watched every video in the series and enjoyed each one... and I learned a lot too. Thank you!
Excellent. I just came across this while looking for a plucking stick video. Now I have to watch the series.
Just awesome, Michael!! I'm always amazed that such a small delicate instrument can put out such a powerful sound! Love the Eddie Van Halen hand-runs! :) Cheers!
Thanks Michael, such an informative series on stick dulcimer making, your videos are amazing. I am almost ready to string up my dulcimer after following your very detailed plans. Thank you. Next is the 5 string piccolo kantele.
Will send you a video of how my dulcimer sounds when I get it together.
Many thanks! Look forward to seeing/hearing it
@LutherRay Thankyou very much for your compliments, The videos were a far bigger undertaking than I originally thought but it was worthwhile braking things down. I am very glad the videos have been an inspiration, you can see that It is just a series of smaller steps and you have the skills already it sounds, I wish you the best of luck!
Hi Michael,
Another great set of vids! Keep it up!
Sounds sweet!
Thank you Michael, a very interesting and informative series....I've learned a great deal and am hoping to apply some of that knowledge to making an Appalachian dulcimer.
Yes do try the lower tuning, you have a larger body on your instrument that should support a deeper sound. If the tuning is still an issue you can make a stepped mandolin type bridge to compensate all the strings, Simply measure the string length of each string when it is in tune with the octave harmonic as a reference and then file the wood bridge so the high point is individually set.
Thank you so much for posting these videos. After over a year full of stops, starts, ordering parts, and learning new techniques, (never mind how many times I've had to run back to RUclips to check to see if I'm doing something right!) I've finished a stick dulcimer of my own. It sounds and looks great.
One question - is there a TAB somewhere, or name, for your 'theme song' that you use for your video series? It sounds great and would be nice to learn.
Thanks again!
The ebony inlay gives a harder wearing strip without adding weight to the bridge, I feel its a nice aesthetic touch too. Acoustically I think a hard maple bridge works just as well without it, the strings don't seem to cut into the bridge too much. In the video I was very happy with the sound from the mock-up bridge I quickly made. Most Stick dulcimers have simple wood bridges, nothing. A Bone one will change the sound, making a harsher sound with steel strings,
Yes, they are really amazing, their small size and the sound, I am still suprised by the tones I can get from them!! I look forward to seeing your work!
Thank you Michael for sharing your knowledge. I have learned a great deal from your videos and and was inspired by them. I'm now about half way thru my first stick dulcimer. Best regards.
Thanks very much Joe, That means a lot. :-). Good luck with your build!
@michaeljking Try creating one with chromatic frets, and maybe and extra string and make it solid body. Electric dulcimer!
AMAZING!!
@arccertif Strumsticks were one of the first commercial stick dulcimers available and are a fantastic economical design and easy to make, their website has a video how they make them! ;)
Will you make more for people to buy or are you just doing a how to build? Either wa i loved it and the sound was amazing!
That's great, glad you enjoyed the series! I made a J E Thomas style Dulcimer once myself! Good luck!
@deathslice60 I have one available for sale now if you are interested ;) but I plan to just make 5-10 a year of these as I make many other kinds of instrument too.
Will tab this and do the video Tutorial just after Christmas ;-)
@Missioneer lol, The diatonic frets...Thats who I blame....see what happens when you get yours, post the video and let me know!!
@michaeljking Ahahaha I will consider :P
@fletcher3913 Thanks very much, that means a lot to me
How come everybody has to play that same damn song when playing a stick dulcimer/strumstick. Switch it up a little.... Though when I finally get my hands on one of these things I will have to teach myself the song but never play it again afterwards.