Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 11, 2016 Moderators Share Posted January 11, 2016 So I was just reading about guitars in another thread and it got me thinking: Anyone know much about hammered dulcimers? Here's my story: Just before Christmas, an antique store in our nearby town of Susanville was closing, and in the window they had what looked like an older, possibly home-made hammered dulcimer. No damage to it, though the soundboard has a bit of a warp to it. It doesn't look like it will cause any problems, and sits well below the strings. Anyways, they were selling it for $56, and well, a low end new dulcimer will run you well over $400. So I figured, what the hey! and I bought it. It actually came with a discount since they were closing the next day, and I got it for the grand total of $36. However, now I I have a dulcimer I know nothing about. I need to get hammers for it, and I think change all the strings, (which cast as little as $60 for a set!), then the tools for tuning it, and then, I have to learn to both tune AND play it. So does anyone know much about them? Have a spare set of hammers? Advice? Of course I could always paint it and turn it into a wall hanger, for the price I paid. Invicta 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators OLD fashioned preacher Posted January 11, 2016 Moderators Share Posted January 11, 2016 I may be mistaken, but I believe the hammered dulcimer is one of the 11+ instruments that Musician4God1611 plays. If he doesn't show up on here by Friday, I'll try to remember to call him and ask him to zip in on this thread. Ukulelemike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invicta Posted January 11, 2016 Members Share Posted January 11, 2016 37 minutes ago, Ukulelemike said: So I was just reading about guitars in another thread and it got me thinking: Anyone know much about hammered dulcimers? Here's my story: Just before Christmas, an antique store in our nearby town of Susanville was closing, and in the window they had what looked like an older, possibly home-made hammered dulcimer. No damage to it, though the soundboard has a bit of a warp to it. It doesn't look like it will cause any problems, and sits well below the strings. Anyways, they were selling it for $56, and well, a low end new dulcimer will run you well over $400. So I figured, what the hey! and I bought it. It actually came with a discount since they were closing the next day, and I got it for the grand total of $36. However, now I I have a dulcimer I know nothing about. I need to get hammers for it, and I think change all the strings, (which cast as little as $60 for a set!), then the tools for tuning it, and then, I have to learn to both tune AND play it. So does anyone know much about them? Have a spare set of hammers? Advice? Of course I could always paint it and turn it into a wall hanger, for the price I paid. A number of years ago well probably a few decades, probably in the 1980s our family went through a village not too far from here and it was the village fete. As we walked into the village, three young lads, probably not more that 16 y.o. were busking. One was playing a violin, the second a guitar and the third a hammered dulcimer. I thought the sound of it was amazing. When we got to the village square there was a large platform where the was an accordion band playing. I think some other bands played , then one known as the Claw Hammer Band was due to play, but they had disbanded. They were known as Claw Hammer Band due to their tailed coats which were supposed to resemble claw hammers. As a result they had a gap in the programme and someone suggested getting these three young lads to play. They did play and got a good reception and their first public performance. Possibly their only one. That is my only experience of that instrument. I believe it is similar to the hammered psaltry. I have a bowed psaltry but has a broken string and I cannot find a replacement so has not been used for some years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musician4God1611 Posted January 11, 2016 Members Share Posted January 11, 2016 Hey UKMike do you have a picture of it. It's been awhile since I played one. Hammered Dulcimers come in both Chromatic and Diatonic Scales. I'm guessing yours is diatonic if you got it for that price. I'll look around and see if I can find some hammers, but don't rule out Ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 11, 2016 Author Moderators Share Posted January 11, 2016 1 hour ago, Musician4God1611 said: Hey UKMike do you have a picture of it. It's been awhile since I played one. Hammered Dulcimers come in both Chromatic and Diatonic Scales. I'm guessing yours is diatonic if you got it for that price. I'll look around and see if I can find some hammers, but don't rule out Ebay. Yes, I've looked-there are lots available, but they seem to want a lot for a couple fancy sticks. Yes, I know they have to be the right shape and length, but I'd like to find some simple ones just for practice. And I will get a pic up of it tonight. At work now. Thanks 3 hours ago, Invicta said: A number of years ago well probably a few decades, probably in the 1980s our family went through a village not too far from here and it was the village fete. As we walked into the village, three young lads, probably not more that 16 y.o. were busking. One was playing a violin, the second a guitar and the third a hammered dulcimer. I thought the sound of it was amazing. When we got to the village square there was a large platform where the was an accordion band playing. I think some other bands played , then one known as the Claw Hammer Band was due to play, but they had disbanded. They were known as Claw Hammer Band due to their tailed coats which were supposed to resemble claw hammers. As a result they had a gap in the programme and someone suggested getting these three young lads to play. They did play and got a good reception and their first public performance. Possibly their only one. That is my only experience of that instrument. I believe it is similar to the hammered psaltry. I have a bowed psaltry but has a broken string and I cannot find a replacement so has not been used for some years. I got to enjoying the HD back when I ran into a fellow named The Legendary Big Gerry, (A big furry man in a wee cap), at a local craft show, and I bought his CD. I have since run into him a couple times since-he plays Civil War music, sea shanties, traditional Celtic music, and other music styles. I'd really like to get my wife interested in playing it so we can do HD and Ukulele together, which I think would sound nice. Invicta 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 11, 2016 Author Moderators Share Posted January 11, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5EkzX--uO8 Alan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members heartstrings Posted January 11, 2016 Members Share Posted January 11, 2016 All I know is they sound really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alan Posted January 12, 2016 Members Share Posted January 12, 2016 Ukelemike, Thanks for the finding that video on the dulcimer on youtube. Maybe one day you will treat us with a song? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 12, 2016 Author Moderators Share Posted January 12, 2016 10 hours ago, Alan said: Ukelemike, Thanks for the finding that video on the dulcimer on youtube. Maybe one day you will treat us with a song? On dulcimer? probably going to be a long time. Alan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 2bLikeJesus Posted January 13, 2016 Members Share Posted January 13, 2016 Just so long as when you get good and using your Hammered Dulcimer you don't change Ukulelemike to "Hammeredmike". That name could raise a few eyebrows. heartstrings, No Nicolaitans and HappyChristian 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 13, 2016 Author Moderators Share Posted January 13, 2016 Dulcimike? It is funny, on a Ukulele forum I am on, I started out as Ukulelemike, but there was a Ukulele Mike, as well, and there came up a (playful) dispute over who was the originator, so I threw out to the other members to find a new name. Since they knew about my raising livestock, as well, they voted at one that I would be called "Goaticus". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musician4God1611 Posted January 13, 2016 Members Share Posted January 13, 2016 What kind of price are you looking at Ukulelemike? I found some reasonable stuff at http://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/ and they handle everything hammered dulcimer and harp, so you can get your tuning wrench and everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ukulelemike Posted January 13, 2016 Author Moderators Share Posted January 13, 2016 I actually went and looked over their site-lots of good things. I guess I'm just not going to get a "cheap" set, but I guess that's fine. I will probably go there and get the least expensive pair, just for learning purposes, as well as the tighteners, and see where it goes from there. Its old enough I will probably need a set of strings, which will cost more than the instrument did in the first place. Man, I hate restringing the ukulele with four strings-I can't imagine restringing that beast. Musician4God1611 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musician4God1611 Posted January 14, 2016 Members Share Posted January 14, 2016 20 hours ago, Ukulelemike said: I actually went and looked over their site-lots of good things. I guess I'm just not going to get a "cheap" set, but I guess that's fine. I will probably go there and get the least expensive pair, just for learning purposes, as well as the tighteners, and see where it goes from there. Its old enough I will probably need a set of strings, which will cost more than the instrument did in the first place. Man, I hate restringing the ukulele with four strings-I can't imagine restringing that beast. Just be glad it's not a piano! Invicta and Ukulelemike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members heartstrings Posted January 14, 2016 Members Share Posted January 14, 2016 Re-stringing my 12-string is a beast too. I have Elixir nanowebs on it. Use them on all my guitars. Have you checked Ebay? http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROOSEBECK-HAMMERED-DULCIMER-STRING-SET-20-STRINGS-/351429301142?hash=item51d2d19396:g:hf0AAOSwKIpWBEHa Ukulelemike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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