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sympatheic strings?

On the thread about microtuning there was a link to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crSi9IxPfYA with about a zillion sympathetic strings. Sort of like a string bass/sitar blend.

I have also been studying this instrument, a bowed dulcimer with sympathetic strings running UNDER the fingerboard:

http://www.boweddulcimer.com/product-Hardanger.htm

Has anyone here tried sympathetic strings and can share design ideas and potential roadblocks?

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on September 13, 2009 at 4:59pm

Diane said:

Yes, but if I try it on a cigar box, can't I stay?

A new revolution might have just started. Maybe we could get Shane in on this!

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Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on September 13, 2009 at 5:02pm

Paul Doug said:

People feel sympathy for my strings everytime I try to play something. Does that count?

Maybe we could record a song called "Sympathy for the Cigar Box"! HA!!

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Permalink Reply by Will Carter on September 13, 2009 at 5:48pm

Mark Deutch is amazing..glad to see he has arrived at CBN. Hollow neck instruments must be soooo difficult to make, the bazantar which is a cross between a sitar and a heavily adapted double bass has 50 + strings... but on a steel frame to take the huge amount of tension. Should work well on a cigar box Diane - so I can't wait to see your efforts!

The Sympitar design I think incorporates twin truss rods with the channel for the sympathetics in between - so in the prelim stage I would go for a neck on top of box dulcimer approach until convinced it won't implode! The funny end of the problem I think would have to be where to put all the machine heads?? I tried zither pins but tuning is a nightmare..

Sounds like fun - I actually bought a double bass after seeing the Bazantar vid - but haven't built my add on/ plug in bass sitar component (plus I can't play it, or have an ear sharp enough to appreciate the indian scales etc) - the sheer size of the instrument is like playing a cupboard with strings, while rowing it across a river...but it would allow for easy modification as there is plenty of room to move..so I guess go bigger rather than smaller first out..good luck mate.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on September 14, 2009 at 1:50am

I am just finishing an $2 Op shop guitar conversion to a Hurdy gurdy. It will have two drones and my friend is encouraging me to add sympathetic strings too. A number of Early Music instruments had sympathetic strings, they seem to add to the warmth of the instrument and depending on how they are tuned can have a pleasant or even "weird" effect on the tune you are playing.

I know it is probably a fantasy of mine, but often, with sympathetic strings, I hear "Modern Jazz" overtones/harmonies.

Could be fun.