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Mountain dulcimer phaser type sound?

Hi all.

Just joined this group having started playing mountain dulcimer this weekend. I'm using a piece of oak as a noter and I'm getting weird phaser type sounds as I slide up and down the fretboard. Anyone know why that would be? I will add that I think the strings are quite old and I'm using an old oak handle from a pin hammer having sanded it clean and cut the hammer head off. Could it be one of these tgings causing it? It's not a horrible sound but I'd rather sort it if possible so I don't HAVE to have it all the time. I tried to upload a sound sample but was unsuccessful. It's almost exactly like a phaser type effect. Any help or ideas? I'd definitely appreciate it.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 6, 2016 at 8:04am

That's really helpful info QGolden. I'm planning on changing the strings next week when I can get some replacements and hopefully that will solve the problem. When I saw the dulcimer for sale on ebay uk I too thought it was a nice looking instrument. I couldn't afford the cost of even the cheapest new dulcimer listed on there so when I saw the bargain that it was I pretty much didn't think twice. Now I just need to learn to play it. Not so sure that I'm going to add the modern fret additions but may consider it when it needs refretting from wear. I'll check the state of the frets when I take the strings off to restring it as advised and go from there. Less frets probably means less wrong notes so that's great for me. I need all the playing help I can get! Thanks again for helping.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 6, 2016 at 8:58am

It seems Erasmo Coco has solved the problem. I just heard the same sound in an instructional video kindly shared in the comment section of my upload. Seems it's a natural sound from using a noter but perhaps more exaggerated due to old strings or poor playing skills even. Not knowing what a dulcimer should sound like I think I've assumed it to be an anomoly since it didn't sound like CBGs that I'm used to hearing. Still need new strings but it seems problem solved or even no problem in the first place lol!

Thanks Erasmo and thanks everyone for giving help so freely. You're all awesome. Much appreciated. I'll still report back once the strings are changed and let you know if I notice any change. Thanks again :)

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 15, 2016 at 8:15am

Fitted the new strings today and I'd say problem solved. Thanks for all of the help folks. Really appreciate it. New "problems" coming soon no doubt! Thanks again.

Permalink Reply by QGolden on September 15, 2016 at 2:53pm