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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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.
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.
SSshhheeeooooot! Your over our heads Diane, this is a junk build site. We are barely house broke here, and your throwing around words like micro tunning and sympathetic strings,, That is some advanced music technology you playing with there, we might get hurt venturing into that world from here.
Sympathetic strings are strings that sense when you don't play so well , and just join in to make you sound better... hahahaha
Actually , we played the Sitar back in the 60's, the sympathetic strings sounded sorta' nice especially when you gave em a swipe like a harp, added a little something , but were a "mother" to tune ... I'm sorta leaning to a double neck CBG with those I-V bass strings sorta' like this guy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7KbpdmgVIg
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I know it is probably a fantasy of mine, but often, with sympathetic strings, I hear "Modern Jazz" overtones/harmonies.
Could be fun.
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.
Actually , we played the Sitar back in the 60's, the sympathetic strings sounded sorta' nice especially when you gave em a swipe like a harp, added a little something , but were a "mother" to tune ... I'm sorta leaning to a double neck CBG with those I-V bass strings sorta' like this guy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7KbpdmgVIg
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