It has fairly good volume, no better or worse than the stick-thru's I have here to compare. You might be right about the string-tree thingy. It is strung with very light strings (I'd guess .022/.010 .014/.014 .010/.010 -- it was a while ago I strung it up) So no to the overtones and not any discernible undertones, either. Pickup - nope! Never have used one yet, but who can say?
Lucky, if I were to try the stick-on-box again, I'd put tiny spacers under the stick so they don't contact the entire length of the box but only at the assembly points. I think that will give better resonance and more volume. That's how mountain dulcimers are often made, like member David Beede does.
But only a build test will tell! Bonehead puts his sticks on the box/tin/toy piano all the time and I'm not sure if he uses spacers or not. Hafta go look for myself, now!
Appearance wise, I am putting the stick through the box lately. Leave the box free to be what it is.
Diane, now that you have built dulcimers both ways stick-on-box, and stick-thru-box, does it make any difference sound wise or is it more of an appearance thing?
Comments
Brilliant!
Nope, this is all I have:
But only a build test will tell! Bonehead puts his sticks on the box/tin/toy piano all the time and I'm not sure if he uses spacers or not. Hafta go look for myself, now!
Appearance wise, I am putting the stick through the box lately. Leave the box free to be what it is.
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