New Finch Model Solid Top Hammered Dulcimers!

This is the 17/16/8 Chromatic version of the new Finch model we have been working on for most of the past year.  Both this and the 16/15 version are now available and ready to go. Check their respective pages on the web site, http://www.songbirdhd.com We are very proud of them! Here is a link to a video of this one being played, please check it out. This is the sound!  https://youtu.be/CgAj5uyUJzs

The problem with solid wood is it expands or contracts across the grain with changes in humidity in the environment. This puts a lot of stress on an instrument with a wide top like a hammered dulcimer, and can result in all kinds of problems like cracks, warps, and not staying in tune. But the top of the new Finch model is composed of 7 individual narrow boards connected by tight fitting tongue and groove joints. The joints are not glued which allows each individual board to expand or contract as it needs with changes in humidity without putting stress on the overall instrument. This results in a much happier, more stable instrument. It works great! We have thoroughly tested them in all situations, and believe that this is how solid top hammered dulcimers should be built. 

Credit, where credit is due, this is not my idea, it was given to me, here is how it happened. My aunt passed away in early February and we needed to go to the funeral in Des Moines 150 miles away. Since it was scheduled for 8:00 AM we had to go the day before and stay overnight. We wound up in a really bad motel. The bed was just awful and I wasn't sleeping well. I dreamed this dulcimer. It was vivid and went on all night, by morning I had it all worked out. I woke up and told Melanie about it and she knew right away things would change. This was not something I had been mulling over, or was even concerned about, it came right out of the blue. I know it came from outside me and was given to me for whatever reason. Since I am a believer, I think it came from above and am just humbly grateful.  

This has been fun! It took most of the summer to work it out, and I almost gave up several times but the final design turned out exactly like the dream with tongue and groove joints milled on the edges of the boards. We tried 8 different woods. They all worked, but Walnut is the best. All the sound holes need to be in the back, cutting a sound hole in the top would compromise the structure. Top is solid Walnut, the frame is Hard Maple, bridges are Cherry, the binding is Curly Maple, and the back is birch ply for durability.  I posted a photo essay of how and why these dulcimers are built on the Notes From The Shop blog on our web site.

Prices: 17/16/8 Finch Chromatic $825.00 plus shipping.  Finch Chromatic Complete Outfit $950.00 plus shipping.  16/15 Finch $674.00 plus shipping.  16/15 Finch Complete Outfit $799.00 plus shipping.  Take these anywhere, they will require no special care or environment to be in.  Trip to Death Valley? No problem. Going to the Amazon? Take it along, it will take it in stride and just sound and play great. Anybody going to Antarctica? We'd like to send one along.

Thanks!
Chris Foss www.songbirdhd.com  chris@songbirdhd.com 563-571-5296

Electric Hammered Dulcimer

We have been working on this for a year, and it is now ready!  All electric hammered dulcimer with second generation sensors in the side rods.  The dampers are Cimbalom style.  They are ON until you depress the pedal to lift them OFF the strings.  Much more sensitive and intuitive than the regular American type hammered dulcimer dampers.

Check out the video!
https://youtu.be/jQtUe1FSqjk

There is a world of beautiful sounds out there to explore that can only be made by a hammered dulcimer.  The key of course is what you run the dulcimer through, and your understanding.  In the video, I am using a Marshall tube amp on only the clean channel along with several guitar effects, but you can do this other ways.  A modeling amp with all the effects built in would work great as would an all in one multi effects processor and a basic amp.  All this and more can also be done in the computer with no amp or effects.  Many basic amps also have the most useful effects built in, reverb, chorus and delay are in many amps, so you plug the preamp straight in to the amp and have much of this.

We are ready to start selling these, starting at $1500.00 for dulcimer plus case, hammers, tuning wrench and tuning diagram.  If you don't already have a good mono preamp, we can also supply you with the LR Baggs Paracoustic DI that I highly recommend.  This dulcimer is Cherry and Maple, but we can do them in most any wood.  If you are interested or have any questions whatever, our email is chris@songbirdhd.com, or just give us a call.  563-571-5296

Thanks!
Chris Foss

Electrified Dulcimers

I have always believed that the right way to amplify a hammered dulcimer is with a microphone.  This will still be true in many cases, but in situations like church bands with high sound pressures from electric guitars, drums, etc, it is difficult to get enough volume to be heard without feedback.  I have been working on how to properly amplify a hammered dulcimer with installed pickups and have it worked out.  The above photo is of my totally electric test bed dulcimer.  This is an early photo, and shows a couple Schatten pickups clamped on.  Since then I have worked out how to make a better set of pickups, and where to install them, both on the above dulcimer and inside normal acoustic dulcimers.  The key is don't put them on the top or back.  There will be at least two sweet spots somewhere on the rail set that will produce good warm acoustic sound with little feedback.  They sound just great and at high volumes!  Plus, now that we have an electric signal, it can be modified in many ways for cool new sounds never before heard.  The wonderful world of guitar effects pedals is wide open to us!  Exploring what can be done is so much fun!  I intend to make a video on this when I get some time.

We are ready to start installing pickup systems in dulcimers.  In new dulcimers where we can install the system as we are building them, the charge will be $150.00.  There will be two pickups wired to a stereo jack.  We have found that this type pickup works best if the signals from each is preamped separately.  The best preamp is the Schatten Mini Pre 2 which has internal gain adjustment and two separate gain knobs one for each pickup.  You can set the output of each pickup for best balance and sound.  We are a dealer for Schatten, and can supply you with the preamp plus a 3' stereo patch cord for $100.00.  The output jack on the preamp is mono, so just a standard guitar cord from there into an amp or into the house sound system.  The pre amp doesn't have any tone controls, but the sound coming from the dulcimer is good enough that it doesn't need it.  It is warm and rich as is.  The amp or house sound will have enough tone control if the sound needs changing a little.

We can also retrofit pickup systems into any Songbird dulcimer, so if you want to ship us your dulcimer, we can do it for $150.00 plus return shipping.  It will involve making an access port in the back of the dulcimer which will be then covered with an inlaid screw on access plate.  So a new hole in your dulcimer, but covered so it doesn't change the resonance.  The jack will be on the far left of the lower rail, out of your way for playing.

If you are thinking about a small amp for electric playing, I recommend an acoustic guitar amp.  They produce the widest range of frequencies and have more headroom so they won't distort (unless you want them to).  You will want to make sure your amp has a LINE OUT jack on it for connecting to house sound.  Also, if you want to play around with effects pedals (too much fun) the amp should have an effects loop (2 jacks, effects send and return).

We will eventually make a page for the web site with all this and buy now buttons, etc., but until then, if you are interested you'll have to contact us directly.  email chris@songbirdhd.com  Phone 563-571-5296