New guy, new psaltery

[Ray Weston]

Hello!  I posted this elsewhere before finding my way here.  Please forgive the redundancy if you've read this before.

I'm a guitar and ukulele player and have just purchased a used bowed psaltery.  It's missing its bow and has one broken string, but otherwise, it appears to be in very good condition.  The length is 21" and the width is 8.25".  It has a dolphin sound hole and 25 plain strings, with plain non-ball ends.

The seller believes the psaltery was made by Spring River Dulcimers in Hardy, Arkansas but I can't find that maker mentioned anywhere.  The only dulcimer shop I can find in Hardy is Flat Creek Dulcimers but he doesn't recognize this psaltery from its description.

Based on my limited psaltery knowledge and the 25 string count, I'm guessing this is a soprano or perhaps an alto?  Although I've been told that there is no such thing as a soprano or alto BP, it's just in how it's tuned.

All of the strings on this instrument are pretty rusty and I'm considering replacing them to start fresh.  I appreciate that it will be a lot of work, but I think I can do it.  The question is the gauge of the strings.  I understand that a soprano (if that's what this is) should have .012" or maybe even .010" strings.  This BP has what I measure to be .017" - .020" strings.  Can that be right?

I'd like to locate the builder to confirm the string gauge he/she used.  Barring that, does anyone have any thoughts on what gauge the strings should be on this instrument?

Here's a picture:

Thanks for your thoughts and help, and Happy New Year!

 

Ray

[Bonnie Blue Crouse]

Welcome! What a great looking BP. You can get strings (and advice) from Greg & Tish at www.westmaninstruments.com. They have a workshop in Beckley, West Virginia at the Tamarack gallery. They teach as well as creating some wonderful instruments. They made my maple bowed psaltery to order and I am thrilled with it. They also produce an annual 4-day workshop for all player skill levels, culminating in a bowed psaltery symphony performance for the public. Maybe we'll see you there...?

[Charlie Marshall]

Ray,

It looks like you have a psaltery in what most of us would call an "alto" range.  I assume from your comment about rust on the strings that are solid wire and not phosphor bronze wound strings.

What is the string length of the shortest and longest strings?  Measure between the center of the hitch pin down to the center of the bridge to determine their length.  It appears, from the pin configuration, that your psaltery starts on a "F" 349.2Hz  (the longest string).  The shortest string will be an "E".  I think that the majority of psalteries built in recent years start on either a "G" or a "C" note but that doesn't mean yours is incorrect it just means the builder constructed it that way.

As far as the string diameter goes, I would recommend using two or three sizes.  I use .012 for the longer strings, .010 for the mid range and .008 inch for the highest range.  In order to accurately measure the string diameters you need dial calipers that will read down to .001".  If you plan on replacing the strings more than once in a while you may want to consider buying the wire in bulk.   Using bulk wire, rather than the ball end strings used in other instruments, will save you money in the long run and will give you lots of spare wire to practice tying your hitch pin knots.

If you're interested in seeing how the strings can be attached to the hitch pins, I have a short video on the subject that I could send you.  Plan on about 2 hours to restring and retune your psaltery.  Don't forget to get your tuning pins turned out to the same depth before you begin re-stringing.  I would also recommend replacing one string at a time to reduce the stress on the psaltery frame.  Remember that there may be a total of about 500 or 600 pounds of pull on the instrument when all the strings are up to their final pitch.

Good Luck 

 

[Ray Weston]

Hi Charlie.  I think my psaltery starts and ends on B:

.............................B
.......................A# Bb
...............................A
.....................G# Ab
.................................G
...................F# Gb
...................................F
....................................E
................D# Eb
......................................D
..............C# Db
........................................C
.........................................B
...........A# Bb
...........................................A
.........G# Ab
.............................................G
.......F# Gb
...............................................F
................................................E
....D# Eb
..................................................D
..C# Db
....................................................C
.....................................................B

I measured the strings the other day in an effort to figure out what to buy.  There doesn't seem to be any logic to the gauges.  Some higher pitched strings have larger diameter than other lower pitched strings.  Using a digital caliper, I measured gauges from 0.0170" to 0.0205".  The average gauge is 0.0183".  All of the strings are solid wire, none are wound.

I understand that a BP like mine would normally have 0.010" or 0.012" strings.  That's why I'm confused by the gauges I measured.

[Charlie Marshall]

Ray,

Take a look at the attached picture.  There are no "B" or 'E" notes on the left side of the psaltery.  That is why there are gaps in the pin spacing.  Just like a piano, the black keys are on the left side and the naturals are on the right.

The "F" note seems to be the only logical beginning note for the pin spacing on your psaltery.

[Ray Weston]

Charlie,

Thanks for straightening me out on that.  Shows what I know, eh?  I noticed the 2 and 3 groups of accidentals, assumed the pitch increased moving UP the instrument, and thus began my descent into psaltery ignorance. 

Your picture clarifies things.  I do have an F to F psaltery.

It sounds like I should buy and use bulk .012 wire for the lowest (longest) 1/3 of the strings, .010 for the next third and .008 for the rest.  It looks like buying 25' coils is still the best way to buy the wire.

If you have a video on tying the strings, I'd like to see it.

Thanks.

Ray

[Charlie Marshall]

Ray,

I need to make some updates to the re-stringing video but in the mean time you could go ahead and order the bulk wire that you mentioned in your last post.

I assume you already have a tuning tool and an electronic tuner for the project.

You will also need a "good" pair of small wire cutters for cutting the strings.  The music wire is very hard and will quickly dull cheap steel cutters.  A set of hemostats would also be handy but needle nosed pliers will also work.

[Charlie Marshall]

Ray,

I've posted a slide show (video) on Youtube at the following link:

http://youtu.be/dsRJwRR0fTg 

Also you should be able to find it on this site.

[NaloMeli]

Wow, very pretty. I love the sound hole, but to me (very much a beginner) it seems rather large. Hope you find your answers. I live in fear of one of my strings breaking. I can barely change my guitar stings.

Peace,

NaloMeli

[Charlie Marshall]

Ray,

Here's a follow-up photo attached to answer your question about the wraps on the tuning pegs.  

Charlie Marshall