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Summary of Contents for Musicmaker’s Kits 12/11
- Page 1 12/11 Solid Top Hammered Dulcimer Musicmaker's Kits Inc. P.O. Box 2117 Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 439 9120 www.harpkit.com...
- Page 2 12/11 HAMMERED DULCIMER KIT Parts List: 1 Soundboard (1/4" solid wood) 1 Back (1/4" plywood) 1 Front rail (longest) 1 Rear rail (shortest) 4 Inner braces 2 Pinblocks (right & left) 2 Wood dowels (1/4" dia, 12" long) 2 Wood dowels (1/4" dia, 14" long)
- Page 3 _____3. Place the two laminated maple PINBLOCKS BACK, so that they line up with the edges of the plywood. Note that right-hand pinblock longer than the left. When satisfied with the fit, glue the PINBLOCKS to the BACK, using clamps to hold the parts together firmly until dry.
- Page 4 _____6. Test fit the INNER BRACES. They have been cut to fit with pre-determined spaces between them, as shown. Again, these braces should not touch the PINBLOCKS. When positioned correctly, outline each piece with a pencil, as you will need to remove some and put them back in the same place.
- Page 5 HINT: We like to cut a couple of scrap pieces of 2 X 4 material, each about 14" long. Lay these across the braces and clamp each end, as shown, so they hold the braces firmly in place until dry. Small sections of INNER BRACING may have to be glued clamped...
- Page 6 CAUTION: If using a router on this box, be careful not to let the router bit “fall into” the gaps in the sides. A good way to prevent this from happening is to clamp a guide fence to the router base, as shown here.
- Page 7 IF YOU ORDERED A PARTIALLY ASSEMBLED KIT, BEGIN WORKING HERE: ____13. Use a medium (150 grit) sandpaper to smooth out all surfaces so they feel good to your hand. Work the sandpaper with the grain so you don't scratch the surface. Carefully check all the joints and glue seams to remove any glue residue that might remain visible, because that will show up as ugly smudges under the finish.
- Page 8 ____18. Don't forget to apply finish to the maple bridges and the playing hammers too! ____19. Once the finish is dry, you can install the hardware. The 46 holes along the right side of the box are for the threaded tuning pins. Insert these pins right-side up (that is, THREADED END FIRST) into the holes using a hammer to tap them until they are about half-way in (the small hole should be about 1/4"...
- Page 9 ____24. Locate the coil of wire marked #9 (.022") and pull out about 8 feet from one end. This will be used for the longest course (pair) of strings at the front of the instrument. Here is how to install it: a) Poke the end of the wire into, but not so far through that it could poke your finger, the small hole in the lowest tuning pin at the lower right corner of the dulcimer.
- Page 10 MARKED #7 (.018") FOR THIS COURSE. Attach this wire in the same way as you installed the first pair, following steps "a" through "h", and using the last pair of tuning pins on the right and the last hitch pin on the left. ____26.
- Page 11 IMPORTANT: One end of the bass bridge is marked with an inlay dot at the very end (on top of the last "leg"). That end should be placed toward the front of the instrument, for the longest string. ____30. When satisfied with the placement, lay the black delrin in its groove on the bridge, and hold...
- Page 12 HINT: We find the easiest way to put the string under the treble bridge is to put a bend in the wire about 3' from the end, then push that bend under the treble bridge and hook it around the hitch pin.
- Page 13 The FIFTH INTERVAL is the span between "do" and "sol" on the scale. So if you pluck the string on the right side of the bridge and consider that note as "do", then you can sing "do, re, mi, fa, sol" and check to see if the note on the left side of the bridge (same string) matches the note "sol".
- Page 14 IMPORTANT! Be careful to check that you are turning the proper pin for the string you wish to tune. Then pluck the string and turn the pin while string is still vibrating so you can hear the pitch change and you can stop turning when you reach the proper tone. Tune all the strings that cross the bass bridge, according to the tuning chart (note that you must skip every other pair of pins on your way toward the rear of the instrument).
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Page 15: Tone Adjustments
CARE AND FEEDING OF A HAMMERED DULCIMER STRINGS: You should not need to replace the strings of your instrument unless they break or become rusty. To prevent rusting, I simply wipe the strings occasionally with a rag dipped in household oil. TUNING PINS: Occasionally we hear from someone whose tuning pins have rusted. - Page 16 We carry a number of items to help you enjoy playing this unusual instrument. Here is a brief list of accessories – please refer to our website our catalog for current pricing. Pair double-side hammers Gig bag for 12/11 Hammered Dulcimer Electronic Tuner (chromatic) External Pickup & Cord for Tuner Scissor Stand kit, 25”...
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