plucked psaltery plans, anyone?

Subject: BS: plucked psaltry plans, anyone?
From: Chip2447
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:27 AM

Hey folks,
    Does any one have any plans to build a plucked Psaltry? Or am I gonna have to just muddle my way through and build by trial and error?

Thanks in advance,
Chip2447

Subject: RE: BS: plucked psaltry plans, anyone?
From: number 6
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:34 AM

Why don't ya just go out and buy one?

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: plucked psaltry plans, anyone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 03:52 AM

I've got one and just sent a smaller one off to a friend in CT who wants to make her own, too. The smaller one works well for kids and she works with kids, so is hoping to make a few. She used to work at Guild Guitar so knows a fair bit.

I bought the smaller one from a grandpa on ebay. He started out making them for grandkids, then local stores, then went *global*. Looks pretty siple and sounds great.

I think it was Art Thieme who first posted a link to this guy's site. If he doens't have plans, I'll bet he knows someone who does, or there is one in his links. He's even got a *simple* hurdy-gurdy one can supposedly make in a weekend!

Good luck!

Subject: RE: plucked psaltry plans, anyone?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 11:15 AM

my first experience of hearing bowed psaltry
was in an afternoon early music instruments workshop
in a small hall near bradford when i was a teenager nearly 30 yrs ago..

not even the most abrasive and vile northern punk rock bands
could compete to hurt ears as viciously as that evil instrument..!!!


last week i went out of nostalgic curiosity to a Yetties gig..

one instrumental was expertly played on an a bowed psaltry
miked up through a PA..

either i'm a lot deafer now.. or what !!??

but i really enjoyed hearing it..???
and want one of my own to learn on..

only thing is.. can you get bigger fuller toned bowed psaltrys

tuned down an octave or 2.. maybe a baritone psaltry..

cos i think it would be a more usefull sound
in a band conrext
and a lot safer for my hearing..?

Subject: RE: plucked psaltry plans, anyone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 11:29 AM

Apparently so, pfr, according to this page there is a baritone bowed psaltery for USD$225. I love their sound, but I've heard they take a LOT of tuning! I've used a bowed psaltery bow on my lap dulcimer and it sounds really kewl, too.

Perhaps your hearing has *matured*?:-)

kat

Subject: RE: plucked psaltery plans, anyone?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 08:52 PM

Tuning a psaltery would be no worse than tuning a hammered dulcimer. In fact a triple strung hammered dulcimer has a hell of a lot of strings...