The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #8540   Message #53405
Posted By: Art Thieme
11-Jan-99 - 11:22 AM
Thread Name: Anyone else playing strange instruments?
Subject: RE: Anyone else playing strange instruments?
STAR WARS METAL LUNCHBOX MOUNTAIN DULCIMER

I've made a mountain dulcimer out of a Star Wars lunchbox (metal) fitted with a fretboard/neck (wooden). Has 3 strings. Is fretted with staples put into the wood with a regular stapler. (If you get 'em in the wrong place, and the intonation is wrong, you can simply pull 'em out by inserting a screwdriver under the staple and gently prying. Then (by ear) put another one in again. Do that while the one fretted string (the first string) is in it's proper place so you can check the intonation right away.

I've also put an electric pickup on it & used it in school show for 22 years to show kids that we, like the pioneers, can STILL make music using what we have all around us. They did it from necessity. We do it for fun and for levity.

Art