fretted dulcimer tuning question

Subject: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 10:36 AM

I have a McSpadden fretted dulcimer which is maybe five years old. There is a problem I have had with it for some time. This is the problem. I play it D-A-A. One of the A's is the melody string, the others are accompaniment.

All three strings have a problem, but I will use the A melody string to describe it. When I tune it to A and then move up the scale, the notes get sharper and sharper. My low B and high B are 15 cents off. This is definitely enough out of tune to be noticed. (I have a friend who tunes pianos, and she tells me that trained players usually call her in when a piano is 5 cents off.)

Putting on new strings does not solve the problem.

I have talked to a couple of dealers, and they say it is highly unlikely that the frets are in the wrong place. They also say that the fret spacing should be the same for D-A-A and D-A-D. What else can be causing this?

By the way, I sent McSpadden an inquiry once, and they never answered.

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: GUEST,nickp (cookieless)
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 10:51 AM

Yes, fret spacing should be the same whatever tuning you use. On any other instrument I'd say the bridge/saddle had moved - or was in the wrong place to start with.

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:08 AM

If the Harmonic (Mid point on the string ) differs from the note when fretted at the nearest fret , the bridge is in the wrong place

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: oggie
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:09 AM

Reset the bridge position by tuning the harmonic at the octave (ie the octave shuld sound the same when played fretted or as a harmonic) Then recheck your scale. If it's still out then either the action is so high that it's causing the deviation or the frets are wrong.

Steve

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:12 AM

Bridge and saddle? Are those the white plastic pieces with the slots in them? They are socked into the neck and do not wiggle at all. So I don't think they've moved.

It could indded be that one or both is in the wrong place, and I will keep that in mind.

Any other thoughts?

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: s&r
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:39 AM

I had just this problem with a fretted dulcimer. I had to fill the bridge slot, and cut a new one about 5mm further down. Checked everything, not really believing that it would be made wrongly, but it was.

Since then I've had to fit a zero fret to a Gianinni guitar, and had to reduce the first fret length on a Lanakai ukulele.

Stu

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: Sean Belt
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 11:44 AM

Leeneia,

Most McSpadden dulcimers have what's called a compensated bridge (this is the white plastic piece furthest from the tuning pegs). They set them up specifically for DAA or DAD tuning. Try retuning to DAD and see if that helps the intonation issues on the melody string(s). If you find that the intonation up the neck is better in DAD than in DAA tuning, then that's likely the issue.

My resolution to this, because I retune frequently between DAD, DAA, DGD, EAE, etc. is to have had a non-compensated bridge installed on my McSpadden.

If that's not the issue, then it could be that the bridge and/or nut (the nut is the white plastic piece nearest the tuners) may be too high. A good luthier/ stringed instrument repair person can take care of that for you.

I suppose it could also be that the frets are placed incorrectly. That happens if the instrument was built from a kit rather than manufactured by McSpadden. I've never seen it on a factory installed job, though.

Hope this all helps.

- Sean R-B

Subject: RE: fretted dulcimer tuning question
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Oct 07 - 03:06 PM

1. "They set them up specifically for DAA or DAD tuning."

Aha! You are the first person who has said, this, Sean. I just tried tuning an A string to D, and it seemed to be okay. Trouble is, I'm sure I've tried this before and it hasn't helped much. (Strings are brand new today.)

2. Mine was factory-made, not from a kit.

3. Question - if I've bought strings that are slightly heavier guage than planned for, would they 'sit too high' in the slots and be out of tune?

I'm asking various questions as a way of exploring and learning here, as well as trying to solve this particular problem.