Lego dulcimer

Subject: Lego dulcimer
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 08:36 PM

I was surfing the NPR website under "Music" and came on this story:

"Weekend Edition - Sunday, February 6, 2005 · The traditional mountain dulcimer, with its strings stretched the length of an oblong wood box, provides a distinctive profile that has endured for generations.

Dulcimer enthusiast Peter Alway of Ann Arbor, Mich., cast aside tradition to build the instrument out of Legos.

And it works, as he demonstrates for Sheilah Kast."

Anybody we know???

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:30 AM

gobsmacked!

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Kaleea
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:23 AM

Golly! I have a couple of Mountain Dulcimers, & a Canjimer (Dulcimer fningerboard with a big can for a sound box) or two, but no legos. Looks like fun.

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 02:47 PM

Pretty kewl! Sounds a little flat, but it does look like fun. I can imagine how it could spark children's interest, too.

That other link, to the article about the Tennessee Music Box was really interesting, too!

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:17 PM

I know someone else made a baby grand piano out of legos too.

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:20 PM

Looks interesting - can't imagine the fret spacing will work though.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,Russ.
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 05:21 PM

It "works."

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 08:09 PM

Kaleea, we have a small mountain of Lego... care to come and try?

LTS

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 08:33 PM

now thats the real true DIY cheap'n'gaudy
yet at the same time mimimalistic and functional punkfolk ethic..

i want a red and yellow lego electric autoharp..!!

so i wonder what that guy can do with old Transformer robot toys..?

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:20 AM

As the proud owner of most of Hogwarts Castle in Lego, we can probably do you something in a tasteful beige and sage.....?

LTS

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 04:34 AM

OK, has anybody got a link to the plans?

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 04:59 PM

I just noticed that there's now a link to the builder's "Building a Lego Dulcimer" site. And, I have to admit that I didn't actually listed to the sound clip the first time around. Now that I have, I'm really impressed!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,Peter Alway
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 09:29 PM

"Anybody we know???"

I don't think so. I hang out at Everythingdulcimer.com

"Sounds a little flat, but it does look like fun."

Yeah, there are problems with string tension. It takes a very light touch. Also the fret spacing problem probably hurt it.

"I know someone else made a baby grand piano out of legos too."

I found a lego harpsichord online, and I suspect that's what you mean. It had some useful ideas for holding the strings on the dulcimer

"Looks interesting - can't imagine the fret spacing will work though."

That was an interesting problem. By having a 72-stud fretboard, I was able to hit a lot of the ratios for unequal temperament (like a fifth being a 2:3 ratio). I actually stopped adding frets where the poor spacing started to offend my ears. Fortunately I can play plenty of tunes on the available frets

"now thats the real true DIY cheap'n'gaudy
yet at the same time mimimalistic and functional punkfolk ethic.."

Ooh, a minimalistic punkfolk ethic! I had no clue that I would ever be that cool!

"OK, has anybody got a link to the plans?"

Plans? uh, I guess my site at http://members.aol.com/petealway/Lego-dulcimer.htm is as close to plans as you will find.

I will mention that I have to play very softly because the tuning pegs can't hold much tension. It actually sounded better on NPR than in real life because they could put the mike a quarter inch from a soundhole, so I could play very gently.

Peter Alway

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 10:19 PM

Hey, thanks for the responses, Peter! Welcome to Mudcat!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 10:57 PM

Thanks for responding here Peter. I would like to duplicate this (I am in Australia), but will have to look harder to see if I can reverse engineer it from what info you have there...

BTW, you wouldn't just happen to have the lego harpsichord link handy would you?

I had given some thought to a Lego Symphonie - a small form of Hurdy Gurdy.

Robin

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 12:52 AM

Peter's got the harpsichord link on his site, but here 'tis, too.

~ B in T

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: Gypsy
Date: 17 Feb 05 - 10:39 PM

leggo my dulcimer!

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,Peter Alway
Date: 18 Feb 05 - 12:23 AM

Foolestroupe, don't be shy about emailing me with specific questions. You can reach me at petealway (at) aol (dot) com.
Peter Alway

Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer
From: GUEST,foolestroupe - "I come fru da window!"
Date: 18 Feb 05 - 06:10 AM

Thanks, Peter, but I am busy enough at the moment...