|
14 Feb 05 - 08:36 PM (#1409961) Subject: Lego dulcimer From: Desert Dancer I was surfing the NPR website under "Music" and came on this story: "Weekend Edition - Sunday, February 6, 2005 ยท 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 |
|
15 Feb 05 - 03:30 AM (#1410186) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Red and White Rabbit gobsmacked! |
|
15 Feb 05 - 04:23 AM (#1410228) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Kaleea 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. |
|
15 Feb 05 - 02:47 PM (#1410786) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: katlaughing 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 |
|
15 Feb 05 - 05:17 PM (#1410990) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,Blackcatter I know someone else made a baby grand piano out of legos too. |
|
15 Feb 05 - 05:20 PM (#1410996) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Geoff the Duck Looks interesting - can't imagine the fret spacing will work though. Quack! GtD. |
|
15 Feb 05 - 05:21 PM (#1410999) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,Russ. It "works." |
|
15 Feb 05 - 08:09 PM (#1411248) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Liz the Squeak Kaleea, we have a small mountain of Lego... care to come and try? LTS |
|
15 Feb 05 - 08:33 PM (#1411283) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker 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..? |
|
16 Feb 05 - 03:20 AM (#1411554) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Liz the Squeak As the proud owner of most of Hogwarts Castle in Lego, we can probably do you something in a tasteful beige and sage.....? LTS |
|
16 Feb 05 - 04:34 AM (#1411602) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: The Fooles Troupe OK, has anybody got a link to the plans? |
|
16 Feb 05 - 04:59 PM (#1412310) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Desert Dancer 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 |
|
16 Feb 05 - 09:29 PM (#1412604) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,Peter Alway "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 |
|
16 Feb 05 - 10:19 PM (#1412630) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Desert Dancer Hey, thanks for the responses, Peter! Welcome to Mudcat! ~ Becky in Tucson |
|
16 Feb 05 - 10:57 PM (#1412641) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: The Fooles Troupe 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 |
|
17 Feb 05 - 12:52 AM (#1412705) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Desert Dancer Peter's got the harpsichord link on his site, but here 'tis, too. ~ B in T |
|
17 Feb 05 - 10:39 PM (#1413663) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: Gypsy leggo my dulcimer! |
|
18 Feb 05 - 12:23 AM (#1413716) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,Peter Alway Foolestroupe, don't be shy about emailing me with specific questions. You can reach me at petealway (at) aol (dot) com. Peter Alway |
|
18 Feb 05 - 06:10 AM (#1413887) Subject: RE: Lego dulcimer From: GUEST,foolestroupe - "I come fru da window!" Thanks, Peter, but I am busy enough at the moment... |