Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries

07/05/2023

Listen to Flow by Psalteryman on

Here's a new song that seemed to be knocking around in my brain for the last two weeks. I started out using the psaltery, but it just didn't work. When I sat down with the dulcimer this past weekend

07/05/2023

"Flow" is a new song for me, written last year. My buddy Rudy Ryan is my dulcimer tabbing guru, so great big thanks to him for getting this finished and ready to share. In my next post I'll also share the Soundcloud link of a recording of the tune with six string mountain dulcimer, tenor bowed psaltery, and upright bass. I hope you like it and share with your friends

Shared with Dropbox

02/25/2023

https://youtu.be/bb8iVcgD6Uo

We digitized and uploaded this film from the A/V Geeks 16mm Archive. Email us at [email protected] if you have questions about the footage and are interest...

02/06/2023

Donna J Malus has a new home for her Psaltery Strings group. Be sure to check it out.

psalterystrings.com

01/31/2023

Third and last song from the Museum of Appalachia this morning. "Cluck Ol' Hen" in Em

The Tuesday Group That Plays on Monday is at the Museum of Appalachia every Monday morning from 10:30 to 12:30 in the gift shop.This song is "Cluck Ol' Hen"....

01/30/2023

Second song from this morning. "Heartbeat", by Susan Trump

The Tuesday Group That Plays on Monday is at the Museum of Appalachia every Monday morning from 10:30 to 12:30 in the gift shop.This song is "Heartbeat" writ...

01/30/2023

https://youtu.be/ntWLphDpgx8

Got to play with the Tuesday Group at the Museum of Appalachia this morning. I played my D Chromatic Tenor psaltery with one bow. I also had my mountain dulcimer in my lap, so I could switch back and forth. Lots of fun!

The Tuesday Group That Plays on Monday is at the Museum of Appalachia every Monday morning from 10:30 to 12:30 in the gift shop.This song is "Julian of Norwi...

01/25/2023

SOLD
Here's the other psaltery I have available right now. Now this psaltery is one that a lot of folks wouldn't want. I know it's beautiful, but let me explain. This is what I call a D Chromatic Tenor Psaltery. It is shorter than my standard tenor at 20 3/4" and is 7" wide. Good thing too, that's the only reason I could use this quilted maple soundboard. It was just barely long enough. I also had a few pieces of the quartersawn cherry for the body.

This psaltery is tuned to the D scale on the right side with the C # and F # notes needed. On the left are the notes needed to make it fully Chromatic, so that's where the C and F notes are now. Confused? I told you these aren't for everyone. They are great for folks that play by ear and who play a lot with dulcimer players. I converted my first one back in the 90s. The one of my own that I mostly play was built twelve years ago. It's the one I'm playing in the Saturday Afternoon Jam videos posted below. If you want to learn more about the D Chromatic set up or have questions send me a message or call. On second thought, ask your questions in the comments here. Others may be wanting to know the same things you are wondering about.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yg8vzvhdgv7hnea/quilted%20maplecherry%201-24-23.mp3?dl=0

This psaltery is $710, tripod holder attachment and second bow would add $50. One bow, case, tuning wrench, bow rosin, extra strings, tuning/string size chart, and a two hour Zoom lesson to get you started.

I think I'll do a new video on my YouTube channel to demonstrate the differences between the two models of tenor I build.

01/25/2023

SOLD

This tenor psaltery is available now. Built in Dec. It has 30 wound strings starting at G3 for the lowest note and goes up to C6 for the highest. It is 22" long and 7" wide. The wood is an extremely figured cherry for the soundboard and hard maple for the body, bridge and bow. It comes with one bow, a case, tuning wrench, bow rosin, extra strings, a tuning/string size chart, and a two hour private lesson to get you started. The lesson can be on Zoom or can be here at my home if you are close enough. At the time of purchase you can add a second matching bow and the adjustable tripod holder attachment for $50, that's half my retail price. This gives you the ability to setup to play using a bow in each hand. You can see me using this in the Saturday Afternoon Jam videos below. The camera tripod is not included.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vrztq00ugy3sae2/chery%20and%20maple%20tenor%201-24-23.mp3?dl=0

The price on this psaltery is $680. In case there is more than one person I'll go in order by the first to comment that they are interested in buying it.

01/25/2023

After posting the pictures and sound clip of the bird's-eye maple psaltery this morning it caused me to think. I know, uh-oh! I think I'll start using my Facebook business page for listing my psalteries as I have them available to buy. I have a couple right now that I built in December, but have never listed them for sale yet, not even on my website. Having a website is great, but it is quite a process to update, so I would drag my feet about doing that. Here on Facebook I can do pretty much everything on my phone. Stay tuned, we'll see what happens.

01/24/2023

Here's the first tenor psaltery build for 2023. It was for a customer that live in the UP and has a special liking for birds-eye maple. I've had the board this was cut from for several years and finally put it to good use. The body and bridge are both straight grain hard maple. There's just something about these all light color psalteries that I really like. It could have also been paired with a walnut body and bridge for more contrast and would have also been a beauty. It takes me around three weeks to build one of these if I don't have other orders waiting. If you are interested let's talk about it.

The link below will let you listen to a soundclip of the full range of this psaltery that I recorded a few minutes ago.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5w6fyx87kqekfwe/1-24-2023.mp3?dl=0