Teardrop vs. Hourglass ??

[Tony]

I have just custom ordered a Teardrop shaped dulcimer. Over the years I have owned several dulcimers but all have been more or less in the hourglass configuration. I was wondering what the opinion might be of each style. Thanks for your attention.
Weekend is almost here. TonyK

[strumelia]

I know folks tend to discuss the differences in shape, but my own experience is that there is more of a difference in sound when you have a larger/deeper or smaller/shallower soundbox, and not so much noticeable diff between teardrop and hourglass if the soundboxes are similar size otherwise. I find the depth of the soundbox to affect the sound and tone much more than the shape by itself. Just my opinion.

Strumelia
http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/

[Steve Smith]

I agree with Strumelia. Many years ago, I ordered in over a dozen McSpaddens for a class I was teaching, in both hourglass and teardrop shapes. I was actually hoping to find some difference, but they were all nearly identical in sound.

[robert schuler]

To my ears the hourglass has a better mid range sound and a sweeter tone overall. The teardrop sound is a bit more like a guitar, less nasal sounding if you know what I mean... Bob.

[Texchanchan]

What do you call one that's a kind of pointy oval, widest in the middle and fretboard-width at both ends? Ours are that way. Someday I'd like an hourglass if I have to gnaw it myself.

[tentmaker]

What do you call one that's a kind of pointy oval, widest in the middle and fretboard-width at both ends? Ours are that way. Someday I'd like an hourglass if I have to gnaw it myself.

Sounds like an elliptical shape, often seen in Galax and older dulcimers - just one of the many shapes of the mountain dulcimer with its lack of standardization. Which IMHO is a good thing.

[folkfan]

I've got both teardrops and hourglasses, and can't tell much of a difference in sound, unless the size of the box is quite a bit larger or smaller.

[strumelia]

To my ears the hourglass has a better mid range sound and a sweeter tone overall. The teardrop sound is a bit more like a guitar, less nasal sounding if you know what I mean... Bob.

It seems that we all have different experiences in this though. My teardrop is very sweet, silvery, and nasally sounding- the opposite of the 'guitar sound', and pretty traditional sounding. Then again, it's got a shallow soundbox, unlike most dulcimers being made now. I seems to me that there's been a steady move towards deeper and bigger soundboxes over the past decade, with many folks specifically stating they are looking for a 'mellow' or 'deeper' tone with more volume and sustain.

[KenH]

IMHO there is no discernible difference that can be directly attributed to the shape. There are so many other dozens of factors that have known discernible effects.

I still have $100 bill for anyone who can pass my blind listening test and identify 2 out of 3 times an hourglass from a teardrop each playing the same song by the same person. They will see neither the instruments nor the player until after the test has been administered.

[folkfan]

Personally I think the placement of the bridge in relationship to the tail piece has more of an effect on the sound than the shape does.

[Robin the Busker]

Personally I think the placement of the bridge in relationship to the tail piece has more of an effect on the sound than the shape does.

Well we'll be able to test that one out in practice when the new McSpadden 26" VSL hits the streets. It is on the same body as the 28" but the bridge and zero fret are moved a little in-board.

The teardrop dulcimers I have played have tended to be a little more silvery and nasal as Strumelia said - and I think this was due to the reduced body volume over the hourglass models from the same builder. The exception to this was an old Folk Roots I played that was very "guitar" like, but the body on that was so big you could have cut a hole in the top and paddled it down a river

I wouldn't want to take Ken's $100 bill test - unless the instruments were the same woods from the same stable (eg McSpadden hourglass v teardrop).

What do you call one that's a kind of pointy oval, widest in the middle and fretboard-width at both ends? Ours are that way. Someday I'd like an hourglass if I have to gnaw it myself.

I've heard that refered to as "boat" shape.

[KenH]

Robin - that's summat had in mind. As close to structurally identical as you can get two instruments of different shapes.