Violette dulcimer (was: Spousal protection order)

[Tin Ear]

Richard,

When you can ... pictures ... Please.

Good luck with the wife ... I understand completely.

[pristine2]

Richard,

When you can ... pictures ... Please.

The pictures are there ... check the "tinyurl" links in the early posts.

Unfortunately, everythingdulcimer no longer allows me to post Bill's photos in line. Go figure.

Richard

[billhoward1]

Well....curiosity got the best of me, so I strung on two melody strings to check the fret spacing (using a meter), and to see what it might sound like.

As I expected, the intonation leaves a lot to be desired. There is a lot of variance between the frets....some very sharp, and some flat. However, when I strummed the two melody strings, and went up and down the fretboard, it wasn't as bad as I has expected, based on the meter readings. Not on target at all, but tolerable for an untrained, and not too particular ear. I would have loved to hear Mr. Violet play it with vigor. That hole in the strum area no strum 'hollow")gives evidence that he must have played with exuberance.

The sound is somewhat unique, at least to my ear. It's fairly bright, as I call it, 'the traditional sound'. But it almost seems like the sound comes from two separate chambers...sort of an echo?? Maybe that's because of the large hollow fretboard? At any rate, I think if it were fully strung, and played by a musician, it would give you a strong, and pleasant song. If I had the equipment, I'd try to post a sound bite. Maybe I can arrange it, somehow.

That's the latest info I can provide. I was also particularly interested to see the leather pick (I presume), as I made some picks from a leather belt to try to play a little softer (in my den), trying to not disturb my sweet, tolerant wife who was watching TV in the next room. Worked pretty well.

Bill

[pristine2]

Thanks Bill!

I wouldn't worry much at this stage whether it holds its pitch in equal temperament. Those old & wandering stapled frets can be tweaked and tamed when the time comes.

Your sound description lends credence to Lisa's soundbox theory.

[strumelia]

Do i see in the new pictures evidence of a 'zero fret' having been there once and then removed? or is it just a surface shine illusion?

Cool instrument, whatever it's date. I love the pick wear hole.

[billhoward1]

The bridge and nut are metal (brass or something similar). They have no notches cut in them, so I guess the string tension, and the alignment of the pins are all that hold them in place. In effect, the metal nut serves as a zero fret. I see no evidence of anything else having been there, and then removed.

Bill

[strumelia]

The bridge and nut are metal (brass or something similar). They have no notches cut in them, so I guess the string tension, and the alignment of the pins are all that hold them in place. In effect, the metal nut serves as a zero fret. I see no evidence of anything else having been there, and then removed.
Bill

What about photos #10 and #26?....there looks to be evidence/scarring of some other former nut forward of the metal notchless nut, that is now gone.

One interesting question is- does the body cavity of the 'wings' go through to the 'scheitholt' body, or does a wall/side remain separating the wing cavities? (not that someone might not have cut out the tall sides when applying the newer wings to create a single cavity, mind you)

[pristine2]

I see the scuffing up there. It could be a vestige of an old nut. Eventually we'll measure out the frets, so we'll know approximately where the nut should be.

But .. the younger Violette played it heavily and may have been trying all kinds of things --- a capo, a reverse capo? There's seems to be a tiny screw hole where something was affixed. An "Old Joe Clark" device that brought the whole instrument up a step?

[billhoward1]

I've added three photos to the Photobucket site. I think they will be the first three appearing at the site. Not sure they will help much but an attempt.

It does appear, from the finish, that something has at one time been resting on the fretboard near the metal nut. There appears to be a small screw hole in the middle of the fretboard, as though something may have been attached.

On the right side of the fretboard, where it butts up against the nut, there is a very small piece glued in, as though it is to fill a gap. Whether the corner of the fretboard was broken off, or whether something else fit in that "notch" in the fretboard, I can only wonder. It measures 3/16 x 1/2, and is only as deep as the fretboard itself...very thin. It appears in the photo as a lighter colored wood, and is not really very visible when viewing from the side of the fretboard. Anybody have an idea as to what that "notch" might have been used for, if it was cut there for a reason at one time??

In looking into the inside of the instrument, I was not able to determine much. It is open, all the way to the bottom. I am not able to tell whether the top of the box was at one time solid, and had a slot cut in it, which was then covered by the raised fretboard. At any rate, the airspace is open, from the top of the fretboard to the bottom of the dulcimer.

An interesting instrument, to say the least. Maybe answers will come in the future, if a luthier gets inside it.

Hope this link works OK.


http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/jj19 ... T%20SHOTS/

Take care,
Bill

[WileyR]

Looks like an investment, even if it's an investment of history, instead of a purchase. Nice find!

[strumelia]

It does appear, from the finish, that something has at one time been resting on the fretboard near the metal nut. There appears to be a small screw hole in the middle of the fretboard, as though something may have been attached.
On the right side of the fretboard, where it butts up against the nut, there is a very small piece glued in, as though it is to fill a gap. Whether the corner of the fretboard was broken off, or whether something else fit in that "notch" in the fretboard, I can only wonder. It measures 3/16 x 1/2, and is only as deep as the fretboard itself...very thin. It appears in the photo as a lighter colored wood, and is not really very visible when viewing from the side of the fretboard. Anybody have an idea as to what that "notch" might have been used for, if it was cut there for a reason at one time??

I suspect there was a slotted bent metal nut there at one time, part of a short metal plate, much like some box dulcimers have. Attached to the fingerboard with a little screw or nail like old metal nut plates often were.

In looking into the inside of the instrument, I was not able to determine much. It is open, all the way to the bottom. I am not able to tell whether the top of the box was at one time solid, and had a slot cut in it, which was then covered by the raised fretboard. At any rate, the airspace is open, from the top of the fretboard to the bottom of the dulcimer.

That's not what I mean. I do know if you look straight down into the top fingerboard holes, you will indeed see down to the bottom of the instrument.
But what I was asking was- if the 'fretboard' was actually a complete bottomless scheitholt originally, then someone may have added the two deco 'wings' later and then finished it off with a thick furniture-like one piece back to cover the entire bottom up with one shaped backpiece, then painted it. If that is how this instrument came to be created, my question would then be: did they cut the sides of the older scheitholt in order to create one open cavity shared with the wings, OR did they leave the scheitholt sides intact, thus creating three separate inner chambers with the 2 wings and the central scheitholt body? Are there indications that a scheitholt was cut on the sides in order to open it up to the wings, or are there still the closed sides of the scheitholt box inside, creating 3 sound chambers?

[billhoward1]

The sides of the raised fretboard extend only to the top of the box. They do not extend into the box, but are flush with the top of the box. Whether they were cut off at one time, I cannot tell.

Thus, there is only one large open chamber, involving the total area of the box, plus the total area of the raised fretboard. The space is not divided by any walls.

Bill