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Hammered Dulcimer Replacement Strings, Tuning Wrenches,  Tuning Pins, Looper, and Dulcimer Duster |
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Although I use tinned music wire which is corrosion resistant, strings unfortunately will eventually corrode. Sweaty fingers and just moisture in the air can tarnish and rust the strings. The tone of a dirty rusted string ceases to be true to pitch and will begin to sound dead. Periodic cleaning will prolong string life. Take 600 weight wet and dry sandpaper available in any auto supply store or 0000 steel wool and rub each string until bright again. Follow with a lightly oiled cloth. If the corrosion is too bad, or the strings are due to be replaced see the section on string replacement in your owner's manual or you'll find instructions available on my site. Under normal conditions strings of plain wire should last for years. If you are performing and demand peak performance and tone I recommend replacement of the wound strings at least once every two years. Many players live with their solid strings for 5 years or more before considering replacement. If they're sounding dead even after they're clean, replace them.
Replacing a broken string is often intimidating. Learn to do it for those one or two strings you'll break. Your owner's manual has complete instructions. For a complete re-stringing I recommend you send it back to me. It is expensive but it'll save you a lot of aggravation. Contact me to make the arrangements. If you aren't aware of what string gauges are on your instrument and you've lost your tuning/string gauge chart, you can click on the link to the left to download your tuning chart. One of the most important documents you acquired when you purchased your instrument is your string guage chart. Make a couple of extra copies of that document and put it in a safe place! Keep one of them in your case. When ordering strings please specify whether you want loop end or continuous wire. If you don't specify I will make them up with loop ends on each string. Please refer to your tuning/string gauge chart when ordering so I send you the right size. It makes sense to keep a few spare strings in your case especially phosphor bronze strings or maybe some #4 or #5s. All the other guages you will probably never break. Just keep them clean and they'll last for many years. Wound strings on the other hand should be replaced when they began to sound dead. This means they have accumulated too much dirt in the winds. Don't worry about it if you aren't performing much but if you want the best sound from your instrument replace those wound strings periodically. Ordering strings is as simple as an e-mail. I usually will send them out the same day with a bill (to owner's of my instruments). Let me know if you need anything else as it'll save you shipping costs. I'll trust you to send me a check. Make sure you include your address. It saves me a lot of time. Strings in a pinch If you have no spares and you break a string you can always use a guitar string. A second string on a guitar is .017 a little light but at least will get you by. You could even try using a thin wound string assuming you can get it up to pitch without it breaking. You can always use a lighter guage string than the one that broke. For example if you broke a #8 (.020) you can replace it with anything below that #7,#6,#5. Although not ideal it will get you by. You might be interested in my section on general instrument care which provides additional information on keeping your instrument in top playing shape. |
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| String Wire, Wound Strings, Pins and Acetal Rod |
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 Please refer to your tuning/string gauge chart when ordering so I send you the right size. Unless you specify you want a continuous length of wire, I will send you loop end strings. Phosphor-Bronze and wound strings only come with the loop ends. Steel $.75 per string (with loop end) #1 or .010 actual diameter #2 or .011 #3 or .012 #4 or .013 #5 or .014 #6 or .015 #7 or .018 #8 or .020 #9 or .022 #10 or .024 Phosphor-Bronze $1 per string 23PB or .0226 22PB or .0253 20 - 80 Brass Extra Long Wound Strings $1.25 eachSpecify the gauge you'd like. Most of the core wire for these strings is 51" long with the wrapped portion being 48". On the lighter gauge wire the wrap is usually shorter. If length of core and wrap are critical, contact me to get specifics for the gauges you are interested in. They all have loop ends If you'd like lengths of just plain music wire, please specify the diameter (see above)
Additional Hammered Dulcimer Building Supplies1/8" diameter Acetal Rod (white or black) $1 per ft
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| Tuning Wrenches | ||
 T-Handle -This is the wrench I supply with new instruments and is the most used of the wrenches. $12 shipping $3 |
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| Dust Brush | ||
 Chinese Hog Bristle Duster - Over 4" static free bristles in a hand turned hardwood handle. Ideal for stringed instruments, computer keyboards or or any delicate item. $16 shipping $3 |
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Looper
