Snark ST-8 HZ Clip-on Chromatic Tuner :
$20 plus $5 shipping
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Super accurate, chromatic clip-on tuner with Hertz-tuning mode
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Vibration-sensing
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Easy-to-read, rotating color display makes it easy to see when you've hit the sweet spot on each note
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Rubber-padded, spring-loaded clip securely attaches to a headstock or pins
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Pitch can be calibrated from 415 to 466Hz
Clipped on the pins of a hammered dulcimer
James Jones Hammered Dulcimer Amplification - Piezo Film Pickup
This pickup assembly includes a piezo film sensor mounted with double stick tape onto the underside of your soundboard. A shielded cable runs to either a endpin preamp or a plain 1/4" jack mounted on a block. If your cord to amp is no more than 10' or you already have an external preamp, you can get by with just the block, 1/4" jack and the sensor. Either assembly is entirely internal accessible from the back handhold opening. The pickup assembly is attached to the back with two threaded machine bolts. Nothing is visible from outside the instrument except the heads of the two machine screws. If you purchase the assembly with the preamp, you will need a 9 volt battery. In the photo, the battery is shown in its holder. This holder is located inside along the back rail and held in place by velcro making it easy to change the battery.
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Piezo Film Pickup Assembly w/preamp installed $175 (without preamp $110)
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Piezo Pickup for other hammered dulcimers or instruments
The piezo sensor can used on any musical instrument including my harps, bowed psalteries, thumb pianos, bouzoukis and mountain dulcimers either mounted internally or externally. It can be attached and removed with care with double stick poster tape so you can experiment as to optimum placement with no modifications or damage to your instrument. Contact me if you have any questions as to its use on your instrument.
You can wire the sensor to either a shielded mini-plug or jack or to any a shielded standard 1/4" phone plug or jack. I recommend ultimately going into a high impedance preamp for the best possible sound. If weight is important the pickup can be connected to a mini-plug connector. By using a shielded extension cord and a mini-to 1/4" adapter, the pickup sensor can be connected to an outboard preamp either worn on your belt or located within a few feet from the instrument.
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Piezo Film Pickup Sensor $55 plus shipping of $3
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​This shielded piezo film sensor is 1 5/8" x 5/8" with 16" of flexible shielded cable attached. It comes with double stick tape already attached
Acoustic/Electric Conversion
I can now turn your acoustic hammered dulcimer into an electric/acoustic hammered dulcimer. I install Strip Magnetic Pickups which go beyond the amplifying capability of the piezo film. Click on the heading for photos and a lot more information.
Cable
I recommend using a quality 1/4" straight to 1/4" right angle cable with a 1/4" female/xlr male adapter. If you are retrofitting the piezo pickup assembly into one of my older instruments you will need to have the right angle 1/4" phone plug to located the block for attachment with the machine screws. You can use just the 1/4" to 1/4" cable but for situations requiring a low impedance XLR connection, the adapter will give you the optimum performance. You can get these cables at most music stores.
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