Rick Thum / Dusty Strings or Masterworks ???

[cooper]

I actually had an opportunity to try a Rick Thurn this weekend at my workshop for the "Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association" and I was impressed with it. I still think Dusty Strings is better (they really need to pay me for this). It is ironic that I had never heard of that maker before he asked me and then one just ended up in my class last Saturday.

What was even more amazing was the guy who brought it said that a bank teller just randomly asked him if he plays hammered dulcimer (he may have had a button on him or some shirt, though). She said she had this instrument and had never played it and it was in the closet for about a year (I think it was a 12/12 or something like that). She sold it to him for $100!!! My jaw dropped when he told this to me (the whole room gasped, actually). I thought I was lucky when I found a brand new Dusty Strings D10 at a local pawn shop for $300 one time.

The only thing I really did not like about the dulcimer was it has a wooden delrin rod on the left side were the strings are looped. The right side is the same way (were they tune the strings), but the strings also rest on the bridge's delrin rods, so that side comes out more bright than the left side. Does that make sense?

If I might make a few criticisms about Master Works, I am playing one right now (until I get my new Dusty Strings D35). I had previously owned a beautiful 16/15 c with ultra light woods:

• It went out of tune faster than any instrument and for a hammered dulcimer to go out of tune that fast, it is very frustrating.

• Because of that, the middle bridge shifted and that really sucks to have to move back into place.

• Having one long delrin rod on all of the bridges is not a good idea because if you have to replace it, you have to replace the whole thing and that means having to untune half of the dulcimer. I have had to do this because of the movement of the strings was cutting too deep into the the delrin rod and getting caught while tuning (and this only happened because the strings were moving so much, due to tuning). Sure, it sustained longer, which I like, but it was not worth the trouble at all.

Now, it had a beautiful bright sound and had a little bit long of a sustaining quality, but that was only because of the lighter woods it was made out of (and the long continuous delrin rods on the bridges). It also had a beautiful read finish on the sound board (which is why I named her "Bridgid of Ireland"). The slightest temperature change nocked it out of tune. BUT, having one right now that is NOT made out of lighter woods (and talking to others who own them here), it still goes out of tune faster than a Dusty Strings. So, if anyone is wanting to buy a Master Works, do not get the "Ultra-light woods" option. It is just not worth it.

They do have a brighter sound and sustain longer than Dusty Stings (even without the lighter woods option). And they are more curvy too (o-la-la).

If you like heaver hammers, then Master Works is not for you also (my Dusty Strings hammers sound too brash on my Master Works).

Anyway, that was my two pence.

[Dick Glasgow]

Ha Ha, small world eh Cooper! So, you finally got your hands on a Rick Thum. ;D

Well, of course I haven't seen mne yet, so I can't say if the 17/17 I'm getting is of exactly the same design as the 12/12 you saw, i.e. with that wooden delrin rod. But I know a man who has seen my Dulcimer ......... & played it ( ), so Rick might be able to tell us if mine has this design flaw or not!

I had heard that the smaller ones were actually designed differently from the larger ones, but I wouldn't know.

However, when mine does arrive, I'm afraid, unlike you Cooper, I won't be able to compare it to a Dusty Strings or a Masterworks, for I have never played either, so I'm just hoping it's better than my Folkcraft Legend & at least as good as my Oakwood, then I'll be happy with it.

Cheers
Dick

[cooper]

I just wish I would of met that lady before my friend, so I could of bought it for $100. I would like to have an extra 12/11 (or 12/12) as a loner to people wanting to learn more about the dulcimer before they buy one. Another think I liked about the Jim Thurn is it is compact and sturdy. The Masterworks are also more compact too.

Since they have the Nonesuch Dulcimer club in England, do you know if they have dulcimer makers there?

[dulcimike]

admin said:

Speaking of New Hammers Rick, you might like to check out my latest post on the Hammers Thread

A 3 & 1/2 hour Old Time Session eh .... now I'm GREEN ;D

Cheers
Dick

Ah, well don't turn too green too soon - until I tell you this. This morning, I got a call from one of the fellows I played with at that session, and he has invited Brandy and myself to his Labor Day Old-Time event - Old-Time music sessions, food, music, food, music - all on either Saturday, September 1, Sunday, September 2, or both. So, the Sunday thing starts about 4PM (unless, of course, you've camped on his land (on a mountain) overnight), and goes until we go home, I think. And this place is about an hour and ten minutes from us by car. So, since we'll be using up our dog-sitters for other weekends, we'll probably just go up on Sunday afternoon, and drive back that night (or early the next morning).

No, you can turn green.

This fellow plays some wonderful crooked tunes, and apparently some are from Henry Reed's playing. Most I've never heard before!

How am I supposed to learn Irish tunes when there are all of these Old-Time tunes to learn?!

Ah, well.

So, I saw you have bought some new hammers from that other thread. Will I even know you the next time I see you? New dulcimer, new hammers! I'm still having trouble knowing your car since you've changed that, too.

Hope you had a good time at Tom's tonight.

And BTW, it's 110F (43C) on the porch right now - in the shade! Thankfully, the humidity isn't as high as it would be in Raleigh.

Cheers.

[Dick Glasgow]

Big long interestingf Old Time Sessions .......& warm weather too!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Yes Rick, Tom's was great last night. Ciaran played Guitar most of the night for we had little old me, Paul (of course) & FOUR Flutes. Stephanie and Marcas O'Murchu plus two visiting Flute players, one from Belfast & 'tother from Nova Scotia (long bus journey!) Lots & lots of great tunes & a session to remember.

Mind you, the Springhill was rather special this week too with Marcas plus Bouzouki, French Pipes, Hurdy Gurdy ( You'd have fitted right in there Nikita! ;D ) and the 3 Fluters from the marching bands oh yes & Sabine & I on Harp & Fiddle, not forgetting Alan on Scottish Smallpipes. It was of course a bit loose but a lot of fun too. If you'd been there Rick I think we'd have needed to hang one or two from the ceiling to fit everyone in. ;D

OK Rick, come on now, come clean, don't beat about the Bush, ( sorry, I promised not to mention that word again! ;D ) does my New Dulcimer posess this cardinal flaw that Chad noticed on the 12/12 Rick Thum he played last week, which he talks about in his post above?

Cheers
Dick

[catty]

More fodder:

I've owned two Dustys: a D10 and an Apprentice. Both were rock solid and stayed in tune reliably. I think I actually preferred the ply-birch Apprentice model, as it had less sustain and nice tone--probably not as bright as the D10. I'l always like Dustys based on my experience.

I tried a brand new Rick Thum Meadowlark, which I think is the best buy in a small HD. I liked it well enough, but I didn't devlelop a love affair with it, I guess because it was so plain, I don't know. I would recommend one of these to anyone just starting out. BTW, mine came with a slightly warped top under the treble bridge, which I didn't particularly care for--even though it probably was inconsequential. But I get the feeling that, although these are ply-birch, they don't seem as well built as the Dustys, maybe.. They are lighter, I'm sure.

My two Dustys, built probably ten years apart, seemed idential in build, performance and quality. Hard not to like them..

[Dick Glasgow]

Thanks for the feedback Catty,

I can see how a plain instrument with a warped soundboard wouldn't exactly endear you to that instrument!

Makes me wonder how Rick's "Professional" H-Ds compare with his smaller models.

Rick Davis said earlier that a heavy hammer seems to be required to bring the best out of a Rick Thum 17/17, so it may be that they don't have much sustain either, which will actually suit me down to the ground, Catty.

Anyway, it's the 12th today, so less than 3 weeks to wait now, before I can give you my first impressions.

As for Dusty Strings, I have loved the sound of any that I've heard on CD & I must say, the folks over at Dusty Strings were an absolute delight to deal with. I'm sure they are very, very busy people too but they seem to make time to deal with any & every enquiry which is a big plus in my book. You are treated with respect right from the word go which says a lot.

Cheers
Dick

[dulcimike]

So, Ptarm, now that you actually have your new Rick Thum dulcimer, how is it? Have you recovered from the trip to Dublin enough to try it out - or did you just stay up all night after Tom's and play it?

Christie didn't wear it out before you got it did she?

So many questions, so little time.......

[Dick Glasgow]

Hello Rick,

I'm afraid I've actually been so busy these past few days, what with all-day costume gigs & pub sessions, plus Sabine has been in bed with a nasty Kidney infection, so believe it or not I've only managed about 10 mins at the very most, on my new toy!

I can tell you that I think it looks great & the sound is exactly what I was hoping for.

However, it is very loud so, like on my Oakwood, I'm pretty sure I'll be covering up the front playing areas with fake leather patches:

A - to soften the volume
&
B - to make it easier for my old eyes to see the strings. (I'm not fond of the light wood behind the strings)

Here's my Oakwood with those patches in place:



Once I've had a chance to put it through its paces I'll get back to you Rick.

Cheers
Dick

[lynngehringer]

Dick - I am really happy to hear that you like you Rick Thum and it has the sound you were looking for. Glad I could steer you in the right direction. Mine stays in tune surprisingly well.

I know you will be making a lot of really nice music on it. All Rick plays are fast fiddle tunes, so this should be a good fit for you.

[Dick Glasgow]

Aye Thumbs Up for my new Rick Thum 17/17 Hammered Dulcimer!

Yes Lynn, I am absolutely delighted with it. ;D

I can say that I am now a member of the Rick Thum Dulcimer - Fan Club!

It has stayed pretty much in tune since I brought it home, but of course that's no test really. However, this weekend I'll get a chance to try it out at a couple of gigs, so I'll keep you posted on it's tuning powers.

At first, I thought it might be a little too loud & that I'd perhaps have to cover up the sound holes, & maybe even thread wool in amongst the strings, but we're getting used to one another now & I'm really glad I chose this instrument.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank yourself Lynn & also everyone else who sent me their thoughts on the various Hammered Dulcimers I had to choose from. Each little piece of advise helped me to make my final choice, so without that help from you all, goodness only knows what I'd have ended up with.

There's a Pint of Guinness waiting in Tom's (Ballycastle) for each & every one of you. But please don't all come at the same time, as I've said before, I've only got a wee Sporran!

Cheers
Dick

[dulcimike]

admin said:

Aye Thumbs Up for my new Rick Thum 17/17 Hammered Dulcimer!

Yes Lynn, I am absolutely delighted with it. ;D

I can say that I am now a member of the Rick Thum Dulcimer - Fan Club!

It has stayed pretty much in tune since I brought it home, but of course that's no test really. However, this weekend I'll get a chance to try it out at a couple of gigs, so I'll keep you posted on it's tuning powers.

At first, I thought it might be a little too loud & that I'd perhaps have to cover up the sound holes, & maybe even thread wool in amongst the strings, but we're getting used to one another now & I'm really glad I chose this instrument.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank yourself Lynn & also everyone else who sent me their thoughts on the various Hammered Dulcimers I had to choose from. Each little piece of advise helped me to make my final choice, so without that help from you all, goodness only knows what I'd have ended up with.

There's a Pint of Guinness waiting in Tom's (Ballycastle) for each & every one of you. But please don't all come at the same time, as I've said before, I've only got a wee Sporran!

Cheers
Dick

Very glad you like your new dulcimer, Ptarm.

Sorry to hear that Mrs. Ptarmigan is have a bad time of it. May she recover quickly and be back to her harping and fluting soon.

I'm certainly looking forward to a good pint o' Guinness at Tom's! So, you found your wee sporran, eh. Last time I knew you'd lost it.

[Dick Glasgow]

Thanks Rick.

Aye, Mrs Pt. must be on the mend, cause she held the fort for 2 hours with Stephanie & the 3 Fluters last night at the Springhill while I was playing for a Ceili.

Today we're off to Dungannon, with the tent & costumes, to play at O'Neill's Castle in the centre of town as part of a 1607 Flight of the Earls themed display - should be fun.

Cheers
Dick

[Dick Glasgow]

Cooper wrote, about a Rick Thum Dulcimer:

The only thing I really did not like about the dulcimer was it has a wooden delrin rod on the left side were the strings are looped. The right side is the same way (were they tune the strings), but the strings also rest on the bridge's delrin rods, so that side comes out more bright than the left side.

Well Cooper, I finally got my Rick Thum & now I see what you mean about those wooden Delrin rods you spoke of, but this one actually has them on both sides.
However, I find that the strings on either side of the Treble Bridge are just a little brighter than those on the Bass Bridge for some strange reason, so I find that it is not a perfectly balanced instrument.
Must say, I hope I never have to replace those wooden Delrin rods or the long ones on the Bridges either.
Mind you, it seems to be staying in tune pretty well (touch wood ) so perhaps that job's a long way off ...... if it ever comes.

Cheers
Dick

[lynngehringer]

The last festival we played through wind, rain and wide temp changes and when I got home and checked it, only a few string needed a little tweaking.