I often get asked if Hammered Dulcimers need restringing periodically. I attended a “Meet the Builder” session at the Potomac Dulcimer Festival held on Zoom in the days we couldn’t travel. It was run by Nick Blanton, he had James Jones and Sam Rizetta with him on the panel, so, three of the top builders in the USA. Their answer to this question was varied, but Sam was very firm, no, only change a string when it snaps. I think Nick suggested changing wound strings when they sounded dead, or maybe every 10-15 years.
I had a conversation with Ken Kolodner and Mary Lynn Michal when I was in the USA last year and they agreed with Sam, don’t change them and leave the wound string until they are dead, but could never remember a time when this happened to them. The strings mellow with age, which is good. So a periodic refresh is not a good thing, leave well alone. Mary Lynn was quite adamant you should leave her strings alone! She had got used to them that way and changing the tone would be a bad thing. I got the message loud and clear, don’t mess with her strings!
My view is, I would never go up against a bunch of legends, so don’t swap them unless they snap, swap out the wound strings when they sound dead, but, of course, ask the maker and get their view. I am also concerned that all that winding away at the tuning pins increases the probability of a loose pin at some point. So avoid if you can.
Most people want to change them because they look all tarnished and rusty. So before this happens, I would recommend an annual clean with a dry “pan scrubber”, the white non scratch variety suitable for non stick pans is great it they just need a little work, the green is quite abrasive and good for really dirty strings and OK if you use it with care, look as you scrub gently. Don’t touch the wound strings, and be gentle with any phosphor bronze ones but give the steel ones them a good rub over and they will come up lovely.
Having buffed up the strings you can clean up the sound board with a soft brush between the strings. I use a cheap 1 inch brush to loosen all the dust and blow the dust away. My wife is not keen on me blowing all the dust onto the living room carpet, so I do it when she is out for the day! I would suggest once every year or so. No more than that.
Please don’t use any polishes or liquids. I have heard of people suggesting WD40, pledge spray polish and other cleaners. Please don’t do it, it will find its way into the tuning pin area and disaster will strike. I shudder to think about the havoc WD40 could wreak. A soft cloth on the wood areas will hopefully suffice in bringing up a bit of a shine.
