Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries
handcrafted by Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026 psalteryman@gmail.com
Copyright Ringing Strings Music 2004-2012 All Rights Reserved
1-17-12
What!! Play two notes at the same time using one hand? That's right, using a double bow you can play your own harmony notes using just one hand. My new adjustable double bow can be adjusted to play a second note for a third harmony. In other words, if you have three notes in a row and only played the first and third, this is a third harmony. It's just a simple way to add some interest to your playing. When you don't want to play both notes, just tip the double bow slightly so only one bow is in contact with a string. This makes it very quick to go from a single note melody to adding that second note to really fill out the sound.
These double bows are adjustable to fit most bowed psalteries. You just slide the movable bow in or out to make it work.
Here's the big thing to notice. This won't work if you're psaltery doesn't have even hitch pin spacing. There are a lot of builders that are using a graduated spacing from the lowest note to the highest. There's not a way to adjust this bow to make it work on those. Be sure before you order, you don't want to have to pay the shipping costs just to find out. To be sure, call or e-mail me to talk about.
My tenor and baritone psalteries have a wider spacing on the lowest few notes. I have found that you can adjust one of these double bows to work with that. The hair won't hit exactly in the center between the hitch pins, but that's not critical.
I feel like these are great for occasional use, but I wouldn't use one of them for all of the playing that I do. It is very nice to have one available when I want to use it. It just gives you a way to get a different sound out of your psaltery.
To start with I only have plain cherry and plain walnut double bows available. The cost is $45 for a double bow with the synthetic hair. It is $55 for one with either the black or white horsehair.
Basically the price is the cost of two psaltery bows plus $5 to add the spacing dowels. I also make the bows slightly thinner to reduce weight.
I can build either one of these using a figured wood. That would add $10 to the cost. All you have to do is let me know what you want.
Below are some pictures of the ones I have available right now. I have several of each kind and type of wood.
I'll post a video example of how these are used in playing very soon.
Double Bows for the Bowed Psaltery
Walnut Double Bow
Synthetic hair
$45
Cherry Double Bow
Synthetic hair
$45
Cherry Double Bow
Your Choice of Black or White
Horse.
Black hair is best wound strings.
White hair is best for plain steel strings.
Hair tension is adjustable.
$55
Walnut Double Bow
Your Choice of Black or White
Horse.
Black hair is best wound strings.
White hair is best for plain steel strings.
Hair tension is adjustable.
$55
