How To: Change Your Action Height On Mountain Dulcimer

[@cathyfast3881]

Thanks!

[@walteryoung2025]

Great video. That being said I like mine where it is. That being said. I could change my mind later. Thanks Mandy. God bless.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Haha, believe me I know what you mean!

[@INDYOSKARS]

"Listen to that rain a falling, cain´t you hear that lonesome sound" -Hank Williams

[@rkirby61]

Thank you! I was given a dulcimer and the action is so high, it cramps my hand to press. Henceforth, it’s been sitting In my closet for 3 years. Time to break out the sandpaper and take some of your lessons.

[@BanjoLemonade]

You can do it.

[@michaelcraig9449]

This is so cool, thanks so much for teaching us about the dulcimer. Does she have any albums out or in a band? I would like to hear her play some

[@BanjoLemonade]

I don’t have any cd’s - yet

[@Debnfl]

Thanks! You’re the best! I’m gonna diy my Dulcimer! Wish I had seen this video sooner.

[@R0ckerb0y]

Every time I search… you’ve done it… I could probably search for “How to jumpstart your chainsaw using your mountain dulcimer” and KZbin would be like “You need BanjoLemonade!” 😂❤ You’re awesome Mandy, thank you so much.

[@BanjoLemonade]

@@R0ckerb0y Haha!! Hmm well I do have a chainsaw, but that’s my husband’s territory. But if you need to replace the voltage meter in a 1978 Trans Am - I might remember how we did it, hahahaha.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I found out that when I add a 4th string to my Dulcimer, I've gotta lower that action to make it more comfortable.

[@davis9971]

Thank you. Really clear explanation.

[@BanjoLemonade]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CarpeDiamCoramDao]

I am enjoying your videos I should receive my dulcimer soon! It's being built.... never had one I feel like I will be able to play it as soon as I get it! Thank you so much for such real videos .....

[@BanjoLemonade]

Have fun!

[@lorriew8627]

Well...you are right...don't be afraid to do this..ha ...took me a long time before i tried ....but glad i did... my slides are so much better... thankx..❤

[@BanjoLemonade]

Awesome Lorrie!

[@lorriew8627]

More like ..awesome Mandy!

[@sunvalleylaw]

Hey, Mandy, I just want to say how nice your tone of communicating in these vids. I love how you remind us that “you don’t have to be afraid of it:” on these things. I just got my 1998 FolkCraft CF-300 in and coming from guitar, it seems really, really high. And definitely higher than the nickel and dime standard I have read about. Particularly up the fretboard toward the bridge. (Wondering if this might be because it is an older instrument, and standards may have changed a little over the years. But whatever. It is high). I could take this in to a luthier, but seeing as there is no fretboard radius or anything that complicated, I think I will give this a try myself, and as you also say, learn to care for my instrument myself. Anyway, thank you! Will hit your tip box for sure!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Yes you can definitely do it yourself Steve. But I wouldn’t take it down low like a guitar toward the bridge. The strumming on a dulcimer coming from above and down will cause a bit more movement of the string than on guitar. So I’d just take it slow and do a bit, then test and so on. Have fun!

[@BanjoLemonade]

Oh and that’s awesome that you got an older Folkcraft!

[@sunvalleylaw]

PS, I also like how you do things almost in real time, as you do the process, so it shows that thing are a process and it might take some patience and a while. Rather than making it seem like you always get it right the first time. Way more real, and helps adjust the expectations.

[@sunvalleylaw]

@@BanjoLemonade Thanks on the older FC. It is Paduk back and sides, spruce top, scroll head, I think Wenge? Fretboard? Sounds nice. And I will take it slow and not try to make it like a really low playing guitar, particularly silky playing electric. I anticipate playing in kind of a percussive Joni Mitchell-esque style, so will want a little height for that percussing strumming action. But right now, it is hard to do even basic fretting up past the 3rd or 4th fret or so. Thanks again for the vid.

[@Cynthia-y2n]

Thank you Miss Mandy. I just noticed my very vintage Apple Creek dulcimer needs the bridge replaced. This is extremely helpful. Are all bridges created equal? Are they interchangeable? I’m looking forward to doing the repair myself.

[@BanjoLemonade]

@@Cynthia-y2n Hey Cynthia, not all bridges are the same. Loosen your strings and see if it’s glued or not. Then if it is try some easy taps with a hammer from the side to see if it will come off. Things to consider, if the replacement bridge doesn’t fit just sand it on the sides. Then you can adjust the height. I know you can do it. Take your time.

[@Cynthia-y2n]

@@BanjoLemonade Thank to you video on changing out the bridge I feel (kind of) confident I can do this. I’ve wanted to lower that bridge anyway. Have sandpaper and your video! “Talley Ho!”

[@donaldkeeth6948]

Your a mine reader, I was just looking at my dulcimer and noticed it was high.

[@felixaldana3726]

How do you take the buzz out of the Dulcimer can you help?

[@TheDeuceAAA]

Hi, Mandy. Great video. I’m a brand new dulcimer player and absolute beginner. I’ve had my dulcimer since Christmas and I’ve been practicing at least an hour each day. I’ve noticed that the action is very high on my instrument. I have to press excessively on the melody string at the first fret to get a clear tone. My ring finger is pretty sore and developing a callous on the tip. From all the videos I’ve watched, I’m pretty certain that it shouldn’t take so much pressure to fret anywhere on this instrument. That being said, I’m going to give this a try so I can play without so much excessive pressure. Do you think I should start at the bridge first and then the nut or vice versa? Thank you in advance for any advice you can give. I love your playing and lessons. Very informative and encouraging! Thank you! Steve Craddock Holly Ridge, NC

[@BanjoLemonade]

Hey there Steve! Based on what you’ve described here are a few things I’d do. Take a ruler with millimeters on it and measure your action height at the first fret and write it down. Then measure it at the 14th fret. First see if they are different. I suspect you may need to bring down both the nut and the bridge. Not difficult but you must be careful and take time with it so you don’t go to far. Use those measurements on the Bass (thick string away from you) side of the instrument. That way you don’t take it down too far. You’ll know you go to far if you hear any buzzing while strumming and fretting. Use a marker to make your line before you sand. Then settle in and start doing it. Now since both your nut and bridge need to come down here’s how I’d tackle that. Take down 1 some (not as far as you think you need, maybe about half of what you think you need). Then tune it up again and look at the difference in those 2 measurements again. Then if you need to you can take down the bridge a bit. When doing both it’s tricky because if you take the nut down all the way, then take the bridge down all the way you may get a lot of buzzing. So just take it slow and spend a couple hours doing it and you’ll be a much happier player. You should expect callouses, they are our trophies. Haha. You can do this, just take it slow. Worst case you take one down a little too far you can take a business card or some cardstock and make a little shim and it does the trick nicely. Let me know how it turns out for you!

[@timgiles9413]

I purchased a cheap $99 China dulcimer with case about 15 years ago. I need to replace the nut and bridge. They are made of cheap wood and glued in. Could you direct me to wear to purchase newer and nicer ones? Thank you for the videos. 😊

[@BanjoLemonade]

It would depend on what size they are really to know if it will work. Folkcraft instruments has them for you to purchase (but no idea if they will fit your old dulcimer).

[@timgiles9413]

@@BanjoLemonade Thank you. I found them at........Folkcraft. :) Love your videos.

[@timgiles9413]

I just installed the bridge and nut and 3 new strings.😊 I learned about the nickel-and-dime method and sanded down the bridge and nut for correct action. DAD Tuned with an app. Sounds good😊 Now to learn to play it. 😊 Thank you Mandy. 😊

[@BanjoLemonade]

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