Ringing Strings
Bowed
Psalteries
handcrafted by
Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026
psalteryman@gmail.com
WELCOME
Here in my little corner of the "web" you will find -
- Handcrafted Bowed Psalteries
- Accessories
- Helpful Information
- Pride in Workmanship and Service
I have been building and playing bowed psalteries for the past 32 years. A love of music and woodworking began at an early age. At my fathers side, I became familiar with walnut, cherry, cedar and other woods native to North America. I gained great love and respect for the use of these materials The projects we completed provided the skills required for creating the beautiful instruments you find here today. My love for music came from my mother, she is very talented and can play the piano really great by ear. Quality and service are my top priorities. My long experience in playing the bowed psaltery gives me the knowledge to know what works well and what doesn't. My goal is to create the very best bowed psalteries available anywhere.
I love to tinker and come up with new designs. Some new ideas come out of my own head. I do listen to customers, many design changes have come from customer comments and wishes.
Please take a moment to browse the site. See the variety of figured woods used. Listen to the samples of my recordings. Visit my workshop page and see where these wonderful instruments are made There are even several videos scattered about, so you can see and hear how the bowed psaltery is played.
Enjoy your time here, come back and visit often.
Copyright Ringing Strings Music 2004-2012 All Rights Reserved
Recent Updates -
5-10-12 Pictures and sound clips are up for the newest Soprano and Tenor psalteries. I also added some more Favorite Quotes.
5-9-12
I have started working on the latest update today. I have to stop for a trip to Cumberland Gap to deliver a psaltery and give a lesson. I'll continue when I get back home this evening.
5-7-12 Looks like I will finally have just a few new psalteries to list on the web site soon. All the ones I had planned to go on the site sold before I even got them photographed. Then I had quite a few orders come in from folks that knew what they wanted me to build for them. I am just now finishing up those and have managed to build just a few extras for the web site. They should be in place in a couple of days.
I had never anticipated needing to work my way through a waiting list. If that continues I may need to change the web site to where I will show what woods I currently have available and take orders. This would be in addition to any psalteries I am able to complete that will be available on the site.
I don't require a deposit on orders of psalteries that are no different than I would normally build. I just complete the psaltery and the person that ordered it will be able to purchase it. If they change their minds it will be offered to the next one on the waiting list. After that it will go on the web site.
I also have now secured a site to host the East Tennessee Bowed Psaltery Gathering in the fall. I have to wait until the end of the month to lock in the exact dates. I do know it will be somwhere between the last weekend in Sept. and first weekend in Nov. More details when I have them.
4-3-12 There is a change in my dates at the Folk Art Center starting on Thursday. I will only be there through Sunday, instead of Monday, as was stated on my Events page. Sorry for the mix up. I will be stringing lots of new psalteries for an update while over there this week. If you are close to that area, it would be great to meet you and introduce you to the bowed psaltery. The Southern Highland Craft Guild sponsors these demos with the main focus being education and a chance for us crafters to showcase what we do. I plan to string psalteries and hair several new bows, but the main thing I usually end up doing is to play for folks and offer them a chance to try. I'll even have a new Bass/Baritone psaltery set up to play. Learn more on my Events page.
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