Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries
handcrafted by Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026 ricklong@ringingstrings.com
Photo by Robert Batey
Please use the word "psaltery" in the subject of your e-mail. Also include a phone number as a second way for me to contact you.
2-5-2010
Here's a sneak peek at the new baritone bowed psaltery design. There are sound clips still listed below the pictures. Just keep scrolling down to find them.
These are pictures of baritones in progress and a few that are finished. The two unfinished chestnut/walnut and the aspen/cherry that has the pins installed, but no strings, are all going to be available and will be the first of these offered for sale on the web site.
1-27-10
Here are some of the first sounds heard from the new baritone design. It has three full octaves to play and a great sound. I recorded these sound clips in my workshop with a small digital recorder using the built in microphone. I also was double bowing on these tunes with the psaltery mounted on a tripod. The first sound clip is an example of the volume range on this psaltery, I controlled the volume levels using only the pressure of the bows on the strings. The rest of the clips are just a few of my favorite tunes I thought of to play while recording. There are a few mistakes here and there, but I like the way they turned out
I'm still working on finishing the first of these baritone psalteries. A few have already been claimed. The instructional DVD is in progress and I should hear from my case maker most any day with the first of the cases I am having made for them. Pictures and descriptions will be on my next post on this great new addition to my psaltery family.
1-23-10
The new design has been finalized and I'm in the process of building the first ones to be available for sale. The first three of them are already pre-ordered
and have been claimed. I was able to develop the baritone into what I had been working toward and even found a few added benefits to the design. There are a couple of new playing styles that I will also introduce when I bring this model to the website.
Check back for more info. You will see the announcement on the home page when I bring it out.
8-29-2009
I am working on a re-design of the baritone psaltery
I have been experimenting with ideas on a re-design on the baritone. The new design will be a smaller instrument that will be easier to play off the tripod. I have been working on a prototype that shows much promise. My method of experimentation is nothing scientific and tends to be more trial and error, sometimes it seems to be more on the error side.
Another change is that I have never been completely satisfied with the use of tuning pins for hitch pins on the baritone psalteries I have made in the past. The new design will have the smaller hitch pins with loop end strings. I feel like this lends a better look to the psaltery and definitely gives you more room between pins with lots less weight for the psaltery.
I'll be posting more on my progress on the re-design when I have something more interesting to tell you.
Just some general shots in the workshop while working on the new baritone psalteries
The three in the foreground are two chestnut/walnut models and one aspen/cherry. No strings on the aspen/cherry yet.
The Chestnut/walnut on the left is a left hand model. This was a special order for a customer. The other two in the front haven't been claimed yet.
The one on the tripod is the second one of the baritones finished. It is curly sassafras/curly walnut and already claimed. No more curly walnut for now. I just had enough for this one and the first psaltery in this design. The first one in this series is the first sucessful prototype of this new design, I claimed that one for myself.
This is the left hand baritone flanked by two chestnut/walnut models that are ready for carving and finishing.
These are some matched pairs of bows that can be used for either the baritone or tenor psalteries I build. These are designed to be used with black hosehair. The bow I build for non-wound strings is slightly different in shape and has synthetic hair. The flat area at the base of these bows is for a tensioning device needed for the horsehair. No need for that with synthetic hair. Clockwise from the lower left are quilted maple, walnut, chestnut, aspen, and curly maple. These are matched in size, shape, and are sawn side by side from the board.
These require a extra heavy duty tripod. This one will support twenty pounds and has an all metal head. It holds these big psalteries rock solid without any shake.
2-8-2010
This video shows an example of the new baritone mounted on a camera tripod and being double bowed. The song is "Be Thou My Vision". The first verse I stayed an octave apart with each bow. The second verse I play the melody with my right hand and harmony with my left.
This video show the baritone laying across my lap being plucked. I am using some picks I developed for this and a pair will be included with the baritone. By using the two picks you can play melody and harmony just like the double bowing method.
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