Dave Lucas Bowed Psalteries

Characteristics of Dave's psalteries generally include:

• Trims that made each instrument unique. Most of those I've seen had glued-on wood trim pieces, but a few had paintings, courtesy of Paulette.

• A primitive-style bow that was easy to rehair if you needed to

• Stickers for numbering each string. (Most builders would use note names instead, but Dave's wife Paulette wrote three booklets that showed how to play well-known Folk songs by the numbers.)

Resonator Feature Many of Dave's psalteries included a sort of "second back," set off from the true back by little wooden blocks.

In instruments like banjo, autoharp, and dulcimer resonators, "possum boards," and similar features keep the sound from the back of the instrument from being absorbed by the player's body and clothing. Whether it makes much difference on bowed psalteries depends on how you hold the instrument. But it's a nice, attractive touch, regardless.

To me, Dave's psalteries have a sweet sound and good sustain.

Could they be louder? Some folks imagine that the glued-on wood flourishes affect the volume. Others complain about the bridge not coming to a sharper point (or using a harder material), but it does cut down on broken strings.

Personally, I'd feel fine taking a Dave Lucas psaltery into any session.

Accessories that came with the psalteries included.

• Bow - Dave included a primitive-style bow with each psaltery. Many folks prefer a more professional-looking bow, but this setup gives you the ability to easily change the tension, or to change the horsehair if it comes to that.
  

  That said, a bow from any other American manufacturer should work just fine, if you don't get a usable bow with yours.

• Rosin - A block of rosin. Different Dave Lucas psalteries have come to me with different brands and styles of resin, so I'm not sure which is original

• Tuning Wrench - A standard tuning wrench, similar to that used on autoharps and zithers. Personally, I think a "T"-shaped tuning wrench will do you more good in the long run - it puts the same amount of pressure on all sides of the tuning pegs.

• Note Number Stickers Removable clear plastic stickers with the note numbers. (Note, if they're not already attached to a psaltery you receive, you're better off finding a set of note name stickers or getting used to playing without stickers at all.)

• Case - These usually seem to have come with a custom "chipboard" (cardboard) case. They're not as rugged as a real case but they keep the dust off your instrument and make it easy to carry. That said, don't throw your psaltery in the trunk of your car then throw the suitcases on top.

• Booklets - Paulette wrote three song booklets that allowed you to play well-known Folk songs by using the numbering system. Unfortunately, that system is unique to Dave Lucas psalteries - you're better off learning to use note names.

Tuning and Restringing - Tuning a bowed psaltery is a lot like tuning an autoharp or zither. The tuning wrench is similar and, in many cases, interchangeable.

If the psaltery is way out of tune, tuning to a keyboard first can help you get it close faster than trying to use a digital tuner - which may not guess properly which note you're trying to tune.

Restringing is the same as for most other bowed psalteries (Unicorn Strings being an exception).

• Buy extra strings. Most autoharps use .010-diameter strings (what guitarists call 10-gauge. You may buy guitar strings, though you won't use the little ball at the end unless your autoharp has already been strung that way. On most psalteries, a single guitar string will give you 2-3 psaltery strings.

• If you're replacing a broken string, back out the tuning peg about two complete turns before you get started. This will help you keep from drilling tuning peg too far down into the pin block.

• Examine carefully how the remaining strings are fastened.

• Put one end of the string through the hole near the base of the hitch pin, starting with the hole closest to the bridge so that it comes out the otehr side.

• Leave a quarter of an inch or so on the "south" side of the peg and notch it so it will stay.

• Bring the wire upwards from the "north" hole, notching it again as you do.

• Bring the wire over the top of the hitch pin, settling it in the slot.

• Bring the wire across the bridge and through the hole on the approprate tuning peg.

• Draw the wire through the hole all the way.

• Cut off the wire about two inches away from the tuning peg.

• Pull the wire back until about 1/4" is sticking out. Notch the wire there. Most installations would have you bending it downward against the tuning peg to notch it.

• Holding the wire with one hand to keep the tension on it, start turning the tuning peg to tighten it up. Look to see how the wires are wound around the other tuning pegs and copy that.

• When the wire has snugged up, begin to tune.

• When the string comes loose or breaks, thank me for telling you to buy extra, figure out what you did wrong, and try again.

Dave Lucas' psalteries were undoubtedly a labor of love, and each one I've seen shows good materials and craftsmanshop. If you come across one, give it a try. You won't regret it.

For More Information

• "Pass the Psaltery, Please" - Billy Radd's blog on Dave and Paulette's work

• When You Unbox Your Bowed Psaltery - Unicorn Strings' "cheat sheet" guidelines for people who want to start playing without reading the manual.

• Unicorn Strings Web Description Unicorn Strings' description of bowed psalteries, from their former web page.

• Introduction to Bowed Psaltery - An overview of Bowed Psalteries in general.

• Bowed Psaltery Buyer's Guide from our sister site RiverboatMusic.com. Includes links to current manufacturers and recently discontinued ones that are still available in some areas.

• Bowed Psaltery Friends Facebook page.

• Bowed Psaltery Facebook page.

• Fretless Zither's archive of Bowed Zithers - discusses Ukelins and related instruments.

Conclusion

Like most of the articles on our HarpersGuild and CreekDontRise pages, this article came as a result of reader inquiries, and discovering that much of the "information" on these things was either patchy or unreliable. So I've picked up a few different pieces to make certain what I was writing about them was correct and tracked down what seem to be the most reliable sources of information.

That said, if you have a correction or a question, please contact me and I'll be glad to hear from you.

Also, if you make or play bowed psalteries, and want to provide additional information, corrections, etc. we'd be glad to hear from you.

Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you come away with some great ideas for "sharing the joy."

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race

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