Tim Manning
Hammer Dulcimer - Dulcimer
Hammered Dulcimer
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I have been making Hammered Dulcimers for 15 years and have supplied many music industry professionals, composers, musicians and beginners, in the UK and abroad. I believe my instruments to be the best in the UK. The sound is particularly sweet due to my unique soundboard design combined with bridge placement. Don't just take my word for it, look at the instrument owners below.
Some of my clients are people you have may have heard of such as Peter Gabriel. There are many others like for instance James Asher and Roger Bolton, whose names are less familiar but whose music you will have heard on TV or Film. I have also supplied foreign recording artists, check out Karin Hoghielm.
Music Magic Dulcimer player Ben Edwards No1 in France
Ben Edwards Blues Harp and Hammered Dulcimer player with Charlie Winston recently reported that the band, now signed to Real World Records have been on tour supporting Peter Gabriel. Even more recently the band have been touring in France promoting the release of the debut album Hobo. Charlie Winston's album Hobo was recently No 2 in France, while the single, taken from the album was Number 1.
Ben's Instrument was made by Tim in 1999 and is a bespoke instrument comprising a 12 x 12 combined with 4 pairs of Low Bass strings. The bridges were modified to take pick-ups that run the entire length of the two bridges, combined with a pre-amp system. This arrangement allowings Ben to be able to compete against the sound of a live band with his Music Magic instrument.
Click here for Charlie Winston's My Space page
Click here for Ben's My Space page
Another Music Magic Dulcimer owner, Yannis Psimadas who has become a friend is pictured above. Yannis flew over to pick his instrument up personally. He makes music for theatre and plays Dulcimer with a story teller at the National Museam of Athens.
Tomos Brangwyn is a former student of Geoff Smith. Tomos's instrument has to be the best looking instrument I have made, check out the great photo's on his my space page here. It has very nicely figured quilted Sapele for the rails and a solid brass soundhole and lots of brass escussions. It's a 15 +15 with wound bass strings. Thomos was in the studio with Patrick Wolf 3 days ofter he picked up his instrument! He tells me that he has done a few more sessions since.
Design and construction
I have spent considerable time refining the design of these instruments using various elements from the world of dulcimers resulting in instruments that fuse 21st century construction techniques with classic elements creating a streamlined modern appearance representing the best of UK Dulcimer design. Each instrument has good tuning stability.
Sound-boards are constructed from north european laminated Birch and have been designed for maximum flexing while maintaining stiffness. The result of this design is good volume and an even tone that is not harsh.
Hitch and wrest (tuning) pins are fixed to the Beech sides of the instrument. The rails (top and bottom) are less of an issue and I use different timbers for these depending on avaliability at the timber yard. I have used Cherry, Ash, Oak, Afromosia, Iroko, and Elm but prefer these days to use only locally sourced hard woods, although I have a stock of quilted Sapele which I bond with other timbers for the rails of some bespoke, special instruments (see above).
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