StrumShop
Vashon, Washington ·
StrumShop
Handmade stick dulcimers and other stringed instrumentsVashon, Washington 23 Sales On Etsy since 2016
Announcement I'm gearing up for a booth at the Vashon Farmer's Market - more info soon!
Announcement
I'm gearing up for a booth at the Vashon Farmer's Market - more info soon!
Reviews
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drfrancov on Jul 12, 2018
5 out of 5 starsBeautifully made instrument. Craftsmanship is supreme. Sound is as expected. Great playability. Seller answers questions promptly and completely. Very friendly and he ships quickly. I would definitely buy another instrument from this shop.
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Teresa Nguyen on Jun 30, 2018
5 out of 5 starsI love this strum stick so much. It’s easy to play but i can still play complex songs. It’s perfect to carry with me when I go out in nature alone.
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Updates
About
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On Vashon Island, we have a sawmill that uses sustainably harvested logs. These are alder blanks from the island.
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There is little waste. The center of the fork is cut to form the end of the body.
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Add soundboard, back, frets, tuners and strings and you have a Strumbolina!
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My daughter with the new classroom set I made for Chautauquah Elementary School.
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I try to use interesting wood. I start with 1x1 sticks then start shaping them.
I make Strumbolina stick dulcimers so everybody can feel the joy of creating music.
I've played musical instruments for a long time. I started with the trombone in elementary school, struggled with motivation to practice and eventually stopped playing. As an adult I found the banjo and ukulele and fell in love with music and I want my daughter to grow up knowing how to play a stringed instrument. After trying many different instruments, I found stick dulcimers and became so much of a fan that I learned how to make them and built a classroom set for my daughter's school. Now I want everybody to have one! They will make you smile!!
What is a “Strumbolina” stick dulcimer? It is a three-stringed instrument you play like a guitar or ukulele but it is fretted and tuned like an Appalachian Dulcimer. It is tuned to a single key. I usually tune to G (GDG). That is the top and bottom strings are a “G” note, one octave apart, and the middle string is a D. Since it is a single-key instrument, all of the notes sound good together. No stress, all fun!
I had a music teacher who explained music to me. Music, he said, is made of two things: notes and timing. Of those two, timing - by far - is the most important. The Strumbolina lets you focus on timing and rhythm by making the notes “just work”. Because of the way it is constructed, it only has notes from the key of G. That means that pretty much no matter which notes you strum, they will sound good. No worry - just play!
Playing a Strumbolina is like Planet Reebok - there are no rules. Give it a strum. Use your left index finger and press down on the lower string - the littlest one. That’s the 3rd string. Strum some more. Move your finger around. It’s all good - you’re playing a tune! I don’t know what tune it is, maybe you don’t either. It doesn’t matter - you’re doing it and it sounds great! Keep going, have fun!
Check out my YouTube channel for tutorials and songs!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHgEmF2jjVkJkwlgE1PUDlg
Shop members
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Joe Schonbok
Owner
Joe lives with his wife and daughter on beautiful Vashon Island, Washington. Joe has enjoyed wood working all his life, using tools inherited from his grandfather, father, and friends. Joe loves music too and would love to make a Strumbolina for you!
Shop policies
Shipping
Payment options
- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns & exchanges
- Custom or personalized orders
I accept returns I do not accept returns
I accept exchanges I do not accept exchanges
I accept cancellations I do not accept cancellations
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Privacy policy
More information
Frequently asked questions
How do I tune my instrument?
You can easily get the strumbolina in tune with itself. Press the big, top string just behind the 4th fret. Tune the middle string until it sounds just like that. Then press the middle string behind the 3rd fret. Tune the little bottom string until it sounds just like that.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqeDdagSfBo
If I need to a "true" note, then I use "gStrings" on my android phone. For an iPhone or iPad, Guitar Tuna offers a free version.
Most of my stick dulcimers sound best in the key of G - the biggest string tune to G3 (196 Hz). The middle string is D4 (293.7 Hz), and the smallest string is G4 (392 Hz).