StrumbolinaStrumShop
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A buyer bought a gift from this shop and gave it a 5-star review!
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Hawaii Life on Sep 20, 2020
5 out of 5 starsThe most beautiful little instrument I’ve ever owned. The quality of construction is literally a work of art. The thought, care and detail put into making this instrument including the little bag and strap is incredible. I highly recommend!
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Penny-Ellen on Sep 1, 2020
5 out of 5 starsLove this cool strum stick! (identical to the posting photo) Joe did a beautiful job on its craftsmanship- and what a great addition to my string collection. The braid/strap and instrument bag is a nice added touch. Quick shipping, too. Thanks, Joe!
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Holly on Jun 20, 2019
5 out of 5 starsNicely made, with a sweet sound. An excellent deal for the price. Shipped quickly, with kind customer service. Thank you very much!
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Amanda on Mar 14, 2019
5 out of 5 starsFast shipping, beautifully made and so easy to play. The strings keep their tune and the tone is warm and sweet. My kids keep asking me to play more songs! I love this.
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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 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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Juanna on Apr 6, 2018
5 out of 5 starsThese are so cool and so fun to play. I’ve been playing guitar over twenty years and have loved mine (smaller brown one) for the last 16 months. My son is playing his now for about three weeks and it’s easy enough that we can already play songs together. That encourages him to practice more. Highly recommend for playability and quality.
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Pat on Jan 21, 2017
5 out of 5 stars"I purchased a couple of strumbolinas for my granddaughters and they arrived quickly and well-packaged. They are very high-quality instruments. They have great tone quality and very playable. Each dulcimer was custom designed and the craftsmanship was excellent. Within minutes the girls were playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star without a problem and quickly adding more difficult songs to their repertoire. I am sorry that I missed the posting review of the strumbolina that I purchased a while back as I feel the same about mine.
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Pat on Jan 21, 2017
5 out of 5 stars"I purchased two strumbolinas for my granddaughters and they arrived quickly and well-packaged. They are very high-quality instruments. They have great tone quality and very playable . Each dulcimer was custom designed and the craftsmanship was excellent. Within minutes the girls were playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star without a problem and quickly adding more difficult songs to their repertoire."
About StrumbolinaStrumShop
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It all started when I made a classroom set for my daughter's elementary school.
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Using unusual or reclaimed wood makes every instrument - here is a bamboo Strumbolina stick dulcimer.
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I use the same basic structure as the chassis for several different types of instrument. Here is a Strumbolina banjo!
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Some recent Strumbolinas- a banjo, 3-string guitar, and stick dulcimer.
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Thanks for stopping by! I love building instruments - maybe you will find one that will inspire you!
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!
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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
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Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept returns
I don't accept exchanges or cancellations
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- 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).