<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=Windows-1252"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1226" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN class=031575301-06092003><FONT face=Arial>New client = called today (referral, thank you very much, Sara). Says they bought a big old = Chickering for their resort lodge at an auction (erk.) that looks really nice but is = waaaaaay out of tune (uh, huh. Double erk.) and got left outside for a while (ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!!!!!!!!!!!!!). This call ought to be = interesting. I'm practicing my Veterinarian's dulcimer tones, even as I write. "I'm so = sorry Madam, but the warranty has expired and so has this poor old moldy instrument. The kindest thing to do, really, is to gently put = it to sleep. After all, it's had a good long innings ... and we really = don't want it to suffer any more, now, do we? Do you happen to own a chain saw?"</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031575301-06092003><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031575301-06092003><FONT face=Arial>Speaking of = dulcimer tones, she also said she has a beautiful dulcimer she'd like me to take a look = at. Okay, assuming it is more than the 15-note, made-in-China version you = can buy in the gift shop at the Science Center, I'm wondering if you put any = stretch in these things or just tune them flat curve, pure = tones.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031575301-06092003><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=031575301-06092003>Maybe my = Tunelab would give me a curve after sampling several notes. But would it be right? And = would I set octaves for 4:2, 2:1, or what? Or should I just go by ear and try to get = a good C octave with a 4th and 5th that fit well, then tune and balance by ear?</SPAN> <SPAN class=031575301-06092003>What think ye?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN = class=031575301-06092003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=031575301-06092003><FONT face=Arial>Experience? = Ideas? Heckles?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. = Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>---<BR> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.<BR> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<BR> Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 8/19/2003<BR> </FONT> </P>