Instrument Case

Nice! Did you include loops so that it can be lashed to your pack (black is SO hard to photograph for details)?

No, there aren't any loops. I have usually just used some spare velcro straps that I made to use in the gym (to strap 2" washers to the fixed barbells to increment the weight) or else I use twist ties, string or shockcord. It seems to work better that way because then I can strap it in tight to whatever system whatever backpack I use has.

I've never seen a strum stick before so I did a search. Looks like fun and a great instrument to strap onto a pack. Thanks for sharing.

A mountain dulcimer is another good one for travel, not mention a ukelele.

Looking at the MYOG case made me think about using the leg from a recycled pair of rain pants.

You could make a quick and dirty version with som Reflextic or just plain micro bubble wrap.

Looks good. The bag looks nice and the strum stick looks interesting. I have been toying with taking along a musical instrument on some trips. The strum stick looks interesting. I own a recently purchased Yamaha GL-1 guitarlele (1 lb. 11.7 oz.) and may take it on my Idaho trip this Summer. I may have to make a case myself as the gig bag that came with it is kind of heavy for the level of protection it provides.

Hah…the strumstick reigns supreme! Measured mine with the sack, which is cordura for me, at 1 lb 3oz. Includes spare banjo string and couple extra frets. ;) Very nice case, Piper. One day I may even try to make my own stick; the construction is so elegantly simple…but a lighter sack would be more likely to see reality.

Did you get the chromatic strumstick? I saw those on their site the other day. I was seriously thinking of getting one so I can hit a flatted 7th without having to jump up to that 6th fret. I was also thinking of tuning a chromatic strumstic with mandolin tuning. Mine is the D or "Grand" strumstick. It's quite a bit bigger than their G strumstick. The frets are really far apart. I use the capo on the third fret just so I can reach more easily.

It's such a great instrument, in my opinion. It's light like a ukulele But it's less bulky, even if it's kind of long. It has that dulcimer tuning and nice droning sound. You almost always have a nice chord. I like to hand it to people and see what they do with it. They always spontaneously make some really interesting music. Personally, I just play old-time tunes, which the strumstick is ideal for, since it's basically just a mountain dulcimer on a stick.

Of the instruments I have taken on hikes, the pennywhistle is the lightest but it's just so loud. The low whistle or Irish flute is pretty light and not quite so loud. It's hard to play a flute at altitude. The breath control isn't there. Stringed instruments are quieter and more pleasant sounding. But if it's cold, your fingers freeze on the strings.

I tried the bubble wrap, and also I made a case from a Frog togs poncho. Neither of those lasted in the chaparral scrub. This thing I made ought to last.

I did get the chromatic. Don't know about the "grand" designation, but looking at yours in your hands, think it's about the same. Found it long ago at a crafts fair in Ft. Mason, SF. I was aware of the…diatonic?…model cause some friends we took snow camping got one for their son the budding guitarist on my ravings. Oh, no, I thought, you cheated of frets he who had the best use for them! Now he plays with multiple bands in Portland and always could make his strumstick sound like mine but with two extra strings & twice the frets. I was so impatient to play it that I quit reading the tuning possibilities, just tuned it like strings 3-6, and play it like a tenor guitar. So I use all the guitar chord shapes I know, minus the low notes. It's amazing how much mental adaption that takes. Also always amazes me how much presence this tiny thing has in group settings, cutting above the armada of guitars often present.

Edit: just went to the McNally website and gather the chromatic is a "fancy" item, it is a 4 string…and the price sure has gone up! Listened to the audio clips and it's a "D." I do love that open-tuning 3-string dulcimer sound.

Yeah, funny thing with mine is that playing just only on the outer string was not workable. Then it occurred to me the tuning is almost exactly the mandolin/fiddle. It only takes a tiny mental shift to adjust for the E string being a D. So I play it like the last 3 strings of the fiddle/mandolin. And with the nice dulcimer chord sound, it sounds awesome, really great. You get the chords you need to go with the melody almost all the time, at least playing old-time tunes. If I tune the middle string down a step, then it's like playing cross-tuned on the fiddle. Some tunes fall better when tuned that way. I can tune down to EAE and play A tunes with my friends. I can tune to DGD and play G tunes with them. I can put the capo on 3 when it's tuned DAD and play G tunes. I almost never wish I had more frets. Almost.

After reading this thread, I looked into and then built a G-D-G strumstick. Both the building and the playing have been fun. I think it sounds great and is pretty easy to play.

I have yet to make a bag, but will probably do so soon. I have not decided whether to tape one up with bubble wrap or to sew a bag out of sil-nylon or something else. I like the idea of some padding provided by the bubble wrap, but I guess it is pretty short lived in "snaggy" environments.