Recording with a Dulcimer

Subject: Mountain Dulcimer
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 14:00:46 -0700

Hello,
I would like to know the best way to record a mountain dulcimer. Is it better to use an instrument mic or are there pick-ups available that do not require tearing my instrument apart?
Kim

Greetings Kim,

My suggestion would be to use a high quality mic for recording a mountain dulcimer...you want to capture the natural sounds of your dulcimer along with the transients (of which are not captured by a pick-up system)...

Additionally, when using a pick-up system, the sound becomes artificial and does not really capture the wood's natural resonance...which is the whole point of playing an acoustic instrument...Mickey