Dipper Features

[Geraghty]

I'm curious about what custom modifications are on the Dipper instruments out there. I saw a reference to "padded raised handles" on a review page and that got me curious. Unfortunately the comment was just on a link to someone else's Dipper review, and that page wasn't active anymore.

 

So, for those of you who have Dipper instruments, what did you decide on, and why?

[PeterT]

So, for those of you who have Dipper instruments, what did you decide on, and why?

Hi Elizabeth,

 

I'm sure that you'll have several different responses, all with differing views, by the time you see my Dipper next month.

 

Firstly, my Dipper was based on the one which Colin made for Pippa Sandford (Forum member), and by the time it was ready (10 years) Harry Scurfield had one which was similar in appearance.

 

Don't be frightened by the timescale which I have quoted; Colin would have viewed mine as a "special" (it is special). For a more standard (say 30 key C/G, wooden ends, plain black bellows), I'm guessing that Colin would quote 3 years, based upon a conversation which I had with him, earlier this year.

 

So, what did I go for which is different, and why?

 

Firstly, I have my Wheatstone "workhorse" which I use for sessions, Morris, clubs, in fact it is multi-purpose.

 

What I specified to Colin was a C/G instrument specifically for concert purposes. I specified:

 

Eight-sided with Amboyna wood ends (it's re-cycled, and is a veneer).

Seven-fold green bellows (I actually said 6, but Colin recommended 7. He was right).

Deep reed chambers (I left Colin to optimise the sound qualities).

36 keys + drone. Brass capped.

Curved hand-rails (this was becoming popular back in 1989, as it fitted the "cupped" shape of the hand).

 

 

So, my overall impression, a few years down the line is as follows:

 

It looks absolutely stunning.

It sounds wonderful. It has power, but a more mellow tone than a metal-ended box.

It plays really well. Pippa Sandford thinks that it is a better instrument than hers (which is about a quarter of an inch smaller than mine, meaning that Colin had to pack everything into a tight space).

The only thing that I'm not happy about, is the curved hand-rails. Most people seem to love them, but I prefer to move my hand a bit more freely. Still, I'm not changing them!

 

So, my advice would be to canvass option (which you are doing).

Form a good idea of what you think that you want.

Talk to Colin, at length (might be up to an hour on the telephone, as he is very chatty).

Agree a specification, and then stick with it. Posts on this Forum confirm that a change in spec. will put you further back in the queue.

 

Finally, check with Colin about every six months to ensure that you are moving up his queue. Bear in mind that his initial time quote is only an estimate. He will contact you when he is about to commence building your instrument. He might well be doing three or four similar instruments at the same time, although you can't really describe this as a "batch", since each one will be slightly different.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Regards,

Peter. (Happy Dipper owner)

[Chris Timson]

You can't really draw too many lessons from my Dipper, apart from the fact that if you want something special then Colin can make it. My Dipper is a C/G baritone of beautiful appearance and unique and wonderful sound. It was made specifically for song accompaniment and so has huge reeds and solid mahogany ends. I know of a couple of people who's order to Colin goes something like "make me an anglo/English/whatever that sounds like Chris' baritone!

 

Just recently I've started playing it a lot in parallel octaves. Beautiful!

 

Chris

[AnnC]

So, for those of you who have Dipper instruments, what did you decide on, and why?

Don't be frightened by the timescale which I have quoted; Colin would have viewed mine as a "special" (it is special). For a more standard (say 30 key C/G, wooden ends, plain black bellows), I'm guessing that Colin would quote 3 years, based upon a conversation which I had with him, earlier this year.

 

So, my overall impression, a few years down the line is as follows:

 

It looks absolutely stunning.

It sounds wonderful. It has power, but a more mellow tone than a metal-ended box.

It plays really well. So, my advice would be to canvass option (which you are doing).

Form a good idea of what you think that you want.

Talk to Colin, at length (might be up to an hour on the telephone, as he is very chatty).

Agree a specification, and then stick with it. Posts on this Forum confirm that a change in spec. will put you further back in the queue.

 

Finally, check with Colin about every six months to ensure that you are moving up his queue.

Hope that this helps.

 

Regards,

Peter. (Happy Dipper owner)

I ordrerd mine after asking a lot of people who they thought were the best makers and seeing who was mentioned most. Apart from asking for a 30 button instrument with 7 fold bellows that would be suitable for both open air morris and indoor ceildah playing and requesting a couple of notes changed on the top row everything was left to Colin as he knows a lot more about what works well than I do He recommended wooden ends for a more mellow sound and like Peter I was asked to ring regularly to check on progress. It had been ordered as a plain unornamented instrument but when I rang he said he'd found some decorative papers that would look good on it, so they went on, then next time we spoke some gold tooling on the leatherwork was added as to complement the papers and lastly gold button caps as he'd found some old stock and he thought they'd just finish it off. It arrived in only 3 years and is a delight, it's a small instrument compared to some but Colin had asked what size my hands were and it suits me perfectly The bellows are all leather as it's played in the open air a lot, it has flat handrails and the only thing I've done in the last 14 years is replace the hand straps, a friend who works leather made me new pair using the old ones as a template.

30 button C/G Anglo,

6 sided Rosewood ends ( recycled piano)

Brown leather bellows

first 3 buttons top row R side.Csharp(push) Eflat(pull), Fsharp(push) Csharp pull, Gsharp(push) Bflat(pull)

Cheers

Ann ( another happy Dipper owner)

Edited July 8, 2006 by annl