Customer Reviews

McNally G-29 Standard Strumstick

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this item as a gift for my wife, and she really likes it. She used to play guitar, but has not had time for it for many years. Guitar is a difficult instrument to play, and it takes a lot of time to maintain proficiency. She likes the strumstick, because it is a much simpler instrument. It is easier to learn and requires less practice than the guitar.

I think the strumstick hits its market well. This is a no-frills stringed instrument. As a guitar is to the strumstick, the oboe is to the recorder. In the hands of even a beginner, this instument sounds nice. The sound of someone learning the strumstick doesn't make you want to stick red-hot pokers through your eardrums.

I'm not a musician, but the quality of the strumstick seems to be very good. At its price (I think I paid $120), I consider it a bargain. This is not some made-in-China packaged defecation. This is a quality product.

To describe the strumstick in as few words a possible, the instrument works by getting rid of all the sharps and flats in the scale. It would be like having a piano with only the white keys. In this regard it reminds me of a harmonica. It has three strings, and you pretty much just play the bottom one (at least in the instructions that came with it). With the top two strings just ringing, it has much the same type of sound as the bagpipe. Maybe because of this and the simplicity of the instrument (which doesn't have a deep, rich sound), it sounds like a medieval instrument.

If you're interested in a simple, hobbyist type of instrument, or if you are looking for a beginner's stringed instrument (particularly for fickle youth whose intrests change with the tides), I would recommend this. It might be a very good instrument for home-schoolers too.

Mark

I bought the strumstick (grand model) a few days ago. I have zero experience with musical instruments and have always been leery of the "easy to play" claims. This one means it. The diatonic scale is very user friendly compared to chromatic instruments (e.g. guitars). I started making up my own songs within five minutes of getting it. My ears didn't bleed once from the sounds I made. In fact, my wife asked me if I had played the guitar before because the made up tunes sounded good to her ear too. My three year old son wanted me to play something. I panicked a bit and told him I can't because I just got the instrument and didn't know how. I grabbed the song book and took a deep breath. Within an hour I was playing his favorites from memory (the itsy bitsy spider and wheels on the bus). The songbook has "real" songs in it too like Scarborough Fair", "Danny Boy" etc.

If you want to mess around on a stringed instrument and don't have the time to go through the pain and suffering of strangled guitar tunes, this is the instrument for you. It does sound very much like a mountain dulcimer with faint banjo overtones. In fact, in many ways, this IS a dulcimer configured for guitar playing. If you enjoy the sweeter sound of a dulcimer over a guitar, this is the one. Although it only has three strings, it is clear that there is plenty of room for complex song playing. I haven't put it down since I got. If you pluck it, it has surprising volume, but you can softly strum it too and not offend those with other musical tastes. If, like me, you are afraid of tuning it, buy a $25 clip-on tuner and the problem will be solved.

Love it. I'm already saving up for the alto and standard versions. By the way, these sorts of instruments go by other names (e.g. "sweetstick", duclijo, banjimer, dulcimer guitar, etc.).

This instrument is a whole lotta music and fun at your fingertips. No matter what age you are, people are just drawn to this lil thing. I bought my mom one, she used to play piano and is 84 years old and plays it like a banjo. My grandgals luv it also. I watched a lotta of YouTube (Tracy Chapman, YES, the Inventor ...McNally, etc.) before I bought mine (Waverly Ohio Prussia Valley Music Shoppe)

I found this had more versatility of sound in 3 strings than I expected. It is VERY forgiving when it comes to playing by new form of chords or by ear.
I like playing Rock, Classic camp songs and Vineyard Worships songs on my standard G, tuned DAD.

Are you prone to getting the blues? That is, feeling depressed? Buy this and you will feel a little to a lot better just by strumming on it for awhile.

A real musical instrument that is easy to learn and a whale of a lot of fun to play.
Plays very much like a dulcimer but easier to bring along anywhere

I stumbled across this thing while just kinda browsing the internet on dulcimers (the strumstick is self-described as a 'cousin' to the Appalachian dulcimer). I watched a few demo videos of it, and well... frankly... I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! lulz One of those rare times when I just had to have something. It is a pretty simple instrument, but don't let it fool you thinking its just a gimmick instrument. I have been playing around with it, and it can get pretty complex tunes out.

Additionally, McNally constantly puts out his claim that its a great "fret-exerciser" for guitar, and I can see why. The string tension isn't that low, so you still need to put some strength into fretting, but with three strings, or even just fretting the bottom G to make a tune, it will build up basic finger strength and the all important callouses. Also, some the chords take a bit of stretching to fret properly, but its also a very forgiving instrument. You will still sound pretty good (although not as crystal clear you can achieve if when you fret it properly) even with your pinky kinda smashed finger-pad flat a bit pass the halfway mark two frets down while you barre with your index. Now compare that with any other string instrument's "clunk-thunk-YOU SUCK" when you don't have spot on positioning.

Plus, McNally's official strumstick site has 70+ plus songs in "strumstick tablature" (pretty easy stuff to read, really!) you can play around with (for free!). I was doing America the Beautiful with just the bottom G string as the melody, strumming and grinning the evening I got it in the mail. Wooo, considering it took me a week just to plunk out 'Bile 'em Cabbage Down on my first banjo with anything approaching an unequivocal, "Hey, that's music, ain't it?" reaction... I really like this lil thing!

I am absolutely pleased with my purchase. It was exactly as was described and was received quickly.

This is a cool product and i have no string edu but was able to just free hand and sound good. I though am not really into music so i got this trying to get into it more but not really working so i have it for sale at saginaw MI craigslist