3
Dusty Strings
3450 16th Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98119 • 206-634-1656 • Fax 206-691-3712 • www.dustystrings.c
om
3. Playing Angle.
You can vary the center back leg length to
find the angle of the instrument that is most comfortable for
you. A range of angles are available, but there are limits to how
far you can go without compromising stability. Extreme angles
in any direction (if any leg is leaning more than 90° outwards)
will cause the instrument to be unstable
(see figure 7).
4. Leg Length Settings.
Each person will have a slightly dif-
ferent height and tilt that is most comfortable for them. It is
helpful to adjust the legs to the desired length before screwing
them into the brackets. Here are some likely lengths to use as a
starting point: for sit-down playing, try setting the front legs to
23
"
and the center back leg to 32
"
. For stand-up playing, try 32
"
for the front legs and 40
"
for the back leg.
5. Marking Your Leg Settings.
After experimenting with leg
lengths to find your most comfortable standing and/or sitting
positions, it is handy to mark the legs so you don’t have to
measure them to set up the dulcimer in the future. Just make a
pencil line around each leg where it disappears under the latch
ring. The legs can then be collapsed for transport and easily
extended again to the pencil lines for playing.
6. Case Protection.
While most gig bags are flexible enough to
hold the dulcimer with the brackets attached, the brackets can
create wear points in the case lining. We’ve enclosed protective
leather patches to be glued in at the places where each of the leg
brackets contacts the lining of the case. We’ve found that barge
cement or contact cement (available at most hardware stores)
works well.
Other TriStander Features
1. Uneven Surfaces.
Playing outside on hillsides or uneven ter-
rain is easy using the TriStander system. Simply adjust the leg
lengths to make the bottom rail of your dulcimer level.
2. Resonance.
The TriStander allows the back of your dulci-
mer to vibrate more freely than a conventional stand does. It
will also transfer the vibration to the floor better. On carpeted
floors, you may hear no difference. But on hardwood, tile, or
linoleum floors, most dulcimers will sound noticeably louder
and more resonant with the TriStander.
3. Stability.
With the legs adjusted properly, your dulcimer
will be extremely stable, very difficult to tip over, and literally
impossible to knock off its stand!
4. Portability.
The lightweight legs collapse to about 16 inches
in length. They will conveniently fit inside the leg compart-
ment or accessory pocket of any Dusty Strings case. You can
now carry everything you need in one hand, or better yet, one
shoulder strap. This will leave your hands free for opening
doors, signing autographs, shaking hands . . .
5. Multiple Dulcimers.
It is not uncommon for dulcimer
players to own more than one dulcimer. If you are one of those
folks, you may want to have the TriStander versatility with all
your dulcimers. You can order extra sets of brackets from your
dealer or directly from Dusty Strings.
Warranty
The TriStander legs and brackets are warrantied for one year
against defects in materials and craftsmanship. You may be
asked to provide proof of purchase if you need to make a war-
ranty claim. Legs that show signs of over-tightening are not
covered under warranty, but there may be replacement parts
available. Please do not hesitate to call us if you encounter
any problems or if you have any questions about using your
TriStander System.
Rev. 6/15/20
Figure 7: Playing Angles
90
°
or less
Cen
ter l
eg
Co
rn
er l
eg
More than
90
°
Co
rne
r le
g
Cen
ter l
eg
Slight Angle
Not OK
OK
90
°
or less
More than
90
°
Cen
ter l
eg
Cen
ter l
eg
Co
rn
er l
eg
Co
rn
er l
eg
Not OK
OK
Sharp Angle
