I'm a life-long woodworker, but not a musician, or guitar player. My son is actually the guitar player in the family. When he was a young teenager, I started making cigar box guitars for him to play. And, I've been making them ever since, off & on. Of all the wood furniture, and other things I've built in my life, making guitars has been the most satisfying for me. That's because none of the tables, chairs, bookcases, shelves, sofa tables, or cabinets can....make MUSIC. Making a wooden thing that makes music is the best thing of all.
Good video. I've had a D Merlin for a couple of years and like it a lot. I'd love to get the G Merlin but I hate the numbers on the neck since it makes it look like a toy.
Mandy, you are right to love this little but mighty instrument. The G is way easier to sing along with as it is a much lower register. For amateur singers, go G!
You are now my seagull guru! Thanks for spurring my interest to try the g model. I play guitar badly after 100 years of trying.but this thing is fun already. Love your playing and fun spirit of your videos.quick question? I tried flipping the plain steel to the outside lowest position,and i like it but is that a bad idea sonically or anything? Also any coating or finish that i could safely add to the back of the neck for smoothness? Thanks for all your content and love sunrays.i will join your lemonade stand when funds permit!
Why flip it? Maybe I misunderstood. Thick strings on top little strings on bottom like a guitar. Any non wax oil should work - lemon oil. I use music nomad oil - link in the description.
Hi Mandy, I want to buy a Seagull Merlin G. I'd like his sound. But I got a problem: each songbook I found for to play a Seagull Merlin are for D tunning. There are Songbooks for G tunning? Thanks a lot Mandy for your answer, I wait it.
The tabs are the same for G or D model. You are playing notes in the key of G if you have a G model. Have fun!! I have a couple Merlin ebooks at my website.
I cannot for the life of me find a G model of Merlin, they don't seem to exist on the wider internet outside of your videos. Any ideas on where I could get one? I like the D model but the G sounds much better...
They are available but it looks like they are out of stock. You can put larger gauge strings on the D model (just know that it will wallow out your bridge with the larger strings).
The key of G model is still not available. Did Seagull quit making them? I have tuned a mountain dulcimer DGD instead of DAD to get the G key, so I can make the D-model work.
sorry I missed this comment, they will wear off with time they are jut painted on. No idea why they are there. Outside the US you can get them without the numbers
I would love to get one of these, but I'm a southpaw and it looks like the lefty version was discontinued. Is converting one of these as simple as flipping the bridge and re-stringing it?
I will ask also here Can I just put G key strings on mahogany D keyed dulcimer, and that’s all, or there are some more differences between mahogany topped D and G merlins?
Thank you so much. I have really been enjoying your videos. You are so thorough with your explanations on things. Now I have one more question relating to the same thing . Should I remove the wound or unwound one?
thanks / . and thanks to you im going to buy the secend merlin . now its going to be the M4 . i use 0.12 acosutic P.B. strings . elixir . merlin can hendel : 0.12 - 12 / D string 0.32 in secend one . and the last one is 0.53 last bass string , you cand play wood picks from maple and eboby , now its going to be electric to my AER amp / acoustic electronic research. god bless thinking about maple ,' canada made -and love you
This woman deserves 100K + views and likes. She knows her shit, and educates the masses.
I'm a life-long woodworker, but not a musician, or guitar player. My son is actually the guitar player in the family. When he was a young teenager, I started making cigar box guitars for him to play. And, I've been making them ever since, off & on. Of all the wood furniture, and other things I've built in my life, making guitars has been the most satisfying for me. That's because none of the tables, chairs, bookcases, shelves, sofa tables, or cabinets can....make MUSIC. Making a wooden thing that makes music is the best thing of all.
Thank you so very much for all the time you put into teaching folks like me. I truly appreciate the effort and energy you put into your videos.
Thanks! I try. Glad you are enjoying the channel.
THANK YOU for the string info for the G model! Great video.
Good video. I've had a D Merlin for a couple of years and like it a lot. I'd love to get the G Merlin but I hate the numbers on the neck since it makes it look like a toy.
Hey Rick, I totally agree! But I’ve heard you can get one without the fret numbers. Maybe contact Seagull or some music stores. The G sounds so good.
Ive got the D model in mahogany
Nice!
Mandy, you are right to love this little but mighty instrument. The G is way easier to sing along with as it is a much lower register. For amateur singers, go G!
Thanks. I really do enjoy those little Merlins. Agree 100%
Thanks for all the help!
Great job! Thank you so much!
I want the G model because I play and sing in the keys of C, E and G
Thank you , this is really useful info ;0)
You are now my seagull guru! Thanks for spurring my interest to try the g model. I play guitar badly after 100 years of trying.but this thing is fun already. Love your playing and fun spirit of your videos.quick question? I tried flipping the plain steel to the outside lowest position,and i like it but is that a bad idea sonically or anything? Also any coating or finish that i could safely add to the back of the neck for smoothness? Thanks for all your content and love sunrays.i will join your lemonade stand when funds permit!
Why flip it? Maybe I misunderstood. Thick strings on top little strings on bottom like a guitar. Any non wax oil should work - lemon oil. I use music nomad oil - link in the description.
I just put the plain steel on the outside of the paired stringa,so the twangy g would be first strummed on an upstroke
Hi Mandy, I want to buy a Seagull Merlin G. I'd like his sound. But I got a problem: each songbook I found for to play a Seagull Merlin are for D tunning. There are Songbooks for G tunning?
Thanks a lot Mandy for your answer, I wait it.
The tabs are the same for G or D model. You are playing notes in the key of G if you have a G model. Have fun!! I have a couple Merlin ebooks at my website.
Thanks a lot Mandy!
Just bought one for one of my Grandboys
Awesome, they will love it. 🙏
I cannot for the life of me find a G model of Merlin, they don't seem to exist on the wider internet outside of your videos. Any ideas on where I could get one?
I like the D model but the G sounds much better...
They are available but it looks like they are out of stock. You can put larger gauge strings on the D model (just know that it will wallow out your bridge with the larger strings).
The key of G model is still not available. Did Seagull quit making them? I have tuned a mountain dulcimer DGD instead of DAD to get the G key, so I can make the D-model work.
Yes just put thicker strings on it and tune it up GDG and you are good.
Thanks for all the Merlin intro videos. NOTE: Your link to the D strings is for loop end strings!
oh no, thanks for letting me know that is no good. I just fixed it.
Thank you for your videos! I have one more question: are the numbers on the frets of the G model removable?
sorry I missed this comment, they will wear off with time they are jut painted on. No idea why they are there. Outside the US you can get them without the numbers
I would love to get one of these, but I'm a southpaw and it looks like the lefty version was discontinued. Is converting one of these as simple as flipping the bridge and re-stringing it?
Yes it is, only if you get the one with the numbers at the frets it will be upside down.
@@BanjoLemonade Thank you! In that case I'm buying one today and watching all of your videos 😊
are there any complete lesson books on the merlin
I have ebooks, a course, and a bunch of individual lessons
I tune the A string down to G,rething
Tune the A string down to G, rethink the chords and play in G.
Of course you can do that if you’d like. But the G merlin has thicker gauge strings which is really nice being lower. Many tunings will work well.
I will ask also here
Can I just put G key strings on mahogany D keyed dulcimer, and that’s all, or there are some more differences between mahogany topped D and G merlins?
I just answered on the G Merlin review where you asked first. There are differences in construction.
Can you tune a g merlin down to an a. And if so will intonation be ok
Haven’t tried that yet.
Can I change the 2 strings on a Merlin G to 1 string?
yes
Thank you so much. I have really been enjoying your videos. You are so thorough with your explanations on things. Now I have one more question relating to the same thing . Should I remove the wound or unwound one?
I hope JESUS loves me because I am almost certain no one else does
He does and so do I brother! Don’t let anything get you down. Let me know if you need prayer or would like to talk. I’m here.
thanks / . and thanks to you im going to buy the secend merlin . now its going to be the M4 . i use 0.12 acosutic P.B. strings . elixir . merlin can hendel : 0.12 - 12 / D string 0.32 in secend one . and the last one is 0.53 last bass string , you cand play wood picks from maple and eboby , now its going to be electric to my AER amp / acoustic electronic research. god bless thinking about maple ,' canada made -and love you
Wonderful, I love my 2 merlins.
@@BanjoLemonade DId it today