A very special personal hi-fi system. (Lengthy caption alert!)

I have a bit of a hearing problem and wear hearing aids. Four years ago I started learning to play this - a hammer dulcimer. I can hear what I'm playing fine - when I'm on my own. It never occurred to me I wouldn't be able to when playing in a session. I can't and it makes things just a bit difficult! All seemed lost until Lester came up with this totally genius idea which allows me to hear what I'm playing, via one of my hearing aids. If you'd like to know how it works and have the time, please read on.

1) is a pick up that feeds sound from the dulcimer via the lead 2) to a small amplifier [made for use - with a guitar] - 3).
4) is an induction loop, a personal version of those loops they use in places like banks. It also connects to the amplifier and relays the sound to one of my hearing aids, which I set on the i-loop programme. You can see the hook which fits over my ear and sits next to the hearing aid. I've positioned it on the dulcimer. (Tricky - it took some persuading not to fall down between the strings. :-D )
I can hear the amplified sound, other people hear the dulcimer's unplugged sound.
My other hearing aid is set to a programme that is designed for listening to music. That keeps me in touch with what everyone else is playing. Lester sits on that side of me so that I can hear the melody clearly. That's more useful than being able to hear accompaniment. We are both melody players.

There's a bit of sound distortion which occasionally makes things a bit tricky. I doubt I'll ever manage to pick up a tune by ear. But I can still do a lot of one of the things that I love doing and that's a world better than not being able to do it at all.

I am more grateful to my husband than I can ever express.

P.S. And 5? That's a tuning meter - recommended for the comfort and sanity of all strings players, especially those of us with 47 strings to tune :-D
Thank you for looking and reading.

[Brian Baptie]

And Lester put all that together. Amazing!!

[Claire Fisher]

Wow, that's brilliant! What a clever, thoughtful man :-)

[Sophia Ziburtovicz]

Here's to ingenuity! You have a wonderful husband, and it's great that you're tenacious enough to pursue your music. I know someone with severe hearing loss and she just won't extend herself.

[Mhel]

You're very lucky to have a wonderful husband Alison...Happy Christmas dear!

[Jean Tookey]

Lester is so clever. How lovely to enjoy the music together.

[Jennifer C]

faved, Lester is great and so are you

[CHARLES MALLIA]

thats nice

[Anita Hoyle]

What a wonderful and heartwarming story! You sound like such a happy couple!

[Zanettie]

Great story, great photo!

[Susan Bell]

Interesting to hear the explanation again. I had forgotten that that was why you always needed to sit in your particular places at the session.

[Netkonnexion]

Wow. So talented - photography and music. Next you will be telling us you are doing the 100 meters in the Olympics! LOL. Just kidding!
Actually that looks like a very cool instrument. I can't recall ever having heard one. Any YouTube links?
Great idea for the amp. Nice one Lester!