NID (New Instrument Day): McNally StrumStick

I ran into this unique instrument while traveling to North Carolina to pick up our "new-to-us" sailboat we bought (see: Our Lake Life Blog for info on that!). It was actually on our way back, we stopped at this quaint little town in Tennessee named Dandridge.

Our original intention was to stay at The Point Resort there in Dandridge and put or new toy in the water but the weather had other plans. It stormed the entire time. So we went shopping!

The town is the 2nd oldest in Tennessee, named after the "First First Lady" Martha Dandridge Washington. There's an old graveyard that runs through the middle of the downtown area and a famous Levee that saved the town from certain demise when they decided to flood the river valley to put in a lake. Or as they say in "Oh Brother, where art thou": "They's gonna to hyrdo up the whole state!"

We went into a small shop called Rachel's Attic and Dandridge General Store. That's where I saw it hanging on the wall. I played it and walked away only to return and play it again minutes later. When the nice lady that owns the shop told me she'd give me 40% off, I did some calculating...and then bought it on the spot. No hemming and hawing as I usually do or guilt to my wife for spending more money on instruments, etc.

It's called a McNally StrumStick and they are apparently the best known company for making high quality instruments.

Even Ryan Gosling was caught playing one walking down the sidewalk in NYC!

Well I can tell you, they have impressed me! The first one I got had been hanging on the lady's wall in a dry heated store next to a window and the neck had bowed making the action really high, but it still sounded good. I thought I could do some tweaking and make it better but no...

So I took photos and contacted them about my options. Evelyn McNally, the maker's wife, contacted me and told me they were going to send me a new one, free of charge AND not to return the other, just keep it and give it to someone.

So I gave it to Corey and she has nary put it down since! It's tuned to the Key of G, has three strings (G,D,g) and is super easy to play. AND FUN!

My new one arrived later that week and was a little different in construction from the older original model. My new one didn't have the BIG sound and was a little smaller in size, sadly. But still sounded good, felt good and most of all the action was right on!

All in all, it worked out and Corey and I have two instruments that, although are the same model, are very different in sound, which makes playing together easier.