Forum Activity for @charles-thomas

My first dulcimer was an Applecreek teardrop. In 2008 my wife bought it for my birthday. She was a middle school art teacher and she saw it in a catalog of classroom musical instruments. I had never seen anything like it before, 4 strings?...why are only two close together?... what the heck is the wooden stick for? Thank heavens for the internet! I found the "Everything Dulcimer" website and Ken Hulme's article "I Just Got A Dulcimer-Now What?" and I was on my way. Shortly afterwards I found this site, Strumelia's blogs and Robin Clark's video lessons were invaluable. My Applecreek is now hanging proudly on my wall, frets a bit worn, a few dings and scratches.   

John, that brings back some memories!

 That was inspirational! After hearing, seeing and reading I ran to our pantry, found some chopsticks and started practicing. I think we all should come up with a new name, beater sounds too violent for such a wonderful sound.

Dusty, your document is fascinating! It's amazing that it survived this long, I wonder how much digital content will be around in 200 years?

Bobby, that is a fine specimen of Lepus antilocapra. Dusty, jackrabbits are hares and the antelope in question is a pronghorn, but jackalopes are real!  

This is a Milagro, a religious folk charm that is traditionally used for healing purposes in Mexico and Central America. Milagro means miracle in Spanish.

This is another Huichol Indian work. This jaguar head features scorpions (on the nose),an iguana (on the forehead),and peyote buttons (round symbols throughout) 

This mask is from Guatemala, it was probably made for the tourist trade-the "patination"seems to be applied and on the inside there are no shiny spots were the nose or forehead would have rubbed.When she was a child my step daughter called it the "Bad Bunny".   

This cross was decorated by Huichol Indians with very small beads affixed with a mixture of bees wax and pine sap. The red symbols are scorpions. The story is that if you are stung by a scorpion God is is sending you a message, if you die from the sting God wants to give you the message face to face. The circular symbols at the top are peyote buttons, which the Huichol use in their religious rites. 

 Bluebird, go to v-picks.com , they have a multitude of picks! 

This is a V-pick "Memphis", It's con-vexed in profile to fit your thumb. I have a rather unorthodox grip so it suits me. 

 IMG_1763.jpg - 101KB

That's not a drone it's a DRONE!

For me it was "Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live" 1979 ,I wore that record out! Now when I do play my harmonica I'll play along with anything- Abba to Zappa !

Well, I pulled the trigger and purchased a Seydel Blues Session Steel. What sold me was the stainless steel reeds, they claim to last 5 times longer than brass. I have blown out quite a few reeds over the years - I do love to WAIL on my harps!!

There are many USB microphones available for under $100, many for $50 and under. I use a Blue "Snowball", It's priced in the mid 50's, They also make one called the "Snowflake" that's in the mid 40's ( Amazon prices).

Thanks everyone for the advice!

I've been pricing various models, I can't afford a chromatic, I'm leaning towards a Lee Oskar or a Seydel. I just need to figure out what key. I like playing along with older Dylan songs, my favorite is "Like A Rolling Stone" which is in "C" I think, and "Mr. Tamborine Man" in "F". I like to play along with Blues songs like Elmore James, Muddy, BB King ( I was in the front row a few years ago, BB gave me a pick and shook my hand!!). 

One problem with buying a harmonica is you can't try it out first.

It looks like a Wegen BG100 or 120

Looking at Elderly Instuments site , it says they are all nylon so I guessing they are the same hardness.

Yellow is light, red is medium, and blue is heavy in terms of thickness.

I use a V pick Bing Ultra Lite or a red Herdim with my index and middle fingers on one side and my thumb on the other with very little of the pick showing(1/4 inch of so). I've also used thicker picks (2.75 mm), felt picks, leather picks, Metal finger picks , plus any number of guitar picks . It's fun to experiment with creating new sounds! I agree with Ken Hulme, don't use a "death grip" hold it lightly so it sort of floats in your fingers. The V pick is naturaly sticky and Herdims have some texture so they don't slip.

Chromatic...that's a thought.

 I know what you mean Robert, I used to soak my Marine Band in a glass of water before I'd play.

my cats look at me and say " put down that piece of wood and pet me "

d-chitwood, I have a dog that is afraid of her water dish! She approaches it like a gazelle drinking at a water hole with a croc waiting in it . 

Too much?

I've been thinking in investing in another harmonica. I have a Hohner Special 20 (D) and a Hohner Pro Harp (A). Any Thoughts on other Hohner types or other brands? Also what key? I play mostly bluesy stuff, but I'll try to play along with anything.

Fascinating site! 

I call them by their makers name mostly, ie the Yocky,or my Berg. I do have 2 McSpaddens so I call the walnut one "Stripe" because of the light stripe on the back.

Thanks Rob! I couldn't remember where I found it on the Web.

I understand Lisa, I'm so sorry ,I was trying to share that recording from my "archives" and I wasn't sure how.

Do you know what else they love- an open case or gig bag! It's the Purrrfect size for my cats and my small dog even tried it ( just once, she thought it smelled too much of cats, and being a dog she does have some standards! )

Ken, that's too funny!

How do your pets react to your playing? My older cat Fifi likes to sleep on my feet as I play . My dog Scout doesn't know what to make of it (that's her reaction to most things), and my young cat Baby is too busy causing mayhem, bringing in her trophys for us to admire , to care.

I find myself picking up my McSpadden all walnut hourglass most of the time. 

JohnH- we,re suppose to "tune" them? Who knew .That changes everything!