Forum Activity for @richard-streib

Todd, As to where to look for a dulcimer, shopgoodwill.com sometimes has mountain dulcimers. I think  you will do well to take your time and find one made by a known builder. You have done well by asking for guidance on this forum. I would be wary of foreign made dulcimers many of which have quality and intonation issues. It is so disheartening to get a dulcimer and then become disappointed because it does not sound right. Not a good way to begin your dulcimer journey.

Over the years I have bought 3 McSpadden Dulcimers and 1 Warren May dulcimer previously owned which had been played little to not at all. One of them still had the pick and noter in a sealed envelope. People sometimes buy on the spur of the moment then never get around to learning to play. Such a dulcimer if it has been stored properly is usually a good buy and often at a very reasonable price.

If there is a local dulcimer club, many times the members are accepting of newbies and will allow you to look at and play their dulcimers. Sometimes teachers or clubs have loaner dulcimers as well, it that is an option where you live.

Continue to look and if you see one, let us know and we may be able to offer some guidance. Best of luck on your search.

I have owned in the past two of David Lynch's dulcimers which were not student models. They both were well made and sounded wonderful. I sold them not because there was anything wrong with them but because I chose to play dulcimers with a more traditional style, staple frets, fiddle edges, in the pattern of the Thomas dulcimers of old. But as Dusty pointed out the one on ebay looks to be one of his student models. Personally I don't think I would give that much for it.

The new website looks really nice John.

The problem is likely related to the vintage of the dulcimer. That is a long time and things can dry out over time.

I have taken some similar tuners apart. On the one I had apart grease had dried over time behind the gear. And the gear was dragging a good bit on the screw going through it. I took it apart, cleaned everything up and reassembled with a very light coat of light sewing machine oil. The tightness of the screw through the gear plays a part in the tuner holding its place.

I helped a friend diagnosis his cheap foreign made dulcimer and in his case the worm threads on the shaft with knob were badly worn. That tuning machine needed to be replaced.

Replacements are available. I am not that familiar with  different brands. Some require different size holes through the wall of the peghead. Perhaps a local guitar center could help you  with parts if replacement is needed.

Welcome to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Glad you joined. Best wishes on your restoration project. Please ask as you have questions. We are here to support each other.

That is awesome Dan. Great sound

Not seeing it and based on your description I would think in the neighborhood of $300 to $350. Over the years I have purchased two different McSpadens which were purchased, put away and never played, buying them second hand for $300 each.

I am glad you have a friend with whom to learn. That will be fun and beneficial. Best wishes.

The choice is yours. If you think you may want to sell the dulcimer in the future, the buyer may or may not prefer wooden pegs.

On the other hand if you have trouble tuning the wooden pegs or just can't learn to tune the wooden pegs, you will have a hard time enjoying your dulcimer. If this is the case and you want to play the dulcimer until it (or you) wears out, by all means change out the wooden pegs for something you can enjoy messing with. 

One consideration is the aging or injured hand or wrist that makes tuning wooden pegs even more of a challenge. I have several replicas of traditional style dulcimers but have mechanical Wittner tuners in those that look like ebony viola pegs. That has relieve my aggravating my wrist arthritis every time I need to tune or retune.

Most contemporary dulcimer players much prefer mechanical tuners. About the only folks using wooden tuning pegs are the traditionalists who play old time dulcimers or replicas with wooden pegs, staple frets and true diatonic fret spacing.

It is yours and after all you should do what you want with it. 

I've never had one break while playing. Wear safety glasses as a precaution.

Thanks for asking. We are here to help each other.

Congrats. That may be a good find. Ask if kept in smoke free home. Also if stored in the main part of the house, not a basement, attic, garage, shed or rental storage unit. Check the date of manufacture. There should be a label in the melody side lower sound hole. Check that all joints are tight without any showing signs of separation. The overall finish and appearance will tell how much it may have been used. and how well it has been cared for.  I saw  one once labeled "as new" that had marks on the lower bout which looked like a cat had used it for a scratching post.  Check the strings for rust/oxidation. They can be changed easily enough. 

Regarding price: look at the McSpadden website and see what a new dulcimer sells for similar to what you are looking at. My personal standard is not to pay more than about 40-50% of the new price if the sellers dulcimer is in great shape.

If you have a dulcimer friend to go with you, sometimes 2 sets of eyes are better than one set. If you have questions about this particular dulcimer, the folks at McSpadden have always been very helpful when I have called them.They will need the info from the label (take a picture of it through the sound hole).

Personally over my time with the dulcimer, I have been fortunate enough to purchase 2 McSpadden dulcimers and one Warren May dulcimer which had been purchased but never played. Sometimes those things happen.

I am sure you will get some further responses as well. Best wishes on your find.

Only one of my current dulcimers uses a wound bass string. I have always preferred a nickel wound string when a wound string is called for.

A string is a string is a string. You don't need to pay too much attention to the instrument type on the string package:::just the gauge, and end style. Just make sure it is long enough to fit your dulcimer.

You can purchase sets that include typical sizes for the dulcimer or individual strings of the correct size and style, plain or wound. Years ago before I started getting a friend to make my strings from bulk music wire, I purchased all ball end strings in groups of 3 of each of the sizes my instruments used. It is easy to cut the ball end out of the loop, and have a loop left if you do not need the ball end. That way you do not need an inventory of both loop end and ball end in each size.

The strothers string gauge is a good place to start to help determine the gauge you need. List the VSL and the note to which you wish to tune. Some think it tends to run a bit light on the recommendations and suggest going to a slightly heavier string.  https://www.strothers.com/string_choice.html

Juststrings.com is going out of business. Another source I have used is  https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/aboutus.html

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking. That is the way to learn when you have questions.

Thanks. So good to know.

That is one beautiful dulcimer. I hope you are able to learn more about it.

Such wise counsel from Strumelia. That is a very special dulcimer and one to treasure. Like her, I think it must have been meant for you. Play it and enjoy it.

What a unique and impressive dulcimer. A treasure for sure.

Beautiful work. What a nice traditional sound. Thanks for sharing.

Ah, the DAD malady has struck. That is "dulcimer acquisition disorder."  Thankfully  it is not fatal.

Seriously, I have a number of dulcimers. For the music I play I have found a particular song may sound better on one than the other. I have one tuned DAA, one in EBB, one in DAC, etc.  So enjoy adding to your collection. The more you have the more time you get to spend playing and enjoying them all.  The Warren May dulcimers are great instruments and expertly crafted.

Nice looking dulcimore Paula. I know you enjoy it immensely.

Regarding your possum board. Some members have used a piece of 3/4" shelf board cut to width and length. I have always preferred to use 1/4" solid wood, usually poplar I find at the local building supply store in the craft wood section. I generally trace the dulcimer onto the board and cut the board to the shape of the dulcimer. Then I make a fitted block at each end to secure the tail piece and head stock. To avoid scratches I pick up some adhesive backed felt at the local craft store and put that on the end blocks for protection. Then as you say strap buttons on the possum board. With the feet on your dulcimer that arrangement should really sing.

So glad your Dad is joining you on this dulcimer journey. What wonderful and special memories will come from this.

A gentle warning:  Dulcimer Acquisition Disorder (DAD) may come knocking at your door. It is not fatal nor debilitating. The symptoms can temporarily be treated with the addition of another dulcimer to your collection. But in time, in my experience anyway, the symptoms tend to recur, some times multiple times over the course of the months and years.

Best wishes to you and your Dad on your dulcimer journey.

Congrats on your new to you dulcimer. It is interesting to note that it has feet on the back. That was somewhat standard in Appalachia long ago. Many people played with the dulcimer on the table standing as they played. The table top acted as a sound board and rendered a louder sound. Some people use bamboo or river cane for a noter. The strings likely need changing. Regarding care for the dulcimer, the advice I have always received and followed is to avoid any product with silicone in it.  John's suggestion of string gauges is a great starting point. Enjoy your dulcimer.

So sad to hear. Terry was a great guy. We exchanged a lot of emails. I purchased a dulcimer from him one time. He invited me to stop by and visit him if ever I traveled his way.

Best wishes with your new to you McSpadden. I know you will enjoy it a great deal.

Happy New Year to all. And wishing for each of you a year of health and blessings beyond measure. And lots of beautiful dulcimer music.

Re shipping. Not exactly to answer the question posed. But a shipping suggestion.

I use a site called PirateShip. Free  to join. They have discounted prices for UPS and USPS. Insurance and extra services are available if needed.

Nice collection Stoltze McSpaddens. It's such a blessing that you have dulcimers and a heart to lend them. We have a number of great dulcimer folks on the forum who have loaners. Its the best way to share our love of the dulcimer with others to allow them to become addicted like we are. Thanks for sharing.

Most current day mountain dulcimer players are more interested in an instrument which is built to play chords and or finger pick. Jeremy's dulcimers from the era of the '80's were better for noter drone style playing, or sometimes called traditional style playing. It is a lovely instrument.

Sorry to hear about your poor experience. I agree. That is not the way to encourage repeat sales.

The news media have heavily reported on the storm damage in the NC mountains, but other southeastern states have suffered as well.

Keep these folks in prayer as well as all of the those who assisting and aiding, paid or volunteers.

Our church has had several members go to the NC mountains. Their first hand reports tell us the damage is 10 times worse when seen in person than any of the images can show on the news. Our church has sent two trucks of commodity items so far and another one is going this coming Tuesday. The mountain people are so resilient and in spite of the damages, losses, and their personal situations generally have an attitude of "we'll get through this together."  

If  you can afford to give I suggest donations to one of the faith based organizations as they have a positive track record of getting goods to those who need it the most.

This is going to be a years long recovery and rebuild, maybe 10 years or more. May we not forget them when the news tires of reporting on this event.

NC mountains hard hit. Well over 400K people without power, Many are isolated with no means of getting any help due to roads and bridges washed out, no phone or cell or internet service. There are literally thousands of volunteers on the ground and sending needed supplies. 3 churches that I know of in our area in central NC are sending trucks and trailers loaded with needed supplies. Keep these folks and the many helpers lifted in prayer.

Nice find. Enjoy playing it.

Thanks for your insight Wally.

Well said, John.

I have a number of traditional style dulcimores. While I do enjoy them all and play them all on a rotating basis, the one I reach for the most  at this time is a replication of a 1917 James Edward Thomas dulcimore built for Balis Ritchie. This one was made by Dan Cox using walnut wood on the back which came from the Ohio farm where I was born and raised until age 12. That wood was cut on the farm by either my great grandfather or grandfather. And I am on the north side of 70 to give an idea of the age of that walnut.

That is a might pretty little travel dulcimer. Ron builds nice instruments. Wish you the best if finding it a new loving home.

Looks like a very interesting project. Can't wait to hear it.

Looks great John.

Looks great John. Glad you are back up with the website.

An additional solution may be to use loop end strings so more of the threads engage the wood. Using loop ends will not require removing the screw to change strings. It looks like the screw hole may need to be filled and start over with a slightly longer screw.

Thanks Ken.  A little late for me. Maybe I can find a recording of it later.