Benjamin W Barr Jr

Yeah, I got a little seasoning on me...I was active in the 1980's with the San Francisco Folk Music Society (Clayton Street/Haight-Ashbury) when Faith Petric (close friend and fellow folk-singer of Jean's) owned and hosted the house. Wow, those were great years, and passed so quickly--seems like only yesterday....thanx for the note and well-wishes. r

Hey there Ben--thank you for the welcome! I've been talking it up a bit with Ken, too (seems like a great guy, AND good resource for all things dulcimer). Can't tell you how stoked I am to find dulcimer folks!!! I've been at it a long time (since October 1975) and in 1979 I went to a "Pacific Rim Dulcimer Project" week-long camp. Albert d'Ossche and Robert Force, Bonnie Carol, Neal Hellman, just many way cool dulcimer artists. I had the GREAT fortune of knowing the Ritchie/Pickow family (long story) and Jean was always so kind, always seemed to have enough time for me, etc...and I'm a rancher/logger's kid---who woulda thunk? (she made the person she was talking to feel like they were the most important person in the world...ah, Jean....) well, enough of my memories....going to a super cool folk music gathering near Portland at the end of March (they try to give it a Celtic flair, I think, for St. Patrick's...)  thanx again for touching base....robert 

Thank you.l I fell in love with the mountain dulcimer when I went to The Dulcimer  Shoppe in Mt. View, Arkansas, back in the early 70s.

Ben,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.

Thanks you for the welcome, Ben!

thanks for your welcome, Ben. Pleased to be here :)

ThNK YOU FOR THE WELCOME.  

Thank you Ben!  Feeling sad because there is so much information available that is above my head.  I'm having trouble getting the string closest to my body to tune to A or D.  I have tightened the back of the tuning key without much success.  I will keep trying, I am stubborn.

I started out tuned DAA but found out DAD is more popular and so many more songs are set up for DAD. My Fish Tail is DAA and sometimes I grab it to play and forget the tuning and wonder why it sounds off. I also found out the three string has been a great help compared to the four string. Yes, these comments are made from an novice. I have a lot to learn.  

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Good morning Ben. Yes, at 83 years old I have some history to tell. Between all the rain and extremely hot weather here in Florida the construction on the tear drop dulcimer has slowed a bit. I have made a lot of progress but still a more to do. Between keeping up with the property, time with grand kids, going to the gym,  and training two yellow labs the days fly past so quickly, I don't even have a chance to shake hands.

I am still having trouble locating a dealer that supplies hardwood panels. I have a couple of fret boards started and at lease one more for future use. Seems that's the most time consuming part of the jobs. I have attached a few pics of the progress. 

Thank you for the warm welcome!

Thanks Ben. Getting things together for a Tear Drop. I just read a post about the Tear Drop Dulcimer. Sounds like there are some different opinions. Pro's; more box, means better sound and unique style, Easy to make. Cons; Since it's still a lap instrument the Tear Drop is difficult to balance and hold on to. Since it's a larger instrument it won't fit a standard carry case. 

Anyone that plays a Tear Drop? Your comments are welcome. Yes, I saw the "Hour-drop" design. Very interesting too. 

Thanks Ben. I love what I'm learning on the dulcimer. Trying new techniques is challenging at times but always pays. I enjoy making things in my shop (thus "shop Dad"). I've heard so much about strum sticks so I thought I would give it a go. I just completed a new instrument and enjoy learning on it too.

The wood is white maple from a bed my wife slept on when she was very young. The base plate is part of a fireplace mantle built in the late 1800's. The brass end plate is from a 7K volt transformer tap plate.. (I'm a retired electrician). 

My next project will be a full size hourglass dulcimer. I have all the material and hardware

This site interests me because I see it as an opportunity to see what others are doing and learn more about what I love doing.

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

Thank you for the welcome. As usual life got in the way of a timely response..

Thank you Ben, for the welcome! 

Thank you, I have a dulcimer on it's way was unable to play before purchasing fingers crossed.

Thank you for the welcome Ben!  I am looking forward to learning more about my dulcimer.

Ben, thanks for your welcoming words! Glad to be here with you all.