I build Appalachian dulcimers on commission, on the model inherited from Sunhearth. See the Bear Meadow website for more info on me and the work I do!
Latest Activity
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@dwain-wilder
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Benefits of longer VSL?":
Posted a response to "Benefits of longer VSL?":
"I like what Stumelia and Dusty write here. Dulcimer players often do not seem to care about the change in timbre when they tune strings to a different..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Slots for frets loose":
Posted a response to "Slots for frets loose":
"shootrj2003:
…I guess you learn something every day wether you want to or not!… I saw a poster once with a cat hanging from a clothes-line. The caption was..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Cardboard Dulcimer Recommendations":
Posted a response to "Cardboard Dulcimer Recommendations":
"Kay Bolin:
…Several of us are interested in playing different dulcimers and are looking into purchasing inexpensive cardboard dulcimers to try out..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Cardboard Dulcimer Recommendations":
Posted a response to "Cardboard Dulcimer Recommendations":
"As a follow-up on Ken's note, if you intend to cut slots for frets, talk to the maker of your kit about which fret-wire to use, as there is a wide variety...."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Slots for frets loose":
Posted a response to "Slots for frets loose":
"shootrj2003:
I cut my fret slots the saw cuts .031-.032 the frets I have are just about .030 so there is grab but they can be lifted out easy,will super..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "confusing fret layout":
Posted a response to "confusing fret layout":
"Good! keep us posted on your work with this instrument. Know anything more about Davis?
Here is a tip on finding out how low to get the saddle:
First check..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
"I always made those ebony fine tuners for Walt, and still do. Message me if you need them. I also make cases that fit Sunhearths, but the are expensive and..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "confusing fret layout":
Posted a response to "confusing fret layout":
"This is a weird fretting scheme. The octave (at which an instrument would have been intoned) corresponds to a scale length of 28.12". That just does not make..."
@dwain-wilder
• 2 months ago
• comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest -(NY):
Posted a new Comment on Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest -(NY):
"I will be attending as a vendor, focusing on repairs, extra fret installations, strap buttons, and general repairs (including cracks, dings, scratches, etc.)..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
"John C. Knopf:
Dwain, we'll welcome you to the fold of just-tempered and mean-tone dulcimer/dulcimore luthiers if and when you cross that bridge! Thanks,..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
"I really like what @sam-edelston has to say about choosing the instrument on which a piece of music, or a certain arrangement, sounds best. A dulcimer is..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
"Well, there is pretty much a good spectrum of how the dulcimer community considers diatonic and chromatic instruments and playing, Earthling ! The..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
"Glad you liked it, Robin. One of my faves."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
Posted a response to "to get chromatic or not":
"ErthLing:
If I get a Chromatic Dulcimer can I play it the same as a diatonic by just ignoring the extra frets?"
Hi ErthLing! Yes. And you could paint the..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
"@Leo , @randy-adams , @robin-thompson , @badrepp p , thank you all. I don't have videos of my building process, and don't have the equipment for..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Looking to Upgrade/Add to my Dulcimer Collection":
Posted a response to "Looking to Upgrade/Add to my Dulcimer Collection":
"Ken Hulme:
I believe John does put feet on, and he would certainly do so by request. Freeing up the bottom of the dulcimer to vibrate acts as a natural..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
"Randy Adams:
Ok I'll say it out loud. Dulcimers built by Dwain Wilder have far surpassed the level of craft and are in the realm of art. Randy, I blush! I..."
@dwain-wilder
• 3 months ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
Posted a response to "W. Martin Dulcimer History":
"Hi Badrepp, Leo, Robin, Ken, Dusty,
Those photos bring back such memories of my old mentor. He was like a second father for me.
And I never knew Walt..."
Latest Group Discussions
AllCustom fret templates
One of the things I do for other makers of fretted stringed...
@Dwain Wilder 11 months ago - Comments: 0
A Tool for Cutting Fret Slots with Super Accuracy
I've been developing a fret cutting template that can be created for any...
@Dwain Wilder 13 years ago - Comments: 2
Comments
02/18/16 06:22:50PM @dewey-parker:
Nice surprise seeing your smiling face on FOTMD, Dwain. Welcome aboard. I was just thinking about you this morning and figured it was about time to get an email off to see what you have been up since the last time we talked. Stay in touch!
Dewey - the Dewey Dulcimer System
09/13/10 03:58:56PM @robin-thompson:
Dwain,The url for your website in your Profile needs one of the prefixes omitted.Thank you for the String Choice Workbook-- I've bookmarked it!
Dwain,The url for your website in your Profile needs one of the prefixes omitted.Thank you for the String Choice Workbook-- I've bookmarked it!
09/06/10 02:53:19PM @robin-thompson:
Dwain,Earlier today I listened to Carol Walker's dulcimer play on your website. Exquisite.
Dwain,Earlier today I listened to Carol Walker's dulcimer play on your website. Exquisite.
08/23/10 09:55:39AM @dan-evans:
hi Dwain - I've kept in touch with David Moore and hope to plasy his festival again, possibly in 2012 - I plan well ahead
hi Dwain - I've kept in touch with David Moore and hope to plasy his festival again, possibly in 2012 - I plan well ahead

08/08/10 10:10:47PM @dan-debruler:
Thanks for making me feel welcome, Dwain! Excited about looking around a bit, and jumping in with both feet...
Thanks for making me feel welcome, Dwain! Excited about looking around a bit, and jumping in with both feet...
08/07/10 05:13:54PM @norm-williams:
Thanks Dwain... nice to see you here too!!! I am looking forward to this year's festival but am getting ready to head to Elkins, WVa and the Augusta Old Time Week - taking a dulcimer of course but will be "studying" banjo... look forward to seeing you one of these days...
Thanks Dwain... nice to see you here too!!! I am looking forward to this year's festival but am getting ready to head to Elkins, WVa and the Augusta Old Time Week - taking a dulcimer of course but will be "studying" banjo... look forward to seeing you one of these days...
03/09/10 11:13:46PM @heidi-muller:
I'm doing fine, thank you. Bob and I are getting ready to fly to Seattle on Thursday for some gigs, after I put in a day of teaching guitar and dulcimer tomorrow to kids in southern WV. We're working on music for a local documentary and Bob's still got lots of folks coming into the studio to record. With two sweet cats and spring coming on... life is good!
I'm doing fine, thank you. Bob and I are getting ready to fly to Seattle on Thursday for some gigs, after I put in a day of teaching guitar and dulcimer tomorrow to kids in southern WV. We're working on music for a local documentary and Bob's still got lots of folks coming into the studio to record. With two sweet cats and spring coming on... life is good!
03/09/10 01:41:57PM @dwain-wilder:
Wow! What a nice welcome! I've had just a little time to look around. Strumelia, I'll be looking into that Dulcimer Makers group soon. And I nosed around and found a few questions about string choice that I may have some technical advice for. -- Still catching up from my weekend away at Albany.Strumelia, special thanks for your comment on my dulcumers. Did you get a chance to play one or two? I had a couple on the table that were being delivered, and available for playing. They incorporate new technical advances that greatly expand the dynamic range. I really wish I could brag about them, but the truth is one really has to play an instrument to comprehend the qualities of action, responsiveness, projection and volume. MP3 files just don't do that.
Wow! What a nice welcome! I've had just a little time to look around. Strumelia, I'll be looking into that Dulcimer Makers group soon. And I nosed around and found a few questions about string choice that I may have some technical advice for. -- Still catching up from my weekend away at Albany.Strumelia, special thanks for your comment on my dulcumers. Did you get a chance to play one or two? I had a couple on the table that were being delivered, and available for playing. They incorporate new technical advances that greatly expand the dynamic range. I really wish I could brag about them, but the truth is one really has to play an instrument to comprehend the qualities of action, responsiveness, projection and volume. MP3 files just don't do that.
03/09/10 09:50:54AM @strumelia:
Dwain, be sure to join the "Dulcimer Makers" GROUP here. You'll find it on the left side column for 'Groups' on the main page. :)
Dwain, be sure to join the "Dulcimer Makers" GROUP here. You'll find it on the left side column for 'Groups' on the main page. :)
03/08/10 11:01:18PM @strumelia:
Hi Dwain, I'm so glad you joined up!Your dulcimers are very beautiful- it was great to see them in person. :)
Hi Dwain, I'm so glad you joined up!Your dulcimers are very beautiful- it was great to see them in person. :)