Forum Activity for @kevin-messenger

Very sorry to hear of Brians passing . We had many talks about building and finishing dulcimer. Truly a kind and gentile man. Rest in Peace Brian.

That's the first Tignor teardrop I have seen.  Very nice.  I have an early 70's small hour glass. Yes post a sound sample.

Edsel also used the paper label inside. I did look a little closer at the carving. It does appear to look a bit morr like Edsels carving. The only thing that dosent look right is the way thr martin is written, just a lot different than the signature on the label in mine. Maybe a closer look inside will tell.

George. I have one of Edsels very first dulcimers a coffin shape. Later he and his brother seemed to use the same style. Looking at the signature on the peg head , it is different than the way Edsel signed. I would tend to say it is a Fred Martin. Rob Lackey here on fotmd has a Fred Martin , he may be able to compare the writing on the signature.  Nice find, Kevin.

Yep just like always day late and a dollar short. I wish I had seen that add first, it would be with me now. Oh well maybe some day...

 I first met Oliver here through the chat, and then later in person at spring Wartz gathering. I also was glad to be invited to a gathering he was involved in in Lancaster . The truly was a kind and gentle spirit , who I will miss. Isn't amazing that this little instrument we all share an interest in brings us so close together,and bonds us in such a grand way. Oliver's love of music and the dulcimer was great and he was always ready to share that with others. 

      Oliver gods speed and I know you are making heaven a better place with your music, and love of sharing. I will miss you and hope to meet up with you again some day.

Just finished reading,  great folks doing great work.  Thanks for posting Ken. 

John Henry,  I am so sorry to hear of Mary's  passing.  I hope you and your family find comfort in knowing she is with the lord and is no longer in pain. You are a good man to have sacrificed of yourself for Mary's comfort the past few years.  If you need someone to talk to,  I'm here for you.  God bless you and your family in this tough time.  Your friend Kevin. 

A good music store would have the thin tubing that is used on some violin string and other instruments. The string goes through the tube and the tube sits in the notch on the saddle or nut.  Has worked for me when not wanting to fill and recut.

I would say not Edd, but, could be another Presnell. Dan ask his grand daughter on FB  she worked with him she may have some insight.

Me too Lisa, I got one last fall in Williamsburg. Haven't got a good tune down yet. Guess I will stick with building dulcimers. LOL

Redwing or Union Maid as it is sometimes called, is one of my fun to pay tunes.

Take the screw all the way out ,the peg will then come apart in pieces. The bushing will need pushed out from the opposite side.

Ken, I have seen Frank SR. Dulcimers ,but, haven't seen any of Frank jr,'s . like I said that was just an option on a possible meaning of the logo. 

I know this would be a long shot,but, looking at the logo. The logo looks to be made up of letters interconnected.  the top two looks like FP and the bottom of the logo looks like a JR.   Doubt that it is his ,but, Frank Proffitt Jr. was making dulcimers ,but don't have any idea what his dulcimers looked like. He lived in Todd ,NC  but could have been in Statesville . Like I said just a long shot.

Paula for DAA the melody and middle are the same, an octave above the the bass D.

I fret all my noter drone specific Dulcimers in JI. Like Robert I have no trouble playing with others . No I wouldn't buy a JI dulcimer if I was a melody chord player, not what it is designed for. But if you are wanting to play noter drone style you can not have a better fret board layout,it just sounds far better than an ET instrument. So It all comes down to what you want to play. I play with groups of players that some are melody /chord , some noter/ drone and we all play well together. I don't look at the differences as limitations ,but, as special qualities that the different instruments have. 

You're right Ken H. They are said to have learned from Bud Ford. I think I read the Dulcimer factory produced close to 30,000 dulcimer's . that's a lot of building.

Ken you beat me to it, I thought that same thing. Great minds.lol

Thank you Stephanie, I really enjoy doing it.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Ron yes that is #19 in the pic. Gail I'm glad you are enjoying your Prichard.

Thanks Ken.

 Thanks John..

Thanks guys, wasn't sure about doing it at first,but, now seems ok. Randy my prices have been the same since I started, may have to go up sometime

Just wanted to share this, I have never had an article don on me before,and am just excited.  http://www.timeswv.com/news/old-style-dulcimers-connect-music-to-state-s-roots/article_f65e246a-ee73-11e5-88fe-3f2a4719fdce.html

I have an early 70's Tignor , made of Cherry ful frets. It is a fine noter player,but, chording is not out of the question. Yes John had his own scale, and it doesn't match any JI scale I have tried. He started building the larger dulcimers late 70's ,due to pressure from the buying public. Rob Lackey a member here has a couple of John's dulcimers, a small one and a large one. You should talk with him.  John's dulcimers play and sound as sweet as they come. He wasn't the finest wood worker ,but, I like what he created.

Did not know Jerry, but, my prayers to his family .

Yep, that's quarter sawn Sycamore. Very often it will appear to look like snake skin.

I am saddened to hear this news. John and I had shared a lot of good conversation. My prayers are with his family. John you will be truly missed. 

Mary, I would like to say most modern instruments are fretted in equal Temperament. Mean tone fretting is just a slight shift in tone and is a little more sweet sounding than ET. JI is another way of fretting that Gives you an even sweeter tone,at least most who try will tell you. I have used all three on my instruments, and prefer JI for noter style playing , just sound's better to me. As Ken said ,it has nothing to do with extra frets.  JI instruments can be played in most tunnings, but  I have found some sound better than others. I usually use a 155 tuning, usually DAA.  I have found that in that tuning a playing with others in D that they play well together.  It's all about what sounds good to you,and what you want to try.

The strings that I use on the Prichard dulcimer and others are , .013 melody and middle and .020 on the bass . These srtings are hand made plain steel piano wire. That's what I sent to Ken also.

Very nice job Patty, Looks like it will be a fine bow.

Great idea Bob, will def. try this on some old Champions I have.

Thanks Ken, I appreciate that.

If I could be so bold, you can check out my website, it is all I build . Traditional dulcimers,fretted either Equal Temp. , meantone, or just intonation, no extra frets.   kmdulcimers.com

Patty look on ebay there is a 1/4 size bow for 6.99  free shipping from NJ.

Thanks for passing this along Ken. Heaven is gaining a wonderful Dulcimer legend. My prayers are with his family. 

Robert, That is a great looking dulcimer, and I am sure it sounds great too. I haven't fretted a dulcimer in anything but JI since I did the first. They just seem to be what I want to here.

Pictures please.