Forum Activity for @randy-adams

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/16/23 01:04:04PM
100 posts

Benefits of longer VSL?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Thanks for putting this here Nate. 

I left out in the vid that I surely appreciate the tone/timber of the bigs they are something special.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/11/23 08:38:25AM
100 posts

to get chromatic or not


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I've seen this quote from Jean Ritchie before and have always wanted to see the context. I choose to believe she meant you lose a little something if frets are added to the diatonic fret pattern. 

Never met her she appears to be a kind and gentle person who would not summarily dismiss a person or a dulcimer. 

When this quote is used as some kind of proof that Jean Ritchie thinks a couple frets disqualifies a dulcimer in a black and white manner .....no I don't believe it.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/10/23 08:27:59AM
100 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

And a video or two Robin. The vid 'carving the scroll' is worth the price of admission. 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/09/23 11:33:37AM
100 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

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 Adams
@randy-adams
01/08/23 09:30:42AM
100 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Those Sunhearth dulcimer are top quality instruments.  Have real good rep

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/04/23 09:46:17AM
100 posts

New Year's Resolution: "Help Somebody Today"


OFF TOPIC discussions


Real life Lisa! : ) Yeah the chorus does say 'befriend ' someone  huh?

This is a good resolution John not too hard to keep. : )

If I  may? In my hometown Lincoln NE we almost invariably: hold the door for the next person even if they're 15' away, and they'll thank you for it. Let you merge lanes at rush hr. Put grocery cart in corral or back inside. 

These small everyday kindnesses set the stage for a more general teamwork atmosphere and make for a better place to live. 


updated by @randy-adams: 01/04/23 09:50:26AM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
07/09/22 05:21:43PM
100 posts

Tuning peg replacement question


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Wooden friction pegs get polished slick and hard. Unpolish the pegs and the holes by scratching/roughing with sand paper. Don't sand any wood off! I forget what grit I've used but 80 or 100 may be good to start. If you are industrious and patient  and work with finesse you can refurbish the pegs.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/06/22 01:59:09PM
100 posts

Fret necessary?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions


Every noter player has already mastered the skill of playing do mi, sliding the noter by, and not sounding, re.

Don't be leery of what you already know.


updated by @randy-adams: 03/06/22 02:01:26PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/10/21 06:55:45PM
100 posts

Indoor House Plants


OFF TOPIC discussions

My wife had a Bougainvillea houseplant and set it outside in the summer. It did well and I took a casual interest in it and we would talk about it occasionally.

I was in Mexico with friends and we would walk to breakfast. The first day I noticed a Bougainvillea plant climbing a fence beside the road. A few blocks long.

The second day someone said look at that beautiful plant on the fence wonder what kind it is?

Nobody spoke up so I said "it's a Bougainvillea".

I felt so knowledgeable!.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
09/03/20 06:14:28AM
100 posts

Choice of Wood: Pertinent or Purism?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Every good cook who cooks or smokes food over a wood fire adds their own rub/marinade/etc to create a flavor profile they enjoy.
The type of wood used is understood by most all that each species imparts a unique flavor.
Likewise musical instrument builders each have their own 'tricks of the trade' to create a preferred sound profile.
And the type of wood used is understood by most all that each species imparts a unique tone.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
09/22/19 08:24:34AM
100 posts

Dulcimer Project (Reasonably) Complete!


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I've used wood frets, toothpicks actually, successfully for 7 or 8 years. Top dress with thinned carpenter glue. Noter use. Last for a long time.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/10/19 11:25:02AM
100 posts

Cigar Box Guitars


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Ken Longfield:

Nice, Randy. I could sit and listen to you play all day. Might need a break for pizza though.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Stop over again then Ken we'll head for Old Chicago!
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/09/19 10:15:43PM
100 posts

Cigar Box Guitars


Adventures with 'other' instruments...


I made this cig box dulcimer a few years back still like to play it.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
05/03/18 09:15:27PM
100 posts

4 equidistant strings/McCarty tulip dulcimer


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions


Ok.... I don't know nothing about nothing except for this. I made a dulcimer and set the frets by gosh and by golly. Strived for pure 5ths and octaves and 6ths, etc. like whatever I knew sounded good. I tune it DAA, DAd, mostly DGC. Every time I change tunings or change pitch much I have to move the bridge back or forth so things are right. Usually have to compromise on the 1st fret and here and there. I get over it! I jiggle it until I get it to where I can live with it. I can set an equal temperament by ear on a piano but I'm not as particular with the dulcimer as I used to be... and that's a good thing to be free of.

You have always explained things so well Robin.


updated by @randy-adams: 05/03/18 09:18:28PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/29/18 11:30:49AM
100 posts

Group sync


Playing and jamming difficulties...HELP ME!

Bill
Try keeping the guitars and any other rhthym instruments near each other so they can hear one another.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/21/18 10:59:04AM
100 posts



See... I admire and respect the builders who have gotten so good at building dulcimers, refined their craft if you will, and built demand and reputation to where they can charge enough to make a decent living. Their dulcimers are special.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/31/18 10:43:02AM
100 posts

Charity Case Pt.2: Side Crack and High Action


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I've never understood how to balance a nickel on the 7th fret and look under there and see some measurement.
Jim your 'spark plug' feeler gauge is a great idea!
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/23/18 09:01:57PM
100 posts

New Charity Case


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Whoops, I didn't realize I had 'pending followers'.
I approved all of them learn something new every day!
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
11/27/17 05:38:26PM
100 posts

DAA tuning: Plus frets


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I use 6.5 and 13.5 fret in DAA tuning. I don't notice a 'bump' or a sound when going over it with a noter but I do remember it does take some finesse to get used to it.
I like the 5, 6, 6.5, 7 chromatic run ever once in a while.
When I want the notes I want them there.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
06/29/17 05:38:32PM
100 posts

Stone pick


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like to think Fred Flintstone might have played the dulcimer Steve. And he was one of the greatest actors of all time.
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
06/14/17 05:19:06PM
100 posts

Tune You've Had The Most Fun Playing?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've been playing Henry Reed's British Field March for a week or so. Every time I think I'm about done with it I find another challenging thing or two to put in there.
I played it with my fingers a few years back but this noter thing is a different deal.
updated by @randy-adams: 06/14/17 05:19:42PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
05/19/17 05:20:26PM
100 posts

It's like finding a 1965 brand new Mustang


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

D. Chitwood:

So this koa folkroots. I have given it a name. Jimmy Earl, ala James Earl Jones, "Luke I am your Father". The deep, rich voice this dulcimer has blows me away BUT...that longer vsl, I just can't do it. It will go the way of my last two mcspaddens and I will be sticking to the shorter 25-26" vsl. But seriously folks...how did Howard get such a boomy voice outta these things. Nothing comes close. 

That's a funny name! I prefer the 25" - 26" scale for whatever style I play.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/29/17 06:22:22PM
100 posts

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Quote: Well, fast forward to Spring and yes , we've got the new 14 foot square back kitchen screened porch lined up, in the works!  The workmen are set to start tearing down the old porch in a couple of weeks, and once they start it shouldn't take more than 3 weeks to finish up.  I can't WAIT!!!  joyjoy  

 This is going to be a major upgrade to our at home lifestyle.  I am envisioning sitting out there enjoying Summer salads, playing music, sipping ice tea in the shade while overlooking the beehives and the veggie garden, lanterns and crickets in the evenings (and screened, so no mosquitoes!)... inlove



That's nice Lisa. 14' x 14' is a good size. You'll enjoy it!

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/09/17 06:14:30PM
100 posts

Just intonation and limitations


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My dulcimers are EQ and pass my ear test, sounds sweet to me!

When this subject comes up and several N/D players start singing the praises of the JI I think it's important for someone, in this case me, to pipe up and say that the JI is far too limited a scale to hold value for me. ....for reasons I've posted before.

 

 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
02/15/17 08:05:57PM
100 posts

I wish my baby was born tablature


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs


Ken

If I was gonna play this tune I'd play it something like this. No tab but you can see the frets?

Tuned EBe. Key of E right? I use octave high bass string.

Sorry I'm not centered in the picture...I'm a pretty piss poor videographer

 

 


updated by @randy-adams: 02/15/17 08:11:43PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
11/23/16 08:58:42PM
100 posts

Mountain Dulcimer and Scottish Border Pipes


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I  sure like the sound you get here Bob. That's a heckava good tune 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/08/16 09:24:03PM
100 posts

Recent article in a local paper.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I understand your reticence. When you do an interview you have no control over the final content and the author may not understand the subject well enough to present a good look. 

This reporter knows what she's talking about and does a nice job.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/08/16 09:10:37PM
100 posts

Recent article in a local paper.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Did the price of Prichard repros just go up?... : )....Ha! ....glad I got mine before you got famous!

Nice article Kevin...f'sure...

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/13/16 03:44:59PM
100 posts

Sad news- Rest in peace our good friend John Phillips


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lisa....that's John playing the dulcimer there...I'd recognize that index finger anywhere!

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/13/16 09:08:34AM
100 posts

Sad news- Rest in peace our good friend John Phillips


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

John came up with his own way of explaining and simplifying the sometimes wild and deep talk about modes.. made superb sense talking about "home fret" and "gapped scales"....playing 2 or 3 or 4 modes in one tuning.....clarified my thinking f'sure...

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
02/03/16 08:32:40AM
100 posts

pocket tunes and maintaining the backpack


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Robin Thompson:
I neglected to mention I always mess-up on WBB at some point.  :)

I mess up on every tune at some point Robin!

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/20/16 11:22:47AM
100 posts

Banjo tuning aAEAE to match cross-tuned fiddle


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Other tunings of the same ilk are:

AEAB - which is the equivilant to double C tuning tuned down to A

AEAc# - open C tuned down

AEAC - A minor

You are probably familiar with these tunings?

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/20/16 11:15:20AM
100 posts

Banjo tuning aAEAE to match cross-tuned fiddle


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Robin

I assume you're tuning down to AA'EAe right? Tuning down to A gives enough room on the top end to get that e note....w/o changing strings.

I use the tuning. I can't remember if I started using it on the dulcimer first or the banjo but it works with both. Good drones!

Here's a tune I posted a few years ago tuned AEAe

 

 

 

1