Forum Activity for @randy-adams

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
06/02/24 07:33:20PM
118 posts

Use Descriptive thread titles


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Should this ban on creative thought also apply to song titles? Shouldn't the song titles posted here at fotmd give some idea of what the lyrics may be?

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/13/24 10:56:58AM
118 posts

Does soundbox tension affect volume and tone


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

You an me gots esp er something Robin. : ) jinx!

Edited to show Ben Seymour he shows view of cantilevered fingerboard look quick!


updated by @randy-adams: 04/13/24 11:10:18AM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
04/13/24 10:55:02AM
118 posts

Does soundbox tension affect volume and tone


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

Nate I had a Keith Young dulcimer had a cantilevered fingerboard maybe 3-4" before end block was a bitch to change strings brads were on under side between fingerboard and the top.

Beautiful tone and big bass. No conclusions here though. 

Construction industry has examples of installed tension for strength and resistance. 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/16/24 02:38:41PM
118 posts

Are two melody strings louder than one?


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

Hey Nate. So what if one of the two speakers received a signal a portion of a second slower than the other? Perhaps a better analogy for two melody strings?

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
02/11/24 03:26:55PM
118 posts

instrument question- Stephens Lutherie/holy grail dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ah but Lisa a good old time banjo picker playing a just right old time banjo in that good shaving a dead man tuning...transcends the mortal world...and I know you know that ❤️

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
02/07/24 02:55:29PM
118 posts

How precisely do you tune up?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Definite revelations fretless instruments provide.

Another knowledge and skill accumulated on the quest for the perhaps unobtainable Noter Jedi, uh, hood : )


updated by @randy-adams: 02/07/24 02:58:26PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
02/05/24 02:25:27PM
118 posts

How precisely do you tune up?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Good ? Nate. 

I've gone thru several stages of sour note acceptance - always trending toward more tolerance, with the dulcimer and my head. Here's where I'm at now.  5ths and unisons have to be lined up as sweet as possible. That's it.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
01/11/24 05:19:22PM
118 posts

Reasons NOT To Get a Chromatic


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

Never heard it put that way or thought about it that way Nate you're right on the money.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
12/25/23 10:04:53AM
118 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Glad you checked in Jeannie. Remember you had a couple rough times. Hope you find the inspiration to play some tunes. 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
12/23/23 05:27:00PM
118 posts

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL FOMTD MEMBERS!


OFF TOPIC discussions

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all!

https://youtu.be/miOxoTF4dKQ?si=Ed0MMkNJs_3BSk1

@foggers I think of this time of year.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
12/14/23 09:45:37PM
118 posts

Help how to post a video


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I have had same issue same message  for month or so. Something changed.

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
08/26/23 08:06:41PM
118 posts

I only see original post in a discussion, not replies..?


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Only time I've joined a group is when  it's  necessary to read a post. 

Randy Adams
@randy-adams
08/25/23 12:42:57PM
118 posts

I only see original post in a discussion, not replies..?


Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

You ain't the only one Kendra I don't get it either a lot of the time.

Not looking for suggestions/explanations. 


updated by @randy-adams: 08/25/23 12:44:36PM
Randy Adams
@randy-adams
03/16/23 01:04:04PM
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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
118 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!
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