Forum Activity for @george-desjardins

Warren May Dulcimers, Feedback?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the feedback everybody!! I had been seeing a lot of positive comments, but always nice to hear from people thgat know far more about dulcimers than I.

 Either way I'm going for it, only question I have at this point is, does anyone know what year the fret scale changed? the one I'm looking at is 1982, but based on tuning really doesn't matter, I've not been a DD A D player for some time now.

 Thanks again everyone. 

Warren May Dulcimers, Feedback?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm eyeing a used, 1982 Warren May, Just looking for feed back from anyone who has had or currently has one, playability etc.

 Thanks folks!

June Apple Banjomer tuning

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

So, I came into another rescue, will require some work like the Blue Lion I recently acquired, it was worth the effort.

 My question is, it's the first equidistant strung dulcimer I own, a June Apple Banjomer,  I have another banjo dulcimer but it is strung as regular dulcimer, so it gets tuned in standard tunings, does anyone know if this should be tuned with the matching drone strings, or should it be tuned to banjo tuning?

 Thanks everyone.

Need help- Grover Star planetary tuner slipping on Sunhearth dulcimer

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

do you have a picture of the tuner? might be able to help,

TK O'Brien, or Walter Messick feedback on sound/voice.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Exactly, is there a preference as to the two?Does one provide better? I'm leaning towards  the Walter Messick, great wood.

TK O'Brien, or Walter Messick feedback on sound/voice.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I am just looking for feedback on the sound of the O'Brien, compared to Walter Messick? I have heard the O'Brien as having a better "sad", "lonely" sound, but was curious as to the Messick, has a beauty right now I am seriously considering. American Chestnut. I really like the deeper, more melancholy, "sad" sound. I know, cheery soul! :-)

updated by @george-desjardins: 08/02/23 09:43:37AM

Tell us about your VERY FIRST dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My first dulcimer was a kit I bought from a shop that no longer exists in Estes Park Colorado, The Dulcimer Shop, I think it only stayed in business for 2 seasons. I put it together with absolutely no experience whatsoever. It was a little rough around the edges to say the least! :-) But it held a tune, started coming apart at the seams a little over time, and got my love affair with the mountain dulcimer right then. I eventually gifted it forward to anther interested newbie dulcimer player, but have no idea where it ended up. 

 It was the only kit I ever built, but it did teach me enough aouyt them to be able to do some minor repairs in the future.

 

I've had some decent success on Ebay, but as stated, be wary. It helps to know what you're looking for and do specific searches. What are you looking for in a used dulcimer? I have several out of many from my personal collection that I am getting ready to sell.

 I'll have a Blue Lion 4 string Model IC, cherry top back and sides, a McSpadden 4 string hourglass, Sitka top, sycamore, (I think) back and sides, flat headstock, and most likely a late 1970's John Maxwell 5 string with wood case also. That one is a bit more "rustic" with wood "butter paddles", not geared tuners. I'm needing to thin the herd a bit, have 20 right now and just simply running out of room! :-)

Change/upload your avatar member profile picture

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Thank you very much, sincerely, computer challenged, appreciate your time.

Change/upload your avatar member profile picture

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I was able to add my personal photo to profile, but when I post anything in forums, it just comes up with the stock dulcimer photo, how do I change that to a personal photo, Thanks from a very computer challenged individual!

updated by @george-desjardins: 02/17/16 11:25:07AM

Anyone familiar with June Apple Cellomer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, I did get a good deal on it, less than half what it retails fro, (which was still a good chunk) But really enjoying it, thanks for the feedback

Do You Have A 'Go To' or Favorite Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

So, my go to is the June Appple Cellomer, It is so unique, Has such a big voice. It doesn't just speak to you, It preaches to you, so smooth, clear, but almost overpowering. Yet it keeps it in check. A great stage instrument, but sounds even better on the back deck in the evening, here in the Rocky Mountains.

'

updated by @george-desjardins: 06/26/15 09:04:46PM

Do You Have A 'Go To' or Favorite Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My "favorite" seems to change with my mood, have 14 altogether so it gets hard to choose, I guess the go to's would be McSpadden 6 string, ebony fret board. Dan Doty 6 string, Bonnie Carol 4 string ebony fret board, or my newest June Apple Cellomer, really BIG sound.

Anyone familiar with June Apple Cellomer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I own a variety of standard dulcimers,4 string,6string,ginger model,banjo dulcimer etc.

I recently found a used June Apple Dulcimer, it is really oversized, it is 45 inches long, 12 inches wide, 2 1/4 deep.

 Would this be considered a bass dulcimer? Or is it not really classified because of the odd size.

It has a great big sound, I have experimented with different tunings and it seems to be very fond of minor tunings, I have it tuned in a really odd tuning right now but it is a great haunting ethereal sound to it, C-G-CC.

Here is a photo of the instrument and the possum board I built for it, anyone else ever played one of these? they seem pretty obscure but really nicely built, came out of a traveling musical instrument museum. (At least that's what the salesman told me) :-)

 

updated by @george-desjardins: 06/26/15 07:38:45PM