Forum Activity for @mark-runge

Bill Taylor

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Bill stopped playing last year. And I can say with all the love and humility I can muster that I helped him finish his last dulcimer. 

He is still kicking around Pine Mountain and Maryville. I talked with him and Barbara tonight, and they said they've been working in the garden--mostly feeding a really fat groundhog! 

He's got some instruments left for sale in a shop, but I forget which one. I'll try to find out if someone is looking for one.

His ability and desire to work with any pretty wood he could find drove me to explore other woods, too, and he helped me take my building to a higher level because of that. His instruments are beautiful and play so well. They are a reflection of this kind, wonderful man.

Oh Fiddlesticks!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Val was playing her fiddle, and I tried this. She started swatting me with her bow!

Types of tuners

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

John covered it all! 

But I will put a plug in for the Wittner geared pegs. They are pricey but well worth it I've found.

For me the look of a traditional friction peg with an 8.5:1 fine tuning gear ratio is wonderful! These are the only pegs I use--besides friction pegs.

The hole does have to be tapered, but once the pegs are in place they are good to go! A plus with these pegs is that they don't actually spin--the shaft inside the tubular housing does, so they can be used in softer wood with no wobbling out of the hole.

I use the violo pegs because the size is right for my dulcimers.

5,000! What I'm most grateful for. . .

OFF TOPIC discussions

Thank you for all of the guidance you've given me, Stumelia. My growth has been fast and furious, just as I like it. And mainly that has been because of this--or the old one?--site and all of the support I've received from its members! I cannot believe it has been only two years since I started playing with the dulcimer. Really big smiles and lots of hugs to all y'all!

Enter FOTMD's 5th Birthday Pickled Dulcimer CONTEST!

OFF TOPIC discussions

168. What a wonderful thing that FOTMD does for me and the dulcimer world. Thank you!

Really big smiles to all y'all!

But to commit to an answer, right now 3 strings are right and the best for me on Treif, my four string Clemmer dulcimer.Smiles to you.

I think the answers above are all correct, Brian. You're asking a question about two different experiences. That is like asking if a car ride or motorcycle ride is better through the mountains. They are much different ways to enjoy the mountains. If I am taking your in-laws, then I take the car. But these days I'd rather just ride.

Big smiles to you.