Kevin,
I glad you are on the mend and soon with have some new favorites. Maybe from this 'horrible time ' you will create some interesting new tones to your music. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Love the storys - 'impulse buy' all to funny. i hope you will enjoy it.
I like the 'village' idea, all having their own personallity.
Lexie,
I can see we will never be finished. I was listening to some sound clips on a few dulcimers for sale, I couldn't pick the one I liked best but 3. I will try again and see if I still pick the same ones. I don't play noter so I like the tones more mellow but I do slide my thrumb a lot and like the silvery sweet slide sounds that can make. All too funny thinking one will ever do.
Ken,
I am from new orleans so I am not surprise to see a brown pelican but when several white ones landed on the pond, I was like a kid running around trying to get a shot of them. It's just with the phone but will enclose the pic. I love playing outside, it's the reason I got the dulciborn, to be hear over the pond and up past the sunsets.
ken,
You say you have 4, 2 traditional and 2 modern but I read you have built 300, very impressive to have played so many fine instruments even briefly.
I like your photos of the birds, I have herons, spoonbills, pelicans, an eagle and a few other types visit the pond behind my home. Haven't seen yours but would be nice.
I love eveyones replies, sounds like 'buying the next dulcimer' is just another part of learning the dulcimer experience. We don't know what it is we like, to we try them out. Some we keep, some find a new home while we try yet another till one day, we have the ones we have been searching for. Many years can go by and what we were looking for in the beginning is not necessary what we are looking for later on, just as our playing can change over time.
Thank you all, I think as we look for our next dulcimer it is all a part of where we are going with learing the dulcimer.
A interesting post for us beginners world be where members posted photos of their favorites. Would give us an idea of how many are around and what it is that makes the dulcimer a favorite one.
Love it' 'just one more' and yes there are more out there and beautiful.
ok so I need to look not just for another but the next one.
Oh boy, I think I will need not just a space but a room.
Thanks
I have 3 dulcimers, 2 I play all the time and both tuned the same. The third, I lend out if someone is trying to decide if they are instreated. I am looking for another and that would make 4 but not thinking of selling any of the ones I have. I can't decide between a nice unique one for playing and having in a different key or a knock around one for practice, grandkids, travel or friends. I can see I will be looking for yet another soon after this next one. How many is too many where one would need to find a new home - Is it based on favorites or space and budget?
What is the advage number of dulcimers members have and once we reach the number that fits, if we would want another - would we than sell one or just have yet another dulcimer and a new favorite?
It's lovely, I'm happy for you
Thanks, sounds good. if banjo pegs or right-angle guitar pegs and these dulcimer pegs all the same size shuldn't be hard to take care of. Will see what they say tomorrow.
Thanks again
Well I didn't get to play the dulcimer or have it follow me home. When I went to the shop, they told me as they were loosening the strings to work on the action, one of the tunners broke. It may take awhile to find one like the others (tension type). So now that I was ready to get it, can't.
No, my first dulcimer I purchased quickly. I was going to take a dulcimer class at the local college and didn't have one.
Asking price is ballpart $50, so no way is it much out of pocket.
I don't play noter but could bring one to try with it and if the action is high, could have it as one for noter playing.
Yes, you are right, over thinking it all
OK, will go play a tune or two and see if it follows me home.
Thank you so much, will keep you posted.
If we are thinking this dulcimer is from the 70s-80s, it couldn't have been played very much. That's 35 + years and there is no unusual wear, hardly any wear at all and no damage that I can see. Hard to believe it coud be that old. Question than, why wasn't it played?
The action does seem high but that can be address. I still need to make sure the frets are level, how? By placing something on top and see if they rock or not? I didn't hear any buzz, so frets should be ok. I didn't fall in love with the sound. Could it be from new strings and they need time to set some or the wrong strings for this instrument or I am just use to my dulcimer?
The price is lower than a few groceries, not sure why I haven't just gotten it and started making it mine. I wasn't looking for a dulcimer and if I would be, it would be something creatative. What I find interesting with this dulcimer is the age and the red stain but not sure of the dulcimer, since I didn't love the sound.
I don't like feeling so unsure, is it because I am still very new and don't know enough? It's great all of you are so helpful, I just wish there was someone here I could take with me to check it out.
Ken
You mention you had one of these for a few years than sold, the price the shop is asking seems very resonable - what should one of these dulcimers sell for - if is an unkown as far as if it's a good one or not?
I do not know the VSL but could go back to the shop and measure. Mostly I play DAD
Since I will go back to check the VSL, what else should I check. I have an app on my phone, should I check the tunning up the fret board, or just make sure there isn't a buzz?
I'm not sure if I am interested for my self as a loaner or to recomment it to someone looking for one.
The think what I find interesting is the age and possibility from Sears. Hard to beleive but I did work for Sears for a period in the late 60s to early 70s.
To check the sound is it best to play a song or just strum, pluck or slide the strings?
Does anyone know how long Sears sold the dulcimers, or when they stopped or any other info. Ken, were you able to lower the action to have it play easy?
Thanks to all, one more question - since it has a stain it's probably ply and not good quility wood. So, it would most likly be the lower end of the Korean Hondos - would this mean it's one of the ones that maybe is not be as good as some others? Is there a string size that would be better than others - 12's vs 10's?
Thanks so much, I love solving mysteries- (all with your help). I will pass on the info. to the person who has the dulcimer.
You guys are great
Rob,
I just posted photos of a dulcimer with a red stain on the sides & bottom of it, I was curious if anyone could take a guess on it. It looks a lot like this one and it did have on the back, near the head, the evidence of a sticker - not there now but could tell one had been there. It also has the 'clover sound holes'
Check under the discussion ' Old R ed Stain Dulcimer' up above this post. Think it could be also from Korea
I went back to get some photos. I think the dulcimer maybe a factory build from japan or china. The shop had put on new strings and it had tension gears for tunners, first time I tried tuning with those. I didn't think it played well, but did get a photo to post. The case holds the dulcimer but is not the case for it. It is older and fits very tight.
Thanks, still a guess but just curious.
Want to guess on what type of dulcimer could be an old red stain dulcimer, has a hard case that matches the shape of the dulcimer. Looks cheap since it has the red stain and felt light. I didn't see any paper on the inside. Sorry no image at this point. More curious than anything but since the case match the shape, didn't think it was hand made. Seem thiner/smaller than most dulcimers. Anyone know of what type of dulcimers were made and stained red with hard case that matched the shape.
my pup, saint is right with me when I'm playing. If I go to long (way over an hour) he will come around in front, look at me than put his head on the strings. He is sweet and as soon as I pick up the dulcimer he goes right to our spot. He is a good companian.
Thanks monica, i tried it out tonight and it is really a great chair for playing. I can't imagin what the chair was really made for since it is so low but it is great for my prupose. My dulcibon is a large instrument, especially with the case so it's on the other side of the room to fetch when i need. Other than that, yes i think I'm good for awhile on my set up.
If ever you are down i the Houston area, stop by and try it out ;-)
I did find a chair today that is the best one for playing I have seen at any of the stores. Low, wide (to hole a few grandkids) no arms but a back. Problem was, how to make it fit in my space, design wise. But than some of my dulcimers are hanging on an art easel, so shouldn't be too hard to fit a new design. The price was so good, I got it. Turns out it is a design they used in one of the Maxtrix's scenes. So now, I have a great chair for playing and a conversation piece. The rest of the room may still need some rearranging but I think this will work.
Thanks
Your spaces sound just like me - all good but how will I fit one more anything or someone coming over to play also?
Thanks for sharing, love all this
I started with one dulcimer and not much music, now I have several dulcimers and other instruments and lots of music, tabs, books, bags, stands, misc. and etc.
At one time I could practice most anywhere, than I started moving around trying to find a spot. I am now trying to set up an area and I was looking for ideas of how you may have yours arranged. What type of seating you thinks works well and size of area or space or room you have.
Any ideas or photos of your special music space or area would be a hugh help, thanks.
I'm still very much a beginner in playing but the issues I had with the dulciborn have settled down, except still on the highter frets - they are still hard to play but I am mostly playing lower down. I want again to thank you all for all the suggestions and your ideas in helping me set up my instrument. I am posting a few videos for the 4th on the dulciborn and any trouble I am having is more from just still learning how to play, not the dulciborn itself. So, thanks again
Jean Ritchie,December 8, 1922 June 1, 2015
Very sad news and to some degree we are all connected through our dulcimers. She was and will always be anational treasure.
That would be very sweet if you tab some of the songs. I play for some other seniors but not ones from Holland. Maybe you could start an international children's group and post your tabs there and others could maybe post some they know.
Good luck with what you decide to do but again, it is nice of you to offer.
I can only do a copy with my phone so sound isn't very good but this is a really nice idea. If I can do it, I will
I wouldn't glue anything but I do think the nut is already glued.
After starting this thread, it was mention ( this question is probably best asked in the Builders Group,) so I posted it there also. Sorry if this has cause a problem but this set up has been nothing but confusing from the start & the members are about the only ones who can give me any advice. And still without knowing anything myself, there is - sent it back, get it fixed for about $100, or just play in the strum hollow - I wish I did know more about building an instrument, so I would at least know best way of dealing with this problem.
Yes, it's very confusing
Strumelia said:
I would strongly recommend against gluing a shim underneath the nut. Shims are usually considered to be temporary fixes, even if they are left in for many years. Personally, I prefer no glue at all under a nut even when it doesn't have a shim. String tension holds it in place nicely, and nuts are something that people change or adjust fairly frequently, so having it easily removable is convenient.
(Marg, you seem to have started several threads on the same subject in various locations- next time it would be less confusing if you only post one thread per subject or per question... thanks much!)
If I strum close to the strum hollow or right in front of it, there is no problem. But if I was to strum up the fretboard, I start getting lots of tangs. I took the string out of the slot cut into the bone at saddle & it didn't seem to make any difference. Ny other dulcimer I can play up the fret board with no problem. Is this a problem with high frets that only cause an issue when I play close to them?
Is there something that can be done for this or just don't strum anywhere but close to the strum hollow?
Would putting a slim under the nut help out with any of this, opposite end, maybe not raising the higher frets any higher?
"A bit of knowledge can help "
Yes, and all of you have been great.
thank you
m.
Do you have some ready made or just when need one. Seems could have a few in different thickness, a collection of shims. Thanks for the info. on the 'glue', I have seen that mention in some areas & wondered about it. Never thought I would like to put glue on my dulcimer,
Skip said:
Just about everything you may use can be cut with scissors. Hard business cards or the hard plastic bubble pack for thinner shims. Most of this stuff will curl a bit as it's cut, but that won't hurt anything. I don't think I would use glue.
The silver of plastic sounds like it would indeed need to be just a sliver to fit in the string groove. What about the idea of the drop of glue in the grove, not now since I think it's ok but is the glue last measure & try all the other ideas first?
m.
Linda W. Collins said:
Hi Marg,
If the twang sound is coming from only one string, a temporary (but long-lasting temporary) fix is to use a tiny sliver of plastic, cut from a food container lid, placed at/in the string groove in the bridge or nut, as needed. I have found this to help quite a bit - until the instrument can go to a well-trained luthier. [That is a very important person to locate!]
Good luck,
Linda
30 years ago, wow that's good to know since I have felt putting one in was somehow taking something away from the dulciborn. Since, it's new I didn't want to turn it into something less than new.
Over the years do you need to replace the wood or card, does it go down after awhile? I don't think I need to worry about 30 years but the slim is good till it's not - than just replace it?
Thanks,
m.
John Shaw said:
Hello Marg. If your bridge saddle and nut are not glued into place it's very straightforward to put a thin shim of card or wood under them, as Bobby says, and check how the instrument behaves then. My experience is that you don't necessarily have to regard this just as a temporary fix. My two favourite dulcimers have shims of wood or card under both the bridge and nut that I put in over 30 years ago!
