Forum Activity for @marg

(the saddle is angled so that the distance from nut to saddle (bridge) is greater for the thicker strings.)

Is that what this angled is?

 Compensation.jpg - 103KB

Thanks joe, 

Interesting using only hand tools, I hope the one I am looking at is this Bob

Thanks ken

What is a  bridge compensation or what does it mean?

McSpadden listed below post if you wanted to play in DAd

" If you expect to play only in D-A-dd, we recommend ordering the bridge compensation option to optimize playability in that tuning."

With scalloped fretboards do you ever need to worry about warping or how they are placed on? 

 Screen Shot 2017-07-24 at 12.15.49 AM copy.jpg - 57KB

Most fret markers I see are place at the 3, 5, 7, 10 etc. 

    Why would one be place on the 9 & 11?

Is their a reason for putting them at certain frets, is 9 & 11 where someone wanted them or someone just didn't know where they should go? Or is it just me not knowing where they go?

joe,

Do you remember what you thought of his dulcimers, if they were made well? Strange someone can make something for some years, yet google the name & nothing. 

Has anyone ever hear of Robert LeFever? He made dulcimers for the Ozark Folk Center back in the 90's. No one there knows anything before 2000, they carried McSpaddens till 2006 but do not carry any dulcimers now. LeFever was also a member of the Ark. Graft Guild.

Questions:

If Robert sold his dulcimers out of the Folk Center, would his dulcimer quality be as we would expect?

If Robert was a member of the Graft Guild wouldn't his instruments be well made?

Any thoughts?

No photos at this point

Sweet brother, nice dulcimer

The dulcimer group I play with has someone who has been playing the hammered dulcimer for years, I forwarded your info to him. It is a beautiful instrument, I like the way the peg strings can be closed off.

Good luck

george,

(ones he personally built were signed by him carving/engraving his name on the back side of the dulcimer,)

Sam Carrell also, I just picked up a Carrell fiddleside dulcimer. He also signs his name on the back

jenniferc, 

I hope you enjoy your fiddleside dulcimer, I have my Sam Carrell '84 fiddleside tuned DAA (only using 4 strings, not the 5th string) and the tone is also so beautiful. 

Impressive, good going

I ran across  Vander Woude"  dulcimers & they have the very same sound hole as my trailing/weeping/bleeding heart, what a surprise. His site directs one to Hewoud Music. Vander Woude decided to retire & his granddaughter, Victoria has taken over the business. I wrote her & she sent back this reply below. It was very sweet for Victoria to take the time to do this research - much like what has already been posted.

I hear their dulcimers are 'beautiful' & the sound 'unique'

"The meaning, origins, and history of the Trailing/Weeping/Bleeding Heart soundhole design are completely shrouded in mystery. Mountain Dulcimer lovers have been debating over it for years, but there appears to be no single concrete answers available. There are numerous theories, some of which I have included here: -Bleeding or Weeping Heart shapes are traditionally used to represent sadness or loss. For those who enjoyed playing sad love songs or wished to commemorate a lost loved one, bleeding heart soundholes would add a sentimental touch to their instrument and music. -A common theory is that they are not “bleeding” hearts but rather a depiction of “Trailing Hearts”, a flowering vine with heart-shaped leaves, also known as the Rosary Vine. Some Mountain Dulcimer builders specifically state that their design is a heart-shaped leaf and vine. -The geometrical heart shape was originally used to represent leaves (not sentiment), especially of the Linden tree. Legend says that any couple who sits under the branches of “the tree of lovers” would be in love forever. -The Pennsylvania Dutch frequently used hearts in their décor to represent love of God, family, friends, and country. The tips of the trailing hearts point heavenwards as a reminder that true love comes from God. The Mountain Dulcimer was partially based on a German folk instrument (the zither) and was commonly used as a church instrument, so this heart design is a reflection of the instrument’s roots. -The simplest theory is that the ornamental heart was born from builders experimenting with how to make heart soundholes more elegant. No symbolism was meant beyond those conveyed in standard hearts. As you can see, symbolism is mainly left open to interpretation now. Some people don't relish the thought of having "bleeding" hearts on their instrument and prefer the floral explanations. Others feel the historical meanings are more substantial. Legends and theories aside, the Trailing/Weeping/Bleeding Heart soundhole has become one of the most common and beloved Mountain Dulcimer soundhole designs. Most builders seem to use it as a soundhole design option. Its graceful ornamental shape adds a nice touch of whimsy to this beautiful folk instrument, it allows greater resonance than most soundhole designs, and the mysteries behind its origins reflect the mysteries of the Mountain Dulcimer’s true roots"

Peg holding, YEA

Hey hey, pencil eraser - rub that on & the little bits (like adding fiber to our diets) has the bass peg holding. WOW, no slipping. Has anyone else tried an eraser?

 Salt-Springs,

A true treasure

ken

( Linden leaf - a source of magical power ... "bleeding heart" - too sentimental or liberal)

Both of those meanings sound better than maybe 'sad'

thanks

bob,

Your dulcimer you are working on is beautiful. Since you mention ( Weeping Heart motifs )  in this site, I was wondering if you knew what the meaning could be for them.

    Yes, this is a nice discussion & I am so glad it has started back up. I have several dulcimers with different sound holes but my latest is a San Carrell '84 'fiddleside' with the weeping heart, or crying heart. At the moment I have it tuned to DAAA & is a bit sadder than maybe DAdd would be. I understand Carrell returned to Fla to help his ill parents in '84 & maybe only made a few dulcimers after that, could the weeping Hearts be because he was leaving TN? 

 e mail weeping hearts.jpg - 105KB

dusty,

Thanks, I wrote a message to Pristine2's homepage. Will see if he answers, several older messages, I didn't see where he answered so not sure. Hope is is well.

I place a call to Clemmer's shop, Wood N Strings. They are busy right now but when they have a minute will call me back. I will post what I find out but I like your idea of symbolic meanings of the different sound holes from ( "tall tale tellers" at FOTMD!)

I had put Pristine2  in under member search & he didn't pop up. I remember he was a member awhile back. 

Some post on hearts, & up-side down ones & what is a traditional sound hole, seems there should be some meaning to what design is chosen either by the builder or the person who is ordering one - especially if the design denotes something sad, like weeping or crying. If a 'cigar sometimes is just a cigar' I would rather think the design is just a combination of f-holes & hearts.

Sounds like you have been having high temp's out in CA, stay cool - summer is here

Gorilla Super Glue is what I had around the house, so that's what I used & clamp it.

The leather works just like if you were to wrap a piece of elec. tape around your thumb but the leather is more of a padding for the thumb with no stickiness.

Check out ken's post below, he gives a number of ideas you could try. I like my thumb to still be like a thumb so, I like the softness of leather vs. something hard in using my thumb to slide. I tried a thumb pick also, didn't like/didn't work

 thumb leather.jpg - 103KB

dusty,

I saw on a everythingdulcimer post 11/2008, pristine2 (when he came over)   was going to pick up a carrell teardrop that has the same soundholes & stretched out head piece as my fiddleback. I wonder if he was able to get any info on it?

Interesting, I was just watching an old video he did on adjusting a bridge

dusty,

Both interesting discussions, I am surprise there isn't a book or something about the meanings of the different soundholes.

thanks

If we go back 30+ years, there wasn't as many sound hole designs as now - does anyone know 

the meaning behind 'weeping hearts',  'trailing hearts' or 'crying hearts'?

When was this sound hold started & is it just the combination of traditional heart & traditional f-hole?

Some builders have a signature sound holes, has anyone done a study of who has or had what designs?

Is the photo attached (Sam Carrell, 1984) sound holes 'weeping hearts', 'trailing hearts'  or just a combination of heart &  f- hold?

Any ideas?

 e mail weeping hearts.jpg - 105KB

Love the idea of your stone pick, looks like a worry stone they had years ago. Rubbing it when you are not playing with it, should shine it up or smooth it out more. I also had picked up a stone I was hoping to use as a pick but it is just a little too thick. 

I have lots of interesting noters I have either made or found around the house that work really well, only wish I could put them to good use.

I enjoy thinking of new ideas in making things work, keeping learning the dulcimer adventure exciting.

ken,

After playing around with different ways to fasten the leather for my thumb, I have ended up glueing it & that keeps it more an even thickness all around. I'm working on my 3rd attempt of this design & even with it not yet right, it is working fine. I can use my thumb to slide or cord or hit middle or bass strings without feeling like I am filing my nail off. Works a lot like the elec. tape I would use but more pading & not sticky.

Working great, thanks

ken,

(Think outside the box!)

I can do that, I have tried the thimble or plastic tubing before but don't like the stiffness since I also use my thumb for middle & bass strings but I do like the idea of leather.  I can Wrap a strip of smooth thin leather around my thumb like the tape but it's not sticky, I just need to come up with the best way to fasten it. I tried it out this evening & it protects the thumb but leaves me able to cord or hit the middle or bass string. Works like my thumb but it's protected.

thanks so much

Well the thumb pick really didn't work for how I wanted, so till I get something like an acrylic nail I will stick with elec. tape.

 hewalker,

Thank you, sounds like you have a great fellow to invent what you need if can't be found & welcome. Is the photo of your dulcimers, I just got another one & now thinking of how to reorganize them - not a bad problem ;-)

(chalk I put on.)

So, does chalk not hold? What is chalk for then? W. May had said to just use chalk on his. I have a peg something, not drops - I will try that.

thanks

( Mixolydian (D/A/d/dd) tuning.)

Bridge to nut in 28'.5    if I was to tune to DAddd, should the ddd be lighter than 12's. String Gauge Calculator shows 9, so I'm thinking 10's or 11's but not sure if 12's would be ok that sounds like what are used for this dulcimer but maybe not for DAddd

rob,

(putting water on the bass peg to swell it.)

After the water (or spit ;-)) dries would it be loose again?

So far I am not using that peg & even if I did not sure I would have the strings 4 equal courses - how do you play that? Not knowing, I would think my fingers would slip through or would miss a string in making cords.

Have it tone to DAaa now, beautiful tone. I'm not sure the pegs could hold dd but since this sounds is so nice, now sure I would keep trying on tuning up to dd

Pegs are a problem for me but other than that, what do you think of a Sam Carrell dulcimer?

(fretting hand and not your strumming/picking hand, correct?)

yes

I have been using my thumb since I started but just lately I have started wondering if I could hurt the nail or edge, so thought of the thumb pick or yes even a fake nail. But not sure how it would work when I use my thumb to fret on middle strings. 

Thanks 

Photos

On the pegs - you can see all the chalk I put on them. I still can't get the bass peg to hold so are using the others at the moment - need to adjust the spacing over on last far one since no bass one at the moment.

The melody strings I have tune aa, sounds great & pegs hold them fine but I run into trouble getting the pegs to hold if I tune to dd. Also I notice a buzz on 3rd fret, not sure if I should just try & move strings over to another notch or raise the strings a bit with some string or paper. 

 e mail sam carroll1.jpg - 82KB

Why are the strings set up like a 4 equidistant dulcimer except the melody strings are doubled? Not sure how you play that, just on melody strings? Can I move them over to have set more like DdAdd - double on the two far strings & melody?

So, what is the best way to start, mark the bridge, remove the strings & clean than put new strings on?

If a peg wont hold, first try chalk or sand just a hair to go in slot better?

 (Sam Carrell, who worked for a time with Bill Davis)

I just picked up a Sam Carrell dulcimer, signed & dated august 1984. it need some work but with your help something I can do.

What can you tell me about these dulcimers?

It is the 5 string fiddle shape type. May just need new strings, a good cleaning & some way to have the two bass end pegs hold.

Strumelia,   (accidentally deleted-)

No worries, just assume I did something.

Thanks for all you do

Has anyone used a thumb pick for using & sliding their thumb so they don't tear it up?

     (Hope this is ok here, just tried posting under a new post 'Thumb Pick' but it vanish)

Has anyone used a thumb pick just for sliding their thumb & not tearing up the edge of their thumb?

( heating it a few minutes with your hair dryer before giving it a tap with a hammer and a wooden dowel)

Thanks ken, worked on the dulcimer today. After two tries of heat & tapping I had the bridge out & with a bit sanding, the action is lowered. Stopping at this point, nice & low & no buzzing. Plays so much easier now & my thumb thanks you.