Terry,
Sorry you were ill but the seniors will enjoy another time of music when you can make it. I played for seniors at a nursing home and we gave them some bells, they enjoyed taking part.
Sweet time to share, Merry Christmas
dan-hess
I have a small Warren May and no 6+ but slipped a piece of medal in the spot where the fret should go and just tape it down, works great.
Just a thought, maybe someone else can tell us a better way but this takes care of the problem.
A toothpick, I can do that. I have already changed the strings back to the size that came with the dulcimer, I had gone from a 14 to an 11 so I could tune higher. I am back to DAdd & the 14 for an A, for a performance . The next time I want to go up to key of F or G (The tuning I did for 'This is My Father's World' - with chopstick as a hammer and a wine stopper as a noter ;-) will give all these ideas a try. I have several slots and only when I changed to one of the extra slots did the string ring.
Below is the ring, prepare for horrible:
Thanks so much,
m.
Oh my, great fix idea for a loose sting in a slot.
Thanks
Happy for you, winning and enjoying the dulcimer
ken,
Just so I will know, what would be your ' temporary' fix?
I will probably want to try another tuning at some point and could be back to string problems. I know about putting something in the slot, is there additional find
ken,
I was trying to tune higher from middle string A up to c or d (Fcff or Gdgg) I couldn't turn the 14 that high but the string gage said could do 11. But I think the slot was not meant for an 11, so I changed back to 14 and retuned back to DAdd.
I guess the way I learn the dulcimer is by trying and doing and then re-doing. I had tried putting a bit of paper in the slot but the string still had a ring so just decided to go back to what this dulcimer was design for, a 14. I wasn't ready to fill and recut a slot.
Thanks, all fixed for now was just trying and learning
m.
I have a middle string that rings. Could it be too thin of a string for that slot? I change from a 14 to 11. If it's moving in the slot, do I put something in the slot with it, or go back to the 14 size string and don't try tuning so high?
thanks
Beautiful sad sound with the bow on the instrument, thanks for sharing the video.
I didn't know the smithsonian had contacted Warren, thank you so much for posting this. I am so happy to have one of his special small groundhogs dulcimers.
m.
Warren says to just use chalk not any of the peg drops. I have a small Warren May 'groundhog' with the wooden tuners, I can use chalk now but not sure what the other owner used or for how long. Most of the pegs do fine but i have one that is a problem, I was wondering if I should switch it around with one of the others, maybe over the years it got into the wrong slot.
Kyodan Yago Mat Bag - I just happen to see it at Marshalls. Only as tall as the W. of a mat
(I never even heard of a yoga mat bag until I read Marg's post!)
Ha, me either and to think the bag was also padded.
I wish I could say, I had made mine but I didn't. I thought of just getting a table runner and folding over and sewing up the sides. My (new for me dulcimer) is a slander rectangle, so would move around too much in a standard dulcimer bag or case. I went looking for something, maybe a heavy duty laundry bag but ended up with something I had not even thought of, so funny - 'A yoga mat bag'
The dulcimer is beautiful, I hope the sound is also wonderful and you have many years enjoying it.
Need to click on the ones (Ed Stilley & Workshop) above on the right, http: didn't show up as I typed it but still can see the videos
Very interesting, thanks for sharing.
(below the tuners and under the strings)
Didn't know under the strings -
thanks for the extra details, I was wrapping an extra loop around a tuner to make sure the cord didn't slip off.
The leather strap or cord we just keep looped or tied around the dulcimer?
I have sweet dulcimers not needing capital punishment ;-) - just looking for a way to hang or mount now that I am getting one more and need to make room/re-arrange and have all at the ready.
What are some of the way you might hang a dulcimer? I am looking for a different way to hold my dulcimers and I am interested in how or what materials you use in holding your dulcimer, say on a wall without worry of slipping.
( check the first fret and see if the length of the first fret is less than the length of the second fret. The first fret is shorter than the 2nd fret distance and so it is a just intonation)
Wow, is this how we can tell Just intonation on all dulcimers? Is there also a way to tell equal temperament?
Paula,
Haven't used a possum board for long but have made two, last one much better - lighter and can fit most any dulcimer but if I made another one and raised the part to hold the dulcimer and made it only pencil wide, I'm sure it would make the dulcimer sound different. Other members will have a better answer but below is what I have found out so far as I am learning about the possum board and what it brings to the dulcimer.
1. What I have found, using only mine is it does raise the dulcimer up a bit on your lap so you will need to readjust your playing style some.
2. Where the board would fit any dulcimer, not all dulcimers sound good on it. My McSpadden maybe doesn't need one, since I fell it bounces the sound around more than boosts the sound.
3. If you add felt so the dulcimers doesn't get scratch or if any loose clothing overlaps the board and makes contact you will damper the sound.
I would bring the dulcimer you most want to put on a board or several dulcimers to Jm's and try it or them out. Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Have you seen some of Christine Shoemaker's videos, she has a dulciborn but just got a Gold Tone custom chromatic 5-string bartione dulciborn
She is a member so you could search for her on FOTMD
Frank Ledgerwood was a member but I do not see him now, can still see some of his videos on youtube, with these I just fell in love with the sound f the dulcimer
and
Well, Lowe's only sells fan blades in a package of 4 but the lumber section had some nice wood about the size of a fan blade and less expensive. I followed the 1/4" measurements but I ended up not putting the inserted wood at the ends, I thought it sounded better placing it in more. Anyway very simple to make, very light and cost about $5. for the materials.
Photo attached, remember it's a very simple P. board but works and doesn't change the tone. Not having sides I can slide the dulcimer up or back or use for all of the ones I have.
thanks everyone, again
Sorry this is an older post but i am just now reading it, I have a dulciborn and once I lowered the action it wasn't hard to fret and yes the sound is incredible.
Not sure this ever got to you, posted it 3 weeks ago
Posted a response to "Morgan McKay Dulcimer"
I did not know John but I am very sorry for his passing and for the sadness it brings to his family and friends and his music that will be missed. He posted on his site that one of his favorite songs was - Whiskey Before Breakfast'.
As someone who was active with FOTMD and it's members, maybe a few of you could post the playing of 'Whiskey Before Breakfast' for John
Great posts, love all the responses.
I love each of my dulcimers but only have 2 hands so some need to wait their turn to play. I also have a McSpadden FM 12-W, a small Warren May - a ground hog more for travel, a new TK O'Brien I just picked up in the NC mountains, my first dulcimer, a John Naylor and the 'red stain' one - more for the kids to strum on or travel (a good dulcimer to learn all about fixing a dulcimer with). Since I have only been home less than a week, I am spending a good bit of time with the new O'Brien but will be playing at a nursing home in a week with the McSpadden. I did have them all down last night trying out their sound on a possum board, not sure that counts. Interesting discussion since if I was to answer a week ago or next week it may be different.
Every dulcimer comes with great stories and their own sweet sounds.
Is there a difference of tone depending on what wood the possum board is make from, or the height from the board to the dulcimer?
I needed to make an adjustment on a possum board I had made, that raised the dulcimer up and I found the tone was much more brighter than when I just play the dulcimer.
Is there a best distance to try for or any height or space between the possum board and the dulcimer is ok? Do certain woods bounce back the sound better than others? real woods vs plywood - Hard vs soft woods - distance to dulcimer - does each of these cause the dulcimer to vibrate differently or sound different?
thanks
Thanks Annie, can't wait till I can be there. This coming Friday or Saturday maybe
Oh, I have one of those, didn't know what it was for - came in a nice set of different type of pliers.
Great, will try them.
Thamks
I use 'needle nose pliers to clip' but it is never close enough and leaves just a bit of wire. No problem with that but will try the 'back & forth' and compare. I need to be more consistent in how I do it so each is done similar and not each string different since I am still learning. I have gone through the holes twice and have tried over and under - the first way is harder to get off and the second way is still not very neat. Still needing practice but what I do holds, just isn't right yet.
thanks
I make loop ends out of ball end strings this way - pushing the other end through but I'm always at a lost as to how to finish the strings off neatly. I will try Butch's way, over than under and under and under than back & forth till it breaks off.
Sounds good, thanks Dusty
annie,
I will be traveling to Asheville, NC in a few days. I plan on going to Black Mt. to see and play or hear a few of their dulcimers. Any other comments you have on the shop or the town would be most helpful.
thanks
marg
(the heavier string I had put on that day was just a bit wider then the originals and that was what was causing the issue.)
This may very well be the problem, I will check this out - if it is sitting in the slot.
thanks so much
