International Appalachian Dulcimer Day
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Dusty, I'm a little late for IADD but that tune of yours works for any day! Love it!
Forum Activity for @phil-myers
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Modern Mountain Dulcimers?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Yes, it's true. A good friend of mine, John Hawk, has been the Modern Mountain rep for many years and he confirmed that David is no longer building dulcimers.
RIP Bill Taylor
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I had Bill for several workshops at Mountain Dulcimer Week in Cullowhee. What a fine gentleman, great teacher, and musician. I don't own one of his dulcimers but know many people who do and love them!
R.I.P. Bill
New Luthier?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Richard Beard has been building for a long time.
North Carolina dulcimers getting media attention
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I happened to be watching the news on WLOS when they aired this story. Melanie and Mack Johnston are good friends of mine and we play together whenever possible. Melanie is also a whiz with Tabledit and teaches classes on it at festivals.
Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I just talked to John Hawk who is a dealer for MMD. He told me the action should be the width of a nickel sitting on top of the seventh fret. Most people buy MMD's because of the low action. I have 2 myself and to me the action is perfect.
Amazing Grace in Cherokee
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This video was taken on October 9, 2013-Fran Cargill's 93rd birthday. She is accompanied by Sally DeLawter. Fran passed to her heaven ly home April 10, 2017. There is beautiful dulcimer music and singing in heaven today!
updated by @phil-myers: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
Placement of Schatten outside transducer pickup
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I stick mine on the back below about the tenth fret. Works well and doesn't get in the way of strumming. In the attached picture I'm using it and you can't even tell it's there.
updated by @phil-myers: 12/27/16 08:35:05AM
Quick Release metal capo's
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
With the lever down loosen the nut on the end so it will fit on the fret board. Place on the fret board with the lever still down and tighten screw till it fits as needed. Then release lever to remove. It is now set.
Wondering Who Built This Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Looks like it could be a Edd Presnell. Here's a link that has one.
Strings for Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I should have said that the strings I referenced above are the ones that come on a MMD (David McKinney's default strings).But you can order individual strings from juststrings.com in whatever gauges you like
Strings for Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I use .012, .014, .024 on my Modern Mountain dulcimer. Here's a good place to order them.
http://prussiavalley.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=59_66&products_id=346
The best external pickup I have found is a Schatten Dualie. Depending on what kind of amp you have, it may require a preamp. I stick it on the back of my dulcimer so it is not in the way. here's a link to it on Amazon:
Also, the best acoustic amp I have found is a Fishman Loudbox Mini. It weighs only 20 pounds and no preamp needed.
The 'Other' Dulcimer......the beaten kind
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
CJ, don't go over tothe dark side!!!!
Stand for Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
The stand is adjustable for width and depth-I think it would work for just about any guitar.
Stand for Modern Mountain Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hey CJ, I use a guitar stand-the kind that doesn't have an upper part.It adjusts to fit any dulcimer or guitar. Our friend Dave-O uses guitar stands with the upper part but he modifys them to fit his MMD's (which he has many of)
Hey Julie, a friend of mine has one and he tunes in Dad but an octave higher than a standard dulcimer. When he and I play together, that is our favorite combination of dulcimers to play. Go to my page and listen to Possum Up a Gumstump. That's a Modern Mountain dulcimer (played by me) and a 6 string Ron Ewing dulcimette (played by John Hawk).
Hope this helps!
Phil
Show us your sound holes!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
This is my favorite because it is my golden retriever,Ellie, who is now 8 years old. It was made by Tom Yocky in 2005. All I told him was I wanted a golden retriever and paw prints and he took it from there. It will always be my favorite dulcimer!
***THREE CHEERS for Robin Thompson !!!***
OFF TOPIC discussions
I would also like the honor of joining Robin's fan club and would really like to play together sometime.You rock, girl!!
FOTMD one year anniversary on July 29th, 2010 !
OFF TOPIC discussions
I'll certainly be playing it! Robin Thompson said:
Strumelia said:Robin Thompson said:How shall we mark the day?
I'm thinking I'll listen to our official song a time or two.
Ah yes...the official theme song.
Strumelia, I'd play our official tune if I knew it. Who knows, maybe I'll learn it by Thursday.
cats & songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here's my version of "The Old Black Cat Couldn't Catch a Rat". It was, however, played on a "dog dulcimer" so you might hear some barking in the background.
dogs & songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks Flint! Here's a picture of my dulcimer "Ellie" that I played the tune on. You can see why it is an appropriate instrument for a song about an old yellow dog.
dogs & songs
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here's my version of Old Yellow Dog. It probably should go faster but I tried it both ways and kinda like this one better.
the Queen family of Jackson Co NC
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hey Robin-yes, we have a good many dulcimer players in these parts. I am a member of 4 clubs, so there is usually something going on. If y'all ever come this way give me a holler and we'll do some playin'. Robin Thompson said:
Phil, are there many other dulcimer players in your neck of the woods?
the Queen family of Jackson Co NC
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I don't know the Queens but I live in the next county over from them-Macon county. There are alot of very good musicians around these parts-mostly banjo, mandolin, guitar and fiddle. I have played at places where the bluegrass musicians are fascinated with the MD. They can't believe all of the music we can play on those little things and they ask all kinds of questions.Phil
Strings
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Bill, on juststrings site, click on guitar strings and then single strings. They will all be ball end. I use the juststrings brand for the melody and middle and Elixir for the bass (the phosphor bronze nanoweb coated are really nice!). The gauges I use are .012,.015,.024. You can order several at a time and save on shipping.