Forum Activity for @john-c-knopf

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/25/18 02:01:38PM
435 posts

John Tignor dulcimer rework


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

Well, Ken, at least it'll SMELL good, even if it doesn't loosen the glue!  grin

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/24/18 05:48:32PM
435 posts

John Tignor dulcimer rework


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

That sounds like the same sage advice I gave somebody here a few days ago!

Unfortunately the nut has been re-glued with what looks like Gorilla Glue... might be a job to remove.  Thanks, Dan!

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/24/18 04:55:56PM
435 posts

John Tignor dulcimer rework


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


A young couple came to my home yesterday with a beautiful old Tignor dulcimer that had some problems.  The fist thing I noticed is that it bore a striking resemblance to an Uncle Ed Thomas dulcimer.  I think John was a protege of Jethro Amburgey, wasn't he?  Anyway, I brought my latest Thomas upstairs and laid it next to their dulcimer.  Apart from the Tignor being a couple inches longer and slightly wider, they looked like twins.

The 3 tuners on it were shabby-looking planetary models, inexpertly mounted by somebody, and all 3 strings were the wound steel ones we use just for bass drones.  I found reference photos of what Tignor pegs should look like, and set about to reproduce them in old-growth black walnut.  They came out very well.  I then went to string the dulcimer with the proper gauge strings, when I noticed the "mile-high" action.  The tone is nice, but pushing the melody string all the way down to the staple fret really stretches it out of tune!  I'm not sure if I should lower it or leave it as-is.  Any thoughts, my fellow historical luthiers?


updated by @john-c-knopf: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/19/18 09:32:32PM
435 posts

Stanley Hicks / David Love dulcimer


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

It really is a beautiful dulcimer, but it strikes me as a non-Stanley Hicks instrument.  It seems to me to be a dulcimer built in the Stanley Hicks style by somebody else (David Love).  The Stanley Hicks label inside the soundhole seems to be out of place somehow.  Maybe Stanley acquired it from Mr. Love, and put his label of ownership in it?   There is plenty of room inside the heart cutout to affix a label after the dulcimer was completed.  Just my musings...

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/16/18 05:53:13PM
435 posts

To modify or not to modify


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

You could make a new nut and bridge, carefully knock the other ones out, and cut the new notches any way you want.  This is assuming that you're handy with tools, measurements, etc.

 

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
02/24/18 11:18:39AM
435 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dan the Man!  It would be great to see you and the others in Berea or Hindman (or the Museum of Appalachia, for that matter).  The Dinner Bell restaurant has the official "Kentucky Hot Brown", which I learned about down there.  

I'm flexible as far as dates and times.  There are several inexpensive motels around there that I know of.  The big question is if we can find an indoor space somewhere to inhabit for a while.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
02/23/18 03:32:24PM
435 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm currently planning to still go down there personally, to see the guys at the shop. 

Berea can work for me.  I always look in on Warren May when I go through there.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
02/14/18 04:53:42PM
435 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, it's official now... I'm heading to Hindman!  

I can't miss the opportunity to see you fine folks again, as well as some of my wonderful customers!

Don't know yet if I'll be a vendor -- I don't seem to fare too well at dulcimer selling there.  I plan to bring my newest walnut Thomas though, and a black poplar one if I can put one together in time.  We'll see.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/16/18 08:33:32PM
435 posts

Oberflacht Lyre Finished


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Ken, you did it!  Fabulous job on that lyre.  (The pegs look good too)!

Hope to hear you play it sometime.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/10/18 08:37:49PM
435 posts

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Why hasn't this weekend been listed with the upcoming events and festivals yet?

At least post the dates for folks to set aside on their calendars.  Time's a-wastin'!

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
12/09/17 02:51:37PM
435 posts

Slit in Strum Hollow? What is the reason?


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

Maybe it's a slot to lose your pick down...?  grin    No?  Then it's probably a soundhole. 

Virginia dulcimers in particular were bad to have small round soundholes drilled all over them.

But I believe Jack Lyle is/was a dulcimer builder from Waynesville, NC.  I visited him in his Balsam Gallery many moons ago. 

He had a thing for maple leaf soundholes and red stain, which were beautiful.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
10/31/17 05:47:47PM
435 posts

Removing a fret


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

It helps to heat the fret with a soldering iron, if you're set on removing it.  Heat melts any glue that might have been used, and also gets the wood to "let loose of the fret" easier.  Fewer splinters occur.  But maybe just leave it in?

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
10/24/17 05:53:09PM
435 posts

What's in a NAME???


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Kusani, just slap some black paint on it like Mr. Thomas did.  Paint covers a multitude of errors.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
10/24/17 10:50:38AM
435 posts

What's in a NAME???


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've been using words from the Bible, usually the Psalms, as names for my new dulcimer builds. 

It's getting more difficult to find words that can be names also! Mephibosheth? Maher-shalal-hash-baz?...grin

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
08/22/17 05:51:30PM
435 posts

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Richard, David Bennett has posted videos of himself playing his walnut Thomas replica on his page here ("Down in the Valley", "Holy Manna", "Send the Light") , and Robin Clark posted a couple with his poplar Thomas replica on his page, including "Coleman's March".  Robin also did some soundtracks with it ("Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss", etc.)

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
07/27/17 05:44:07PM
435 posts

seagull soundholes


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Another possibility would be Richard and Denise Wilson of Manitou Beach, MI.

They did a variety of soundhole shapes and inlay work, including seagulls.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
07/07/17 08:50:27AM
435 posts

Happy Anniversary!!


OFF TOPIC discussions

A real note of congratulation and appreciation for your virtual opened doors!   nod

Thank you for creating and maintaining this important dulcimer forum, Lisa.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
06/24/17 09:23:21AM
435 posts

We made the paper (in a good way)


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 A sharp-looking group.  But where are the madding crowds thronged around to listen?

Their loss, I guess.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
06/19/17 05:44:52PM
435 posts

Mel Bay's "Dulcimer Sessions" articles have all disappeared?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Sounds from the wording like the reply came from "offshore" somewhere, like the phonecalls I sometimes get!

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
06/18/17 09:20:11PM
435 posts

Soundboard identification!


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

I just went to Cedar Creek's website, and they list sassafras as an available soundboard wood.

Could be that.  Does it seem like dense, heavy wood or is it lighter?  Sassafras is relatively soft and light.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
06/08/17 09:41:25PM
435 posts

Can any one tell me what these are called?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

George, you sit on one end of a long thin plywood paddle, put a dowel in the hole to hold the puppet, and hold it so that the feet just touch the paddle.  Now you go to thumping the paddle, and the feet of the puppet go flying, and the arms flip back and forth.  Talented folks can beat a rhythm to the song being played by another, and the puppet will appear to dance along with it in a comical way.  It's a lot of fun, especially for young kids.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
05/27/17 02:52:31PM
435 posts

Strings


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi, Tom!  Welcome to the site.

It would help if we knew what kind (or make) of dulcimer you have and what tuning you'd prefer, but a good starting point would be a set by C. F. Martin, D'Addario or GHS.  The strings tend to be plain steel (.012" - .014") and wound steel (.022" - .024").

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
05/24/17 09:12:09AM
435 posts



An intriguing puzzlement!  I would not have believed that Homer Ledford would leave one of his dulcimers unmarked.

Probably just another "dulcimer history mystery"...

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
05/18/17 09:37:36PM
435 posts

Dennis Dorogi


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


There is some sad news from New York.  Legendary luthier Dennis Dorogi, 82, passed away Tuesday night at his home in Brocton.  Here is a link to the funeral home in charge of the family arrangements:

http://themorsefuneralhome.com/obituaries/

 

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
04/19/17 02:39:53PM
435 posts

Leonard Glenn Dulcimer, 1972


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

George, put on your swim trunks, pinch your nose and jump in!  Fortune has smiled upon you, my son...

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
03/24/17 09:39:19PM
435 posts

What are you reading right now?


OFF TOPIC discussions

Foxfire 11.  Finally assembled the whole set a couple years ago.

Of course we all know what's in Foxfire 3.... and Foxfire 12.  Don't we???

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/18/17 02:15:55PM
435 posts

Does anyone recognize this dulcimer?


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

It looks like cherry in these photos, but it could be walnut with reddish lighting when the photos were taken.

Cherry looks deep orange or orange-red, and sometimes has small black "pitch pockets" here and there in the wood.

Walnut usually shows more grain, and can be medium- to chocolate-brown in color.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/17/17 09:21:54PM
435 posts

Does anyone recognize this dulcimer?


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

Bill Davis made kits for this style.  I know, because I helped a lady repair hers.  The head on his was different though-- it had chip carving on the sides of the scroll, and the end was larger.  Too bad there's no label in it.  Chet Hines wrote a book on how to build a "masterpiece dulcimore" like this.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/17/17 06:04:41PM
435 posts

Does anyone recognize this dulcimer?


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

Jennifer, she's a beaut!  Looks like a Mike Clemmer ("Wood 'N' Strings", Townsend, TN) from here.  If so, snap it up!

Bill Davis from Gatlinburg, TN and Jean Schilling from Cosby, TN popularized that particular style, with its violin shape, its 5 strings and its large size.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/16/17 06:02:45PM
435 posts

Dulcimer Weight


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

Baltic birch plywood is of very high quality, and I've used it a couple of times with great results.  It's relatively expensive.  I got mine at my local Woodcraft store.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
01/15/17 08:47:31PM
435 posts

Dulcimer Weight


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

Solid wood and plywood can weigh about the same.  If you can see the edge, you can see the plys in plywood.

Plywood in a dulcimer is not always a bad thing, except in cases of the use of inferior pieces of cheap plywood.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
12/12/16 09:50:53PM
435 posts

Saw This Old Dulcimer ...


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It's cool, and it looks pretty old, but using the guitar-style frets is a relatively modern twist.  Looks like a few frets are missing from their slots.  

Maybe the restaurant manager will let you carefully remove it to try it out?  They probably stuck it to the wall with screws driven through the soundholes.  

That's how an old John Maxwell dulcimer was attached to the wall of a T.G.I.Friday's, before they tore it off and sold the wrecked dulcimer on eBay.  I won it, and carefully reglued the splinters back together.  I should think somebody would have had the sense to look for screws attaching it to the wall...

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
11/27/16 09:35:53PM
435 posts

Any guesses as to the maker of this dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

George, it looks like kind of a rough job to me, not from a well-known maker.  The overall form is chunkier than that of the luthiers you mention.

I don't see a close resemblance to any others I've encountered.  I would guess a hobbyist made it.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
11/26/16 09:14:51PM
435 posts

Hindman, Kentucky


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ken, it looks like "Uncle Eddie" came out of the display window for a personal appearance at the Homecoming.  

Did you all get to play it or anything?

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
11/21/16 09:24:39PM
435 posts

Hindman, Kentucky


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the great article, Ken.  I wish I could have joined you all this year.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
11/17/16 05:35:47PM
435 posts

Offering sympathy to our dear John Henry


OFF TOPIC discussions

So sorry to hear the sad news, John Henry.  May God hold you and your family in His loving hands at this time of grief.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
11/06/16 03:41:27PM
435 posts

why holes in fretboard?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ruth, the oldest dulcimers have come from Virginia, and they had no strum hollow, but they did have soundholes in the fretboard.

And a few had soundholes in the back as well.  They were a separate tradition from the Kentucky-style dulcimers that are prevalent now.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
09/19/16 10:49:49PM
435 posts

Does anyone think this is an Edd Presnell dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

'Twould seem to me that if it IS a real Presnell dulcimer, it would not be anonymous, but have a label inside it to identify things.  The Presnells usually marked their products, didn't they?  And one might check with The Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Brevard, NC.  They're still in business, and have a craft/gift shop as well.

John C. Knopf
@john-c-knopf
09/19/16 09:57:57PM
435 posts

Does anyone think this is an Edd Presnell dulcimer?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Looks to be in the style of Gatlinburg's Bill Davis or Townsend's Mike Clemmer.  Maybe Baxter Presnell made one like this?

Or another Presnell altogether.  There's lots of them in that part of North Carolina.  Also lots of Hicks', Harmons, Glenns, etc.

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