Forum Activity for @richard-streib

Regarding your possum board. Some members have used a piece of 3/4" shelf board cut to width and length. I have always preferred to use 1/4" solid wood, usually poplar I find at the local building supply store in the craft wood section. I generally trace the dulcimer onto the board and cut the board to the shape of the dulcimer. Then I make a fitted block at each end to secure the tail piece and head stock. To avoid scratches I pick up some adhesive backed felt at the local craft store and put that on the end blocks for protection. Then as you say strap buttons on the possum board. With the feet on your dulcimer that arrangement should really sing.

So glad your Dad is joining you on this dulcimer journey. What wonderful and special memories will come from this.

A gentle warning:  Dulcimer Acquisition Disorder (DAD) may come knocking at your door. It is not fatal nor debilitating. The symptoms can temporarily be treated with the addition of another dulcimer to your collection. But in time, in my experience anyway, the symptoms tend to recur, some times multiple times over the course of the months and years.

Best wishes to you and your Dad on your dulcimer journey.

Congrats on your new to you dulcimer. It is interesting to note that it has feet on the back. That was somewhat standard in Appalachia long ago. Many people played with the dulcimer on the table standing as they played. The table top acted as a sound board and rendered a louder sound. Some people use bamboo or river cane for a noter. The strings likely need changing. Regarding care for the dulcimer, the advice I have always received and followed is to avoid any product with silicone in it.  John's suggestion of string gauges is a great starting point. Enjoy your dulcimer.

So sad to hear. Terry was a great guy. We exchanged a lot of emails. I purchased a dulcimer from him one time. He invited me to stop by and visit him if ever I traveled his way.

Best wishes with your new to you McSpadden. I know you will enjoy it a great deal.

Happy New Year to all. And wishing for each of you a year of health and blessings beyond measure. And lots of beautiful dulcimer music.

@sandra-hehl   You will get better response if you post some pictures with your ad. Looking forward to seeing those.

Re shipping. Not exactly to answer the question posed. But a shipping suggestion.

I use a site called PirateShip. Free  to join. They have discounted prices for UPS and USPS. Insurance and extra services are available if needed.

Nice collection Stoltze McSpaddens. It's such a blessing that you have dulcimers and a heart to lend them. We have a number of great dulcimer folks on the forum who have loaners. Its the best way to share our love of the dulcimer with others to allow them to become addicted like we are. Thanks for sharing.

Most current day mountain dulcimer players are more interested in an instrument which is built to play chords and or finger pick. Jeremy's dulcimers from the era of the '80's were better for noter drone style playing, or sometimes called traditional style playing. It is a lovely instrument.

Sorry to hear about your poor experience. I agree. That is not the way to encourage repeat sales.

The news media have heavily reported on the storm damage in the NC mountains, but other southeastern states have suffered as well.

Keep these folks in prayer as well as all of the those who assisting and aiding, paid or volunteers.

Our church has had several members go to the NC mountains. Their first hand reports tell us the damage is 10 times worse when seen in person than any of the images can show on the news. Our church has sent two trucks of commodity items so far and another one is going this coming Tuesday. The mountain people are so resilient and in spite of the damages, losses, and their personal situations generally have an attitude of "we'll get through this together."  

If  you can afford to give I suggest donations to one of the faith based organizations as they have a positive track record of getting goods to those who need it the most.

This is going to be a years long recovery and rebuild, maybe 10 years or more. May we not forget them when the news tires of reporting on this event.

NC mountains hard hit. Well over 400K people without power, Many are isolated with no means of getting any help due to roads and bridges washed out, no phone or cell or internet service. There are literally thousands of volunteers on the ground and sending needed supplies. 3 churches that I know of in our area in central NC are sending trucks and trailers loaded with needed supplies. Keep these folks and the many helpers lifted in prayer.

Nice find. Enjoy playing it.

That TMB looks mighty good John.

Thanks for your insight Wally.

Well said, John.

I have a number of traditional style dulcimores. While I do enjoy them all and play them all on a rotating basis, the one I reach for the most  at this time is a replication of a 1917 James Edward Thomas dulcimore built for Balis Ritchie. This one was made by Dan Cox using walnut wood on the back which came from the Ohio farm where I was born and raised until age 12. That wood was cut on the farm by either my great grandfather or grandfather. And I am on the north side of 70 to give an idea of the age of that walnut.

That is a might pretty little travel dulcimer. Ron builds nice instruments. Wish you the best if finding it a new loving home.

Looks like a very interesting project. Can't wait to hear it.

Looks great John.

Looks great John. Glad you are back up with the website.

An additional solution may be to use loop end strings so more of the threads engage the wood. Using loop ends will not require removing the screw to change strings. It looks like the screw hole may need to be filled and start over with a slightly longer screw.

Thanks Ken.  A little late for me. Maybe I can find a recording of it later.

Beth,

A note of encouragement. DAA is not terminal nor disabling. Nor does it respond to advanced medical treatment. I have found the best way to treat it is to get one more dulcimer.

    Thought I’d add my observations to this discussion. I like to use the analogy of how we label automobiles.
    An SUV, a sports car, a sedan, a coupe, a minivan, a hot rod, a convertible, and an EV are all automobiles. Yet we use descriptive terms as those cited to further identify models with specific traits, shapes, and features.
    It is much the same with the Appalachian dulcimer.  We can say that the traditional dulcimer, the post-revival or transitional dulcimer, the modern dulcimer, the baritone dulcimer, the bass dulcimer, the chromatic dulcimer, and the electric or amplified dulcimer are all in the family of dulcimers. It is just that some who have a personal preference for the traditional dulcimer choose to use the descriptive term “dulcimore” based upon the traditional dulcimer’s history, style, features, and construction, differentiating it from the other styles of the dulcimers in the marketplace today. For those individuals, “dulcimore” describes a traditional style instrument with a pure diatonic scale, staple frets under the melody string, a light weight body of native woods, and a high silvery tone.
    When I refer to my instrument as a dulcimore, I want people to be able to envision its features, and not have to wonder if it has guitar style frets or a large body made of some exotic wood from Africa or what it sounds like.

Tough question. If I could have just one, today, I think it would be a 1917 RT model, a replication of an older Thomas made for Bailis Ritchie in all walnut built by Dan Cox. Maybe tomorrow it would be something else.

There is a small fiber washer in the mechanism if my memory is still good. Sometimes that can be the culprit. I have had some success loosening them a lot and then slowly tightening them back down. If you ever disassemble one all the way take note of the order of the metal and the fiber washers on the shaft. Sometimes just using them will get them holding again. After all no exercise for 40 + years and we all forget how to do things.

Nice looking Melton Style Galax John. I am sure the new owner will be well pleased.

@shanonmilan I enjoy Wittner pegs on several traditional dulcimers. Wrist arthritis makes tuning wooden pegs difficult as much as I like them on the traditional instruments.

That song may be  under copyright. I did a search and could not find when it was written.  Your best avenue may be to purchase the sheet music and create your own tab from the sheet music.

They are great bags. Well made with quality materials. I can recommend them without reservation.

Frank, Warren builds wonderful dulcimers both in aesthetics and sound. I know you will enjoy playing it. Post some pictures when you receive it.

A hint: when it arrives if it is cold there, take it inside and let it acclimate to room temp in the box for a couple of hours before opening it. The hardest couple of hours for sure to tolerate.

I have shipped more with USPS than other shippers mostly out of convenience. I always pay for insurance and I am careful to pack the dulcimer well. Sometimes in a box inside a box.. I use lots of bubble pack. I usually loosen the strings as well. Label the outside of the box fragile--musical instrument. Hope that helps.

I use Just Strings.com. You can get individual strings there. Warren May will sell you a set I am sure. He is still making a few dulcimers at his shop at home.

Warren May is still building dulcimers. He is a delightful and friendly gentleman. The questions you pose he would be glad to answer. His number is on his website. If you leave a message I have always found him to return calls. Hope that helps.

I've been working on my Christmas cookies. So far 30+ dozen and I think I am finished. All for giving away to church members, neighbors, and some local businesses where I trade. Decorating is done and most of the wrapping. I'll make the coconut cake for Christmas and help cook dinner on Christmas for the family.
Merry Christmas every one.

Thanks for the suggestion Strumelia. My family and I will celebrate Christmas from the perspective of the Biblical record, with praise and thanksgiving. We look forward to the Christmas fellowship at church and then the Christmas Eve candlelight service. It will be different this year as we lost my wife's dear sister passed due to cancer in September, so time will be spent to remember her.  We will share Christmas dinner with close family. Our daughter and her family will be with us for a day or two. There will be visits with family and neighbors. I will be making a homemade gift for my brother in law.  As of now I need to get started baking about 30 dozen cookies to share with many friends and some local businesses in the small town where I am. My list is growing so it may be more. I will play Christmas music most every day on the dulcimore.

Then as the Christmas Season passes into the New Year, we will continue to enjoy the birds which visit our 6 feeding stations daily. We also feed the wild deer, Canada geese, squirrels, an opossum we call Polly, a racoon we call Rocky,  and a few ducks that have taken up over the years. Some nights we listen to the call of the wild coyotes across the way.

Well stated Wally and KenH. The mountain dulcimer is what it is. And in my humble opinion, one should enjoy its sweet song as it is without trying to make a bull horn out of it.

I am remembering that maybe the change over from laminate to solid wood was about 1996. It seems I remember the McSpadden having to send too much of the plywood back due to poor quality and it was slowing down production. I have had 2 McSpadden's with laminate bottoms with no trouble at all.