A picture of a new dulcimore beautifully crafted by Dulcimore Dan. This is his Dulcimore model.
Poplar body with cherry stapleboard, tuning pegs, headstock and tail block. Traditional with staple frets, fiddle edges, no extra frets, set up and tuned Gdd. A real beauty to the eye and to the ear.
If they ever develop a vaccine for Dulcimer Acquisition Disorder, I'll refuse to take it.
One of the builders on this site might be willing to fix the holes so the new tuning machines will work. Would involve shipping dulcimer and tuning machines and waiting to get it back.
Great photo John and great dulcimore given to Diane. Contrats Diane. Enjoy your dulcimore
That is a beautiful dulcimer. Best of luck finding out more about it.
How wonderful of you to build your sister a dulcimer. I would think if she has a reasonably "tight" house and does not live with the windows open all the time, the dulcimer may be protected enough kept inside. As exciting as it sounds to sit by the beach to play I probably would not do that. I live in NC with 95% humidity much of the summer with no problem imparted to my dulcimers kept inside the house.
You raise a good question. Since you do not always have audiovisual tools at hand perhaps, perhaps a 50 mm x 75 mm picture or photo laminated in plastic you could carry on your person. You might could do front and back, one side the dulcimer the other side someone seated playing it.
As for sound, you have discovered that the dulcimer is capable of many voices. To me its sweetest voice is on a slower song. Perhaps a dulcimer sound clip of a slower melodic song well known to the people of Spain could be loaded to your phone to share the sound that way.
If you check some online companies you may be able to specify shipping in a small package by USPS and hopefully the parcel will fit in your mailbox which I assume is secure.
Susie, thanks for starting the thread. I am sure many of us enjoyed it, whether we participated or not.
Here is a four place stand I have. Another sideways picture
Here is one I use. No pets in the house to disturb it. Sorry the picture is sideways. It is correct on it's original file.
So sad to lose another in our greater dulcimer family.
To me the dark spot looks like it is in the wood.
Does not appear to have a 13.5 fret. The 6.5 will not be a problem. As you learn, you just have to remember it is there. I play a dulcimore without a 6.5 fret most of the time then if I pick up my only one with the 6.5 fret, it takes me a few minutes to remember it is there.
It looks like it has a 6 1/2 that has been added.
Great article KenL. Thanks for sharing with us.
I now have 12 including 2 zitters both with staple frets. Most of mine are traditional style with staple frets, several with wooden tuners. Only one with a 6 1/2 fret.
I encourage all who use the forum to help support it.
It's really simple. If you enjoy the forum and it benefits you, you really ought to support it. A lot of things in life are note free, and the forum is not really meant to be a handout. After all we pay for other things we enjoy--groceries, pro baseball, movies, concerts, bowling, dulcimers, dulcimer festivals etc.
So sorry Venni to hear of your disease. COVID is wicked. Take care of yourself and get well soon.
Ron builds a great dulcimer.
I owned a couple of Ron's dulcimers over the years, a 6 string dulcimette and a standard style. Great craftsmanship, superior balanced sound, beautiful wood and very easy to work with if you want something special made. Most people really like his dulcimers and there are not many for sale. I got rid of mine simply because I chose to move to the old style traditional dulcimer with staple frets, wood tuners, and primarily 1-5-5 tuning with diatonic fretbpard without any added frets. The owner of the standard still plays it regularly as far as I know. The dulcimette was donated to a charity auction to raise money for a student scholarship to attend a major dulcimer festival.
So good to hear. Enjoy your cherry McSpadden. She may get crabby on days you don't have time to give her the attention she craves.
Thanks for sharing Kenl. Great program. I agree there needs to be more programs along this line.
Wow. That cleaned up really nice. The wood is beautiful whatever species it is.
That is a beautiful dulcimer @deweylandrum . What a wonderful gift from your father. Best wishes as you learn to play. You have come to the right place to get your questions answered.
Its always nice to learn of different builders. I have not heard of this one. Let us know when you find out more information.
Yes Strumelia, well worth trip. The more folks who get the vaccine the closer we get to at least a little of normalcy. It'll still be months probably before enough are vaccinated for it to be normal to be realistic. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
As Kusani said, this is a vicious disease, and now a mutated more infectious strain is being found in many states.
Our extended family has lost two members to COVID. It is frustrating that some people think it is a hoax. I'm sorry. The MD will not write "hoax" on a death certificate. Those who won't follow precautions and those who think it is not real need to see the wicked suffering many people go through battling this disease.
My prayers are with all who have the disease, the families who have lost loved ones and the heroes in the medical arena treating this disease day after day.
The key is to know the finish. Plain cooking oil will work. If it is rubbed oil finish any oil my be useful. Just dry it well when finished and buff it out a little.
[quote="John W. McKinstry"]
Hi Jill, Good to hear from you. Yes, I have posted "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" in the video section of FOTMD. I take comfort in playing the old hymns and often play them as a personal meditation time.
John, I too play some of the old hymns for my personal worship and meditation. Try to do that every time I play.
Thanks for your post @jost. Again welcome to the forum. We'll help you along all we can.
A beautiful dulcimer. Let's hear a sound clip.
Thanks John for the hymn history.
Audio file for Now Thank We All Our God at
Perhaps on a more serious note about COVID. Some members of the forum have contracted this disease, some with mild symptoms some seriously ill, even on life support for a while.
I have heard some folks who think this pandemic is just something that is made up. But make believe does not kill people. This virus is real, it is serious and it is deadly.
My plea is that we all would act with consideration toward others and wear our masks, limit our gatherings, keep our distance and stay home when we don't need to go out. We can limit the further spread of the virus by following the advice of the scientists who are studying this beast. Let's just do it!
Good for you, Strumelia. Yes folks are decorating earlier this year. I think this is one thing that reminds us of normal, and it is something that is not limited by our sense of responsibility toward others nor by governmental restriction.
The odd thing to me is the local media here seem to find it so surprising and out of character. If one thinks about it for just a moment it is not at all surprising. Indeed it is to be welcomed.
It is certainly unique. I have never seen one quite like that.
Awesome dulcimer. I have had good luck with Strother's string gauge calculator. They do show a bit light at times so you may want to go one or two numbers heavier.
Juststring.com is a good source of strings if you want to purchase singles and make up your own sets.
