Forum Activity for @ocean-daughter

Start new thread or revive an old one?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I have been doing a rather extensive project of trying out picks on my dulcimers to see what sounds I liked, and wanted to chat with forum members about their pick preferences.  I know there are some older discussions about this.  Do you prefer that I tag onto one of the older ones, or should I start a new one? 

I personally feel that if it's been a couple of years since a thread was updated, I'd just as soon start a new one rather than add onto an old discussion.  But I know that different forums have different feelings about this. 

Tell us about your VERY FIRST dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you Strumelia!  And I'll go over to the Building group, Ken!  I already started researching wood dealers in my area.  Just being prepared.

How to get adhesive residue off a fretboard?

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

Thank you all! And Strumelia, I appreciate the advice about careful application.  I wouldn't have thought about that danger. 

Dusty, I was concerned about the fretboard having lighter rectangles under the stickers, but that doesn't seem to be the case.  So I was thankful for that!

Tell us about your VERY FIRST dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The journey has been, and still is, very joyful and satisfying!  Also, Ken, I saw your holly leaf dulcimers in a group on Facebook a few weeks ago--I commented there--and I'm hoping to try making a dulcimer or three from "scratch" one of these days.  I may ask you questions about the holly leaf. 

How to get adhesive residue off a fretboard?

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

I just got a new-to-me dulcimer (it was made by Russ Green in 1995), and someone had put stickers with numbers all along the fretboard.  I've been peeling them off but a lot of the adhesive stays on there.  What would be good to use to get it off? 

The finish on the dulcimer is shiny, but not lacquered.  I don't know what Mr. Green used on his dulcimers.  I've been using my fingernail to scrape the adhesive off, but I'm not sure how to make sure I've gotten every trace.  And the remnants all up and down the fretboard look almost worse than the stickers. 

It's such a pretty dulcimer though.  :)

Tell us about your VERY FIRST dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My very first dulcimer was a kit from Cripple Creek Dulcimers in Manitou Springs, Colorado.  We were visiting friends in Colorado Springs, and went to Manitou Springs to stroll around, and came upon--a DULCIMER SHOP, oh, my!!  I had always kind of wanted one.  Theirs were so beautiful, with the leaves-and-vines soundholes, usually enhanced by a heart or something. 

We were relatively young and kind of scared to spend $200 all in one place, so we decided to get a kit.  I asked, "If I build this, will it sound good?" and Bud and Donna Ford's son assured me it would.  It actually took me a couple of years to get down to building it, during which time we had two children and moved houses.  (We had a toddler at the time I bought it.)  It wasn't that hard except for pounding in that fret wire (the grooves for the frets were already cut, thanks be!!).  I had fun designing my own soundholes, forget-me-nots with a butterfly, and I borrowed a friend's woodburning tool to draw the stems.  I was so proud I had actually built my own. 

I still have that dulcimer, and I played her some today (though lately I've added a few more to my flock).  Cripple Creek dulcimers are a bit on the long side for my small hands, and I'm more comfortable chording on a shorter one.  But my Cripple Creek is fine for melody drone, which is what I mostly do lately. 

Also, I never introduced myself when I joined, so I'll count this as my introduction if that's ok!  I built that dulcimer in 1996, and played kind of sporadically, then came back to it in full force last fall!  I'm happy to have found this group.  Hope we'll "meet" at some virtual festival sometime!