Forum Activity for @nathina

Some interesting information on HA Fleming. If correct he died in 1981. So I came across a sale on an HA Fleming according to the owner dated (H. A. Fleming 08-18-90). It is a beautiful instrument that is pictured, but although he said he would show the signature and build inside the instrument. He hasn't. It definitely looks like a Fleming, but unless he came back from the grave, or someone is building under his name it is interesting. It is a 5 string, currently rigged for 3, and I think two hitch pins have been pulled. Now unless I am missing a tuning knob, there are 4 shown in one pic and 5 in another. The back does not come up high enough to cover a tuner. Would have loved to see pics of the sides and the foot.

 Screen Shot 2020-12-01 at 7.04.35 PM.png - 343KB

I always found outgoing strum easier than a back strum. 

Ordered thanks.

I was looking into his older Capritaurus' and there was a signature on the card. Serial Number etc. Looking at the Folkcraft a "business card" similar to what is pasted on the bottom is attached to the instrument at the neck normally for sale. I checked with Howard's site, and as far as I can tell, they did not use ply on the back, but solids for the Series. This would be the fourth or fifth, I lost count, of "vintage" instruments that were not made by the stated manufacturer if it is what I suspect. This instrument is on Ebay for 199.00. Suddenly there are several more listed on the web, no evidence of manufacturers name and one "new" Capritaurus from a reseller, again no id in evidence. Why I am becoming interested is 1. I don't want to buy a knockoff, nor would I want anyone else to buy one. 2. My brother told me the Chinese have caught on to cheap quick instruments and are making copies, especially since the country keeps getting locked down, and suddenly there is a dirth of dulcimers hds, mds. etc and other folk instruments for sale. I managed to get a great bargain on my vintage McSpadden, and a good buy on my new Gibson. So I am trying to learn to recognize copies of the MD. I can do that for the HDs but copies are few and far between due to the complexity. There is a big copy market on guitars, with knock offs coming in from China.

Another pic.

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 6.31.54 PM.png - 1.2MB

This is being sold as a vintage capritaurus. The dulcimer has a ply back which actually looks rough. I think this is simply a business card pasted inside. The Ruggs, I thought,  were making a high line in the Capritaurus and this instrument does not appear to be one. The varnish is irregular and pooled in the head, as well as in crevices. There also seems to be "varnish" splatter on the tuners. I may be wrong what do you think?

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 5.50.05 PM.png - 1.6MB

I think this is a new luthier. Haven't heard of him/her before. Anyways selling only on EBay by the name of Beard. The instruments look beautiful, prices are high for possibly an unknown I would think but have never heard them played, or seen anything about them. Looks are fine, but the tone is all. 

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 1.17.28 PM.png - 329KB

It has a the standard plush cardboard case. Very little about the dulcimer itself, outside of the label that says it is a Capritaurus and from CA. Certainly doesn't look much different than the Rugg and Jackel. 

Considering the same manufacturer, a pre break up Capritaurus W/OSSC (walnut what is ossc?) would be better ?

Any Idea as to reasonable price?

Ken 1982 or 83

I am thinking the price is a little high for this one. Trying to keep myself from the potato chip craze.

So the Rugg and Jackel are a massed produced line assembly as noted by the high Serial number. Also seems that the sticker fell out of the instrument. Price wise not on the level of the current Folkcraft. 

is a Ruggs and Jackel pre folkcraft a good instument? Are the current folkcraft better? What type of label did they use and was it inside the instrument?

 Screen Shot 2020-11-29 at 10.31.22 AM.png - 233KB

Played to the CD. Wanted to see if I could do it. Still me playing, with mistakes. As I said everything else is fill in. Trying to see if I could play to a combo. Also wanted to give the Roosebeck a full try with something to blend to. It's good practice. Take out the original from the mix, and play myself into it.

Since some were wondering about a 16/15 vs an EXR bass dulcimer here is a song done on the 16/15. Pure Celtic. Even a cheap Roosebeck (not so cheap in price) can sound great when reworked properly. This song would not come out as bright on an EXR. Note the overtones.

https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/10-the-abbess-of-kildare-bridget-omalley?fbclid=IwAR0e3knC3Omoyv9AgGHzhC--67EltC3R2zYv7AutgtOULORdd39bAA0HmHY

Strings stretch, wood contracts or expands with humidity. Every wooden instrument needs to be retuned every few days. Try a hammered dulcimer. 15 minutes of retuning normally.

I always wonder if I should call may instruments, he she or it? Now if it is from a male tree it would be he, from a female tree her and from a self pollinating variety it.

Will they become popular or a passing fad?

I have my dulcimers tuned to DAd DAdd. So I find a song that sounds better in DAaa, and then there is one in CGcc. Tune, retune, and retune again. How many have dulcimers just tuned to different keys and use that when they find a song? I do have capos but only use them for one song in a set if it has another key. 

No, toilet paper is in abundance here. No problems. Certain imported goods are gone, the supply chain is broken. But otherwise no real problems with food.

I cook Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese. Turkey day will be a turkey. Have to have a turkey with everything as usual. Christmas there is another frozen turkey waiting. They tied to say there was a shortage of turkeys, Covid caused, haven't found any shortage.

Not having any festivals to attend is a downer. My favorite restaurants have gone the way of the dodo, with more closing permanently every day. One more lockdown and that is it for a lot of them. Not sure what will happen with all the unemployed and under employed once the protections lift. Can't teach as I cannot do it online. Can't travel as most of the flights are cancelled or non existent and 28 days out of my life in isolation is not I thing I value. Not a good time at all. And on top of that, watching the Virus spread, (second wave was predicted) and yet everyone seems astonished. Current measurements will not work, but then they new it wouldn't yet had to provide the population with something to believe in, and they are running out of people to blame. On the other hand it is interesting to watch history repeat, and be able to predict to the letter what will happen. 

I have seen the inlay, which is lovely. 

What makes Blue Lion so much different than the other great luthiers?

And I like when I see a new build using beautiful woods, Especially of the wood is reused. Such a wonderful way to bring the wood back to life.

Right, was not sure how high an action then we were talking about. Thanks Again

Thanks, but I was thinking use of a noter for a slide on the melody, and a possible technique of pressing the higher string down to create increase tension thus creating a sharp. (technique used typically on Chinese stringed instruments). I gave up guitar due to first bleeding fingers, then calloused one, then no feeling in the tips.

The only reason I can think of for higher actions is performing a slide or tremelo. Are there others?

You are adjusting the stretch of each string independently as to obtain the note.If you want to stretch it more, the note goes up the scale, until the tensile strength of the string is reached and they break.

There shouldn't be any difference in tone as you are using a tuner to bring it into true. Tone would vary by quality of string.

On the HD, all choruses are doubled, and each string is offset from the other, thus the "stretch" is different but the sound is the same. I see no reason why it wouldn't be the same for the md. In fact the chorus strings are also offset in the head.