Forum Activity for @susie

I'm a few months late in posting this, but I'm in love with my new Doug Berch dulcimer. Doug is a wonderful luthier and a National Champion (won both the hammered dulcimer and mountain dulcimer competitions in the same year). He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Anyway, I had him build me a custom 3-string dulcimer and I got it in July. It is fabulous. A really nice, warm tone with great sustain and intonation. The sound this thing puts out is beautiful. It has a curly sassafras top and walnut back and sides, with sapwood and figure. It has a bubinga rosewood fretboard overlay and a passive pick-up installed. Everything I wanted and needed. The pictures don't do it justice, but I tried my best. I just wanted to share this, as you don't see too many of his dulcimers here, but the dulcimers he builds are outstanding.

I have one of these. Same concept, but a little less expensive. Works great.

http://elderly.com/accessories/items/WDC1.htm

I have the church-style. When I was trying to decide, Mike Clemmer strongly suggested the church-style. He said it would give more volume and sustain than the regular model. He said he mostly makes the church-style. GIven their size, you lose volume, so I'd suggest getting the most you can with the church-style. The added depth for travel is not an issue. I wouldn't even consider the regular model. I went with sassafras/walnut. It has a great tone and sustain. Fun to play.

BEAUTIFUL for sure! congratulations.

They are a great company. Looking forward to seeing your project all done.

When I was considering the same thing, I called and talked to Mike Clemmer. Hereallyrecommended theChurch style, because he saidI'd be happier with the sound, volume and sustain. He doesn't make very many of the non-Church, because most people order the Church model.So, the decision is yours, but that's what I was told and why I ended up going with theChurch. If you can swing it financially, I'd go with theChurch.

Maryann Lang said:

Hi Susie, very pretty wood grain, I will have to decide between the regular and churxh model - money is a factor but I also want a nice sound.

This is exactly what I have....sassafras top, walnut sides. I went with the church style, which is a deeper body for more volume and better sound. It still isn't as loud as a full-sized dulcimer, but the sustain is really good for a small dulcimer. I really like my Clemmer Sweetie for travel and when I want a smaller dulcimer, sitting on the couch. IMHO, I think you would like it.

Here's a pictureof mine with the sassafras top:

3 mountain dulcimers (McSpadden, FolkRoots, and Clemmer) and an Olympia Walkabout dulcimer.

(also: 4 guitars (all Taylor), a ukulele, 2 banjos, a psaltery, and a fiddle)

Folkcraft (Folk Roots) are really nice dulcimers. A nice company to deal with. You shouldn't be disappointed.

Yes, he offered the initials to me too, but I wanted to make it special, tying it to the maple syrup. I thought about maple leaf soundholes, but when I've seen them on dulcimers, they really didn't move me. So I opted to have the maple leaf on the headstock. That way, I had him keep the whole vine motif on the instrument. I'm really happy with my decisions. Your lizard soundholes are nicely done. You're coming to the US and then picking up the dulcimer then is a great idea. When we make an RV trip to his area, we'll stop by his store. That might be bad for me, because I need another dulcimer/instrument, like I need a hole in the head. I would love to see your dulcimer when you get it in June. Is he personalizing that one?

Here's the Maple Leaf on the headstock. The pic still doesn't capture the full "depth" of the leaf.

I got my Clemmer Tennessee Sweetie (Church) yesterday. It is really beautiful. I can't get over how "big" it sounds. It has a wonderful voice, for a little dulcimer. The intonation is great all the way up the fretboard. It has a sassafras top and walnut everything else. I had Mike engrave (or however he does it) a maple leaf on the headstock, since my husband and I are maple syrup producers. It's so nicely done...you can actually see the veins of the leaf. He does such a beautiful job and I just love the vine running up the fretboard (which also serves as position markers). I'm really happy with my new dulcimer, I just had to share pictures of it.

I met Lei Maier on FOTMD prior to the Evart Funfest last year. Then, we met at the event and hung out and attended workshops together. I even helped her spend some money on a new, hand-crafted Native American Flute. Lei is a super person with such great values and is a delight to be with. I even met her husband and her two beautiful dogs. Thanks FOTMD for helping me meet my new life-long friend.

Congrats on your Folkcraft.....you'll love it. Don't our hubbies deserve a big kiss this time of year? My husband wanted to get me an amp and the whole setup. I said I'd rather not spend the money on me....he insisted. So, I now have a new amp in my music room. I didn't even have to wait for Santa. Have a very merry Christmas.

Syd, You'll get many suggestions. I'll just offer a couple, that have proven to be well respected dulcimers. McSpadden and Folkcraft.

How many dulcimers does this make for you? Congrats on the find!

Oh, enjoy your trip, Andrew. I also have a stick dulcimer....they are great for hiking.

Regarding the bear, take a banjo to throw at the bear...a "sacrifice" so to speak, to save yourself and your stick dulcimer. (Just kidding...I play banjo myself, so I'm entitled to make fun of it.) Take plastic bags to protect your instruments and use sturdy cases. Maybe some pepper spray .

Mandy, congrats. I play many different instruments too. Since you'll have a mandolin, you'll have to get a fiddle...they are tuned the same. Only the fiddle doesn't have frets. I'm learning on my grandpa's fiddle and got a mandolin to help with learning the notes. It took off from there. I enjoy sitting down with the mandolin and picking out fiddle tunes. Working on speed now. It has helped me with the fiddle. I've got 15 instruments now and have told my husband I'm done. He is VERY supportive...he's bought me several instruments as surprises. My latest gift...a new tenor uke which is awesome. Oh, counting my whistle and recorder...I have 17. My husband even buit me an oak cabinet for my instruments. He's such a great guy.

I "play" the soprano recorder and the tinwhistle. They are great little instruments and sound nice with the dulcimer. My problem is I don't give them enough time. I'm too busy with my fretted/stringed instruments. But, I haven't given up on them. I'm trying to devote more time to them. The soprano recorder is fingered very similarly to the alto sax, which I played in jr and senior high school. So that helps me alot. So is the tin whistle. I just picked up a new tin whistle from Guy George, which I'm hoping will help me progress more, as it's a better whistle than what I had.My husband made me a tin whistle "case" to protect it, made from pvc. It's really cute and very practical. I call it my "tunes in a tube"!

Bill,

I just picked up a Susato high D. I've heard there's a big difference. Don't give up. Some time real soon it will probably click for you, just like it seems to do with everything we try. You'll do fine.

Gene, it's beautiful! Hope you get many years of enjoyment out of it.

I think it will work good for you on the bike.

Have you gotten your case from Elderly's yet? I was there on Sat. and picked up a new tenor uke. Can't wait to start having fun with that. Thought of you when I was there.

Thats a nice gigbag for larger dulcimers. My FolkRoots fits in it really well. But, based on Mandy's dulcimer measurements, I think it would be a bit large. My McSpadden would be swimming in it. But for folks who need a larger gigbag, it's a great gigbag. I got mine last year at the Midland Dulcimer Festival at a great price.

Jim Fawcett said:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-full-sized-Deluxe-Dulcimer-Gig-Bag-carr... here's a link to a bag like I have Mandy. It has shoulder straps like you want. I got one like it with the dulcimer I just bought. I just ordered another for my other dulcimer.

To be honest with you, Elderlys wasn't carrying the Mc Spadden gigbag as a seperate item until I needed one a couple years ago. I talked to their dulcimer buyer and asked him if he would get me one. He said sure, and decided that it should be a regularly stocked accessory. They know me way too well at Elderly. They have freed me of alot of my money over the last nearly 40 years. They are my "candy store".

Elderlys is my store here in MI. Been going there since 1974. They have great prices and service. Can't go wrong there. Glad to hear you'll be all set to ride and play.

I'm thinking the McSpadden might still work ok. 1/2" probably won't matter. Since the gigbags are softsided, they give a little. If you were to order one, I'd see what their return policy is from where you are getting it, just to be sure. My larger one would be much too big for what you need. I don't know much about the Applecreek gigbags, but I still think for riding a bike, where you don't want something shifting around on your back, the backpack straps would work better. There would be no shifting around. You don't want your mind on keeping the dulcimer on the right spot on your back, you want your mind on the road, when you are riding. Just my opinion, though.

Mandy, Here's a picture I found showing how the McSpadden case lays on your back, with the two backpack straps. Its from the Evart Dulcimer Festival (my sister andme on our way to class). Hope this helps you see how it works.

Mandy,

Yes, my husband and I ride. We've ridden DALMAC, 6 times, which is a 5 day ride from Lansing, MI to the Mackinac Bridge (connects the two peninsulas of MI). It's about 350 miles. When we get to the bridge, we are escorted across the bridge by the MB Authority. It's really cool. We've done several other rides here in MI. It's good exercise and you get to see the sights that you don't see and appreciate in a car. Glad to see you are getting excited about riding. Nice thing is, you can ride however and wherever you want.....it's your choice. Taking the dulcimer along for the ride is a great idea. It's not a heavy instrument, so it would work well for that.