Forum Activity for @dusty

Hey Jon. Ken has more experience with Garage Band than I do and explains the basics well. You are correct that it is not a physical amp.  In the analog world, a clean amp is just an amp that provides a very clean sound (meaning with no distortion) that is best for use with guitar pedals.  In the digital world, it is more like a setting you choose for the virtual amp you use with Garage Band.  And people do indeed plug into computers, but not directly. In between you use a digital audio interface that converts the audio signal of a guitar, dulcimer, or other instrument into a digital signal that can be mixed by a computer.  I have little experience with this--and my digital audio interface has been sitting in the closet for years--but I assume you would want a clean amp in Garage Band for the same reason you would in the analog world: to start with a really clean sound that you could then play with, adding different effects.

Garage Band is an app that comes with Apple computers, iPads, and iPhones. As far as I know Clean AMP is a way to process your recording in the app. I use Garage Band to record (using a microphone) but haven't used any of the amp modeling for processing the signal. There are so many different settings in Garage Band it is often difficult to decide how to proceed. I took a course in Garage Band many years ago offered by our Guitar Center. That was a 130 mile round trip for six weeks. Luckily a friend and I shared the driving and cost of gas. The course was free. Garage Band has gone through so many changes since then that I hardly recognize it anymore.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Well I'm scratching the top of my cranium trying to figure out what the Is this thing? Garage Band Clean AMP?

I came across this when I was surfing YouTube and never could find anything that gave any really detailed information. I'm getting the impression that it is not a real amp, meaning a physical object. 

I understand how a real amp works and for example a Looper pedal you plug the instrument into it and the looper records what you're playing as far as a Looper pedal goes. So if this thing Garage Band Clean AMP? is just a piece of software not a real amp then I don't get how it works I mean you can't plug your instrument into your laptop and you can't really plug it into your iPhone or Etc. Anyone out there know anything about this thing and how does the thing work 

I guess I need to clarify the blue lion instrument price. the price of the instrument by itself is $850 I would think shipping would range anywhere from $100 to maybe $200 depending on insurance and how far away from California if you didn't need to ship it then $850 hopefully that makes more sense thanks all 

I only know how to play mountain dulcimer with a noter, which is all about the slide.  :) Hammer-ons and pull-offs with a noter can also be used to give slightly different flavors to tunes.  

Very cool. I saved the sites on line. I belong to an airboat club here in central Florida. I have been the club Historian for several years. A few of the members play guitar. I see a Historian report on "music on a string" in my future. I listened to some of the recordings on the Psalmodikon.  I also see here is a site for plans to make one and even an available kit. I was not aware that the Diddly bow went back that far in history. I already have so much info I may have to make it a two-part presentation.

the pic is my boat, powered by a 220 Lycolming GPU.

 13413034_10206694947275577_7103448658817529659_n - Copy.jpg - 110KB

The single string monochord with which I am most familiar is the psalmodikon. It is a Swedish instrument. Here is a website: http://www.psalmodikon.org/nap_items/index.htm . Here is the Wikipedia site on Diddley bow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diddley_bow#:~:text=The%20diddley%20bow%20is%20a,single%20string%20of%20baling%20wire . Probably more than you want to know about either instrument.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

wally, that's why I enjoy this site. I was corrected once when I mentioned fret board. Now I understand the difference. thanks

Ken, I saw something at the lower end but couldn't figure it out. The article I read said it may be the forerunner of our modern dulcimers.

When I see something I don't quite understand I like to research it. Problem is, often there is a multitude of opinions. All I can do is try to make sense of it all and settle on one that aligns with the subject. A college professor called it "word smithing". Ken, are those one string instruments what they call "diddly bow" if I have the spelling correct. 

It appears that the instrument in the photo with the woman is resting on a stool. She appears to be holding a pick of some sort in her right hand. I think it would fall in to the humle or langleik family of zithers.

Wally, I agree with you regarding the distinction between fret board and fingerboard.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

>>> I have been known to use slides to cover up mistakes! 

Me too, particularly when playing by ear.

>>> "When I discovered my fret board (also called the finger board) was badly warped..."

A dulcimer FRET BOARD is not a FINGER BOARD, as used on most other string instruments.

On violins, guitars, banjos, etc. the fingerboard is attached to the neck of the instruments and is sloped above the body. It is a separate piece. There is air between the fingerboard and the body. The bridge is a separate piece tounching the strings and body. It may, or may not, be fretted.

A dulcimer fret board is attached directly to the body (sound box) and is always fretted. If an overlay is used, it is glued in place, and the fretboard becomes a one-piece composite structure.

Fingerboards are frequently arched in transverse section, but this is not a requirement. Our fret boards are typically flat in cross section.

I am one of those who believe that a traditional dulcimer must have a one-piece fretboard, with the bridge and nut mounted directly in slots in the fretboard. In that case the bridge does not contact the body, but vibrations are transmitted through the fretboard.

Leveling of the fret tops lets us compensate for slight imperfections in the finger or fret board straightness, but, of course a straight board is always best, and it should never be warped.

I usually build with guitar fret wire, but have also used the melody-string-only staples.

I knew Ron, he not only built a few instruments for me, but we met for lunch and often corresponded regarding  number of topics including his time as Chet Hines’ apprentice.  He was always kind and generous and great conversationalist.  I’m saddened that he has passed.  

I have been known to use slides to cover up mistakes! 

I found the pic of the Dulcimer type instrument. History reveals these instruments from 1700s to 1800s. Dates and tradition are questionable and I would not choose to argue with the women pictured.

 Dulcimer oldest european_instrument.jpg - 51KB

If you look at some of the old dulcimers by J.E. Thomas and Charles N. Prichard you will see that they only had frets under the first string.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If a person enjoys playing different types of music and want to "kick it up a notch" , try using the tree techniques of hammer-ons, slides and pull-offs. I whole new enjoyment  scale awaits. 

If you are successful with any or each of them. I would love to hear your experience. Suggestions are always invited and of course funny and interesting stories would make a great subject of conversation. 

Without a doubt Ken. I find it very interesting that some of the oldest dulcimer type instruments dating back even into the early 1800s all had a similar fret arrangement. One I read about had one string with frets and the rest were all open. It appeared to me to be 4 or 5 feet long. I wish I kept the article. Thanks to all of you on FOTMD and other sites I frequent, I have learned a lot about the dulcimer and what separates quality from simple. 

I think the fret board is the most important part of a mountain dulcimer. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I never met Ron, but I do know that he was a tremendous asset to the dulcimer community. He will be sorely missed as a builder, player, and innovator. RIP, Ron.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Last summer I had the honor of being invited to Dulcimer Week in the Wallowas.  At the faculty concert, I played one or two tunes on the dulcimette before switching to a full-size dulcimer.  People in the back could not see the little instrument, so I was asked to hold it up for them, and happily, someone snapped a pic:

From past experience, if frets are not level or all the same height off the fret board there is potential vibration in certain notes played. Adjusting the nut and bridge is important but if the frets are at different heights it will affect the quality of the note. When I discovered my fret board (also called the finger board) was badly warped I smoothed out the high spot and replaced the frets. In my effort to fix the problem previously, without fixing the board, I filed down some of the frets to compensate for the bad board. The result was disastrous. I replaced all the frets and aligned them with a framing square. Before the repair, playing anything on the first two frets was difficult because of the distance between the string and the fret board. I couldn't lower it because the frets in the center would touch the strings.   

Sad news indeed. The Aorell I own has the most wonderful tone and sound.

Sad news. He contributed so much to the mountain dulcimer community. I contemplated many times ordering a dulcimette. I kinda wish I had. RIP Ron. 😔 

I played one of Ron's baritone dulcimettes when I won the National Dulcimer Contest at Winfield in 2016.  I was introduced to Ron by Sandy and Caroline Paton.  I bought my first dulcimer from him in the early 1980's, and we became friends and especially enjoyed playing French tunes together.  I don't think anyone made better small instruments than Ron.  Intonation and tone quality were always spot on.  He was a great innovator and a fine musician and will be sorely missed.  

Oh that is awful news! Ron was such a nice guy! His dulcimettes are wonderful instruments x

There are a couple of Facebook discussions about this, so some of you may know, but the great luthier Ron Ewing died a few days ago. 

Ron had been a central participant in the dulcimer community since at least the early 1970s.  His baritone dulcimers were especially appreciated, as were his smaller dulcimers, which he called "dulcimettes."  In fact, I own two of them, one an octave dulcimette and one that he called the baritone dulcimette, meaning it was tuned an octave above a baritone dulcimer or a fourth or fifth above a standard dulcimer.  Rumor has it that Ron also invented the dulcimer capo.  I doubt that's true, but he did develop the capo design that has become the standard.  Ron's website is still up at the moment, in case you would like to peruse his offerings.

Here is a short portrait of Ron and his dulcimers that Bing Futch offered many years ago on one of the early Dulcimerica videos .

I have not found an official obituary yet, only a couple of conversations on Facebook.  If anyone has more information, please share it here.

And perhaps we can share memories of Ron or even just examples of people playing his dulcimers.

Thanks, Dusty. That link allows you to download the article which I have had for quite some time. It is easier than having people send me a PM to receive it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Checking back, I Googled the title " Seeger, Charles, The Appalachian Dulcime r"

and got the link

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://fotmd.com/forum/download/forum_file/26262/Charles%2520Seeger,%2520The%2520Appalachian%2520Dulcimer%2520(1958).pdf&ved=2ahUKEwig8Mn_76uSAxXdCTQIHU6kEz4QFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1oHGTowFucKHdQCaggWaPF 

which looked like it was on FOTMD.

Anyway, now the paper is exposed to FOTMD.

I searched for the article here but didn't find. I'm probably not entering the right search criteria to narrow it down. I have a pdf of the article that Wally talks about if any one is interested. PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you. The file is too large to post here. Maybe that's why I didn't find it. Something to note about Seeger's article is that in photos from the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA, he identifies them as Pennsylvania zitters.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I had not found the Charles Seeger article before, even though it is posted on FOTMD. Perhaps it is new here.

To me, there are some interesting side issues. It barely references the Ritchie family, although it does have a photo of Jean, and mentions her husband George Pickow's instruments, not disclosing that his shop was Brooklyn, NY and his connection to Appalachia was Jean.

According to Jean Ritchie's books, Charles Seeger had collected songs at the Balis Ritchie home when she was a child. At that time there was a dulcimer in the home, and Balis was more willing to play it than to sing. Didn't Seeger ask Balis about the instrument, or did he distrust what he was told?

I believe that at the time the paper was written, Jean was in New York, playing on the radio with Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly. She surely was crossing paths with Pete's dad.

Seeger collected a tune at Arthurdale, WV while Eleanor Roosevelt was holding a square dance there. The fiddler was from the area I pass through daily, and was well known here back in the 1960s and 70s. As best I remember, Seeger put in the the Smithsonian Collection and it was recorded by the New Lost City Ramblers as "collected by Charles Seeger," not crediting the fiddler. 

I can't put 100% faith in what he wrote about Appalachian Dulcimer history.

I just received word that the article is posted to this website. https://dulcimerhistory.com/2026/01/24/lets-bury-the-term-scheitholt/ Check it out there if you like.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

You're welcome, Strumelia and thank you for the compliment.

Ken, it's beautiful!  Thank you for sharing this.

Here is the article that was to appear in Dulcimer Players News. Originally it was scheduled for November, 2025 but postponed until February, 2026. I heard that the "Traditons" themed issue in which it was to appear is now postponed until May, 2026. I have also included a bibliography for the article.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Scheitholtnomorev5.b.pdf - 252KB

I created a thread about this in the Groups area, but I have the feeling that not too many people explore the Groups section. So I am recreating it here in hopes that more folks will see it.

In 1619 Michael Praetorius published the second volume of Syntagma Musicum . In it tried to list all of the instruments known in his world. He described the instruments and included illustrations of some of them. One plate included an illustration of an instrument he called a scheitholt. I remarked to my daughter and her husband that I have never seen a scheitholt. I looked all over the internet for one and found many instruments called scheitholts, but none fit the description provided by Praetorius. They challenged me to make one. After a couple of months of research I was able to put together specifications to build one. A helpful site at a German museum gave numbers for length, width, height, VSL, and number of frets. I contributed a little imagination in creating the sound hole rosette and the peg head. Here is a photo of the recently created scheitholt. I, along with some assistance from Ken Hulme, wrote an article on why we should not apply the term "scheitholt" to all those PA German zitters or hummels that are misnamed here in the USA. 

 IMG_0891.jpeg - 93KB

The "ei" in scheitholt is pronounced as an "i" like in sight. The "ie" in German is pronounced as an "e" as in see. In Chcknj's post below "schiet" would be pronounced sheet.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Well,well.I confess I've never heard the word "scheitholt" out loud although I play one...the apparent resemblance in the spelling to examples I cited of different versions of the "s" word led me to first choose to  say "hummel",then after learning  that that was probably a different instrument(still don't really know if it is) , to say "skeetholt".In Canada I could call it whatever I want,it would make no difference because no one has ever seen one and there's no historical documentation of the "zitter" like instruments I know of,although we have a substantial number of people with German ancestry going back to the Palatine Germans who first settled in the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys.

might be that there was a mix up between "scheit" and the northern dialect expression "schiet" ... >  https://www.platt-wb.de/platt-hoch/?term=schiet

I put "scheit" into three translation websites, Google Translate, Reverso, and DeepL. Google comes up with "fails" or "failure" and under noun it says "Log" and "piece of wood." Reverso and DeepL translate it as "log." I'm sorry but I just have not been able to find evidence to support the translating it to mean "sh*t." In two years of high school and two years of college German, I never encountered the word "scheit," but I was familiar with the word "scheiße."

BTW, the Nonsuch Dulcimer Club will contain the article in their summer newsletter.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Giving this thread a bump.  Saturday 28 March 2026 is International Appalachian Dulcimer Day-- always the last Saturday in March!  

We celebrate the Appalachian dulcimer and its spread around the world-- the more countries represented in the celebration the merrier!