Forum Activity for @tom-mcshane

I install an end button and use a regular guitar strap around my waist that ties around the headstock.

Thank you very much for the great advice.  This is exactly why I joined.  I needed help and you have really kept me from making a mistake storing the dulcimer with the shelf material.  I will start looking for a strap and getting used to it.  Sounds like a much better long term solution than mine.

Thanks again!!!!

As Dusty said, this is a common solution. When I first started playing dulcimer, I took this approach. It worked well. The warnings given already about not storing the material against the wood of the dulcimer are valid. Eventually, I did move on to using straps, which works better for me now. Don't rule them out, maybe it's something that will work for you later. If not, using the non-slip liner is just fine. Another case for straps is at festivals when people are moving around you. A strap helps secure your dulcimer in the event of an accidental hit. 

It's a great solution. But to confirm what Dusty warned on- do NOT store the rubber shelf material directly in contact with the wood. It WILL leave strange waffles patterns on your dulcimer over time. Not residue, but actually lightening the color of the wood so you can't just clean it off.

Hey @jmhundley, you've discovered a great solution that is, in fact, a pretty common one.  When I went to my first dulcimer festival there was someone there giving out pieces of the shelf liner for exactly that purpose.

My only advice is that when you store the items in your case, make sure they are not in permanent contact with the wood of the dulcimer.  They sometimes leave a mark on the dulcimer's finish if left in contact for too long, especially in a case with little air flow.

I was have problems with my dulcimer sliding/moving while I was playing.  I did not really want to use a strap if possible and I found a simple solution that so far has worked very well and I wanted to share it.  I cut 2 (12"/12")  pieces of rubber shelf liner.  I put one piece on each leg and it seems to have solved my sliding problem.  The two pieces helps keep the back of the dulcimer from getting scratched also while playing.  It also seems to be a little louder with the pieces lifting up the dulcimer.  The added benefit is I simply fold the two pieces and put them in my case when I store the dulcimer.  The extra padding helps keep the dulcimer from moving around in the case when storing it and toting it.  The link for the product I bought at Walmart is https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLiner-Select-Grip-20-in-x-6-ft-Shelf-Liner-Taupe/16486832.  I am sure other stores have the same or similar products that will work just as well.

Just want to throw this in:
I have been making this small dulcimer for years. It's a Teardrop Dulcimer for Kids & Small Hands. 
The reviews on Esty have been very positive. 
If you happen to own one, I would appreciate feedback, and maybe start a discussion. I am always looking for improvements.

During November, I am offering free personalization [see listing]

It can be found here in my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/681037717/dulcimer-for-kids-small-hands

 scholastic_250kb.jpg - 292KB

Ken and Strumelia both have given you really excellent advice. The only 2 things I'd add is 1. You need new strings, you should change strings every couple of months as a rule (not that any of us do) and it's unlikely the seller put a new set on. 2. spend the money on the tuners. They're easy to replace, easier than the restringing will be. You can get them from Folkcraft for $18 and I'm pretty sure, based on your pictures, they'll fit. 

I also get what you're saying about appearance, and that's not silly. But I say just live with it if you can, it's a "bird in the hand" after all. As Strumelia said, If you practice, in 6-8 months you'll have a much better idea of what you really want. 

I wrote an article about it in 2007. You can read that here  (on page 6)
Dan Evans wrote one more recently. That's  on his website.

Dan and I have different views on under saddle piezo pickups but we both use them the most.

One thing that has changed since these articles were written is that both Folkcraft and Robert Stephens have been working with magnetic pickups (and Jerry Rockwell has been using them for years). With attention finally being given to using them with dulcimers, they begun to sound really good. Folkcraft in particular has a great sounding, small sized magnetic pickup that they wind themselves, they may be willing to sell one to you.

Special members greeting new members -

thanks 

Such a cutie!

Buddy is my 11 year old Jack Russell terrier.

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Thanks much, guys!

Nice to hear of such a satisfying ending to this story.

Welcome to the forum! Thanks for sharing your dulcimer collection!

Awesome!

@dulcimerjones , how nice!  

Thank you all for the replies & good ideas.  I finally called McSpadden's on a guess & they gave me the name and number of Walworth's & HE WAS THERE!  So helpful & nice, he took my info & sent me 6 of the pads for free & they came the next day-can't beat that!

On behalf of all site members, I just wanted to give a hug of appreciation to our wonderful VOLUNTEER Welcome Wagon here on FOTMD.

Our "Greeters" post warm welcome comments on the profile page of every new member who joins the site. They do this simply because they know how good it feels to receive a friendly post or two on your page when you first join.  Our greeting team puts the "friends" in Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer, and they do it out of their own kindness.

I'd like to add that there are no special requirements for joining them as a FOTMD "Greeter"- you just have to love people and make a friendly welcoming comment on new members' profile pages with some regularity- whenever you feel you can. If you'd like more info just catch FOTMD Moderator Jim Fawcett early on most mornings in the ChatRoom here on FOTMD.  To open the Chat, click the blue "quote bubble" button at bottom right of any page on the site.

Let's all give our thanks to our site's current Welcome Wagon Team!:

@jim-fawcett

@ken-longfield

@richard-streib

@benjamin-w-barr-jr

@rob-n-lackey

==========================================

I have six.  My wife purchase a McSpadden for me years ago, a banjo style and four that I made myself.

 Number 38.jpg - 1MB

Love all these dulcimers!  Which brings me to the question…..

How many dulcimers does a dulcimer player need?

Just one more!

Oops, it looks like I got dogs and dulcimers confused.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks Ken! It does sound really nice. BTW, it's only #7, I surely don't expect a #8.

Congratulations on acquiring your eighth dulcimer. It is beautiful and I am sure it sounds great. Enjoy.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Wow, that's neat to hear. I saw the pictures of your visit to Folkcraft. It's cool you saw it. Richard and crew picked out a fabulous set of Hickory for it. I've been playing it today. It has such a pretty voice and the sustain is remarkable.  Of course, the workmanship is fabulous. But one correction, they are dog paws, haha. I do think he has cat soundholes too. Since I've had 7 family dogs in my life so far (#8 is on the way), you can officially call me a dog person.

Hi Susie! That is so beautiful! As it turns out, Bob and I actually saw it a couple of weeks ago at Folkcraft. ☺️ Richard showed it to us and told us about the wood. I drooled over the cat paw sound holes…lol…🐾🐾 Congratulations!

Thank so much, Dusty!

Looks beautiful.  Congrats on your new baby.

Update, I just added dulcimer #7. My last.

I've wanted a Hickory dulcimer for awhile now. This is it. A Folkcraft FSH. I also had Richard engrave a maple leaf at the 5th fret, since my husband and I have been producers of Michigan Pure Maple Syrup since 2008. I'm really happy with this dulcimer....it sounds great and plays perfectly.

Hi,

I'm a new member to the site. Wow! I am about to buy my first aids. My issue is my low frequencies so it will be interesting to see how they react to the dulcimer sound. The manufacturer that I'm planning on buying have treble and bass controls. I'll let you know how if that helps at all. It will be a whole new world!

omg Dusty, too adorable! 

Do you love cats?  Do you love music?

If you want a less conventional -- but entertaining as well as educational --  look at Modes, check out my essay called Uncontrite Modal Folker:

Uncontrite Modal Folker.pdf - 92KB

Thank you for posting the link to the mode posts; I woke up the next morning thinking, “I should have provided a link to the first one!” I’ve bookmarked them

https://www.knightconferfuneralhome.com/obituary/CBruce-Henry

GinaB -- the short answer is no, a short VSL will not  "bring both hands to the front of my body" -- unless your body is 24" wide!   The reason is, we strum the dulcimer mostly at one end, and fret mostly at the other end.  I have a couple hundred tunes in my repertoire and from experience, most tunes occur between frets 1-10, with occasional forays up to frets 12 and even 14. 

If you have trouble with the instrument bobbing up and down, moving around and such, the solution is probably to be found in how you're setting the dulcimer on your lap.     The first thing to do is get your knees far apart -- 16" or more apart.  T

The second thing is to angle the dulcimer across your body -- not square across, but angled, with the first fret (more or less) over your left knee (assuming you're right handed) and tucking the bridge (more or less) into your right hip.

Hard to take a picture of your own lap, but here you go.  The first photo shows my Bobby Ratliff Cumberland Model with a 20" VSL and you can see the first fret out over my left knee and the right end tucked into my hip.  I sit up. and don't hunch over, but I do look down at the fretboard often while I play.  

The second photo shows another Ratliff dulcemore, with a 26" VSL (the bridge is just out of picture on the right side.  Same wide stance.  Same 1st fret over the right knee.  Same right end tucked into my right hip.

However, in both cases I'm playing with my left hand moving from my left knee to the middle of my lap -- not from leg to leg.  

What a beautiful dulcimer. Best wishes finding out more about it.

Other than the tuneing machines, your MD really doesn't look too bad from the photos. You can do the obvious things needing fixing yourself, new strings [normal maintenance], replacing tuneing machines is pretty easy although selecting new ones is a bit harder. Just pull and replace the end pins, they're probably escutcheon nails or brads. Don't worry about the scratches/chips, it's part of having a used, probably older, instrument. I heard a pro country singer used an older guitar that actually had holes worn through the top. Don't use anything with silicone in it to clean the outside since it cannot be removed, it will prevent any refinishing or other repair work to the wood.

Bottom line, don't pay for anything more than tuneing machine installation at most.