Forum Activity for @nate

Making a dulcimer humidity resistant?

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

Thank you all very much for your advice. First of all let me just say that my sister has TONS of pets and so she keeps her windows open all day every day and lives only about 2 miles from the pacific ocean, so the salty air is ever present there, whereas I am currently inland in southern oregon where the weather is similar, but FAR less humid. It sounds to me like I am overthinking it. With that in mind I'd like your perspectives on a few ideas i think might help.
-silica packs in the dulcimer: I'll be the first to tell you my understanding of the proper application of silica packs is limited to the shoes and jerky I've bought, but I believe it may help to keep the dulcimer intact during travel. If thats the case id like to place the soundhole in such a way that she can retrieve and packs out of it
-coating the inside of the dulcimer in something water protectant: an idea I had earlier that seemed to not be useful in general, but maybe in this context would help it hold up.
-gluing in frets with a strong glue: in general I know that stronger glues tend to make maintenance and repair much more difficult, but if I want to build it to last, maybe I should glue them in with something heavy duty to reduce the chances of them shifting?

It is worth noting that I have traveled down there with dulcimers I have built and always had to pummel some raised frets every time I got there, so this is a primary concern for me

I'd love more input! Stay well y'all
-Nate

updated by @nate: 05/22/21 07:52:16PM

Bass dulcimer strings

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

Here is a gross generalization, but it helps in understanding the function of scale lengths:

smaller/shorter instruments are often tuned to higher pitches and octaves and have thinner strings. (think violins and mandolins)

larger/longer instruments are often tuned lower pitches and have thicker strings. (think 'cellos and double-basses)

There are many combinations of string gauges, tunings, and VSLs that will 'function' for various goals, but keep in mind that as you stray further and further from the ideal gauge for a given length and note, the more unsatisfactory the result will be. Extreme examples of this concept are: 1) putting thin violin strings on a cello and trying to tune it to the same violin high notes, and 2) putting thick cello strings on a violin and trying to tune it to the same low cello notes.  Hope this helps.

Bass dulcimer strings

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

Thanks Dusty

Zoom group invitation

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

For about a year now a group of folks have been getting together Tuesday evenings on Zoom to play mountain dulcimer together. We invite you join us. We play noter or finger dancing style mostly in DAA but also in DAC, DAG, and DAd. The format is one person leads a song/tune while everyone else is muted and plays along. While Dave Holeton usually leads, others have led as well. You are welcome to join us. We meet on Tuesday evenings at 8:30 p.m. (EDT), 7:30 p.m. (CDT), 6:30 p.m. (MDT), and 5:30 p.m. PDT. A link for each week's meeting is available on The Traditional Mountain Dulcimore website. Here is a link to the thread where meetings are posted: https://thetraditionalappalachiandulcimore.com/board/47/ttad-zoom-group

The meeting lasts for 40 minutes and we usually work on four songs.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

updated by @ken-longfield: 05/21/21 05:14:22PM

Bass dulcimer strings

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

For reference purposes: Blue Lion's bass dulcimer has a 27.5" scale length and they use .052w for the bass, .032w for the middle, and .024w for the melody.

More and more luthiers are making dulcimers with shorter scale lengths, even for baritone and bass dulcimers.  New Harmony is now making baritone and bass models with 25" and 26" scale lengths. You might contact Rick there and see what they use for string gauges.  To really get a bass sound I think you need pretty heavy strings.  Those recommendations Ken got from the String Calculator--always the place to start--are pretty close to what I use on my 27" Probst strung as a baritone. (34, 24, 16).

updated by @dusty: 05/21/21 03:58:25PM

Bass dulcimer strings

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

Hi Ken, 

  I caught the Prime mark on the string Calculator, TY for the info

Bass dulcimer strings

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

Sorry Bill, I mis-wrote that tuning below...   A Bass Dulcimer 1-3-5 tuning is designated D'A'D or C'G'C. 

Notice the ' marks on the first D and A.   This tells us that those notes are a full octave lower than the common DAd. 

In fact, on a bass dulcimer the melody string D is the same as the bass string D on a regular dulcimer.   If you look on the Strothers Calculator that I posted below, you will find that for your very short VSL Bass Dulcimer you will need the following strings:

D' = .035
A' = .027
D = .020

You won't be able to put those strings on a regular dulcimer nut and bridge -- the slots will be too narrow.  If you're trying to make a bass dulcimer out of a regular dulcimer, you will need to open up the string slots on the nut and bridge, with a small triangular file, so the strings can sit properly. Not particularly deeper, but wider.

Most bass dulcimers that I have seen over the years have had much longer VSLs -- 28", 29" even 30".  

Bass dulcimer strings

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

26.5 VSL

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Between my wife and I if we cold get them all rounded up in the same room at once I think the correct number is 7.  Including a pretty old cardboard dulcimer, a couple of what I suppose are home-made dulcimers my wife picked up when she worked 1 day a week in an antique shop, a small Cripple Creek (think cheap) dulcimer from the same shop, a TK O'Brian, a Hill Country Dulcimer and a courting Dulcimer.  Our latest acquisition was last month when my wife found a Cedar Creek 12/11 Hammered Dulcimer at a garage sale, but I'm not sure I should count it in with its Mountain Dulcimer "cousins."  Oh yeah, I forgot... I also have a Cedar Creek Strumstick.

updated by @rob-williams: 05/21/21 02:29:46PM

Bass dulcimer strings

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

As always Bill, we can't help with string gauges unless you also tell us what the VSL of your dulcimer is.  Once you have that and the base tuning you want -- DAd (not DAD)  -- you can use the Strothers String Choice Calculator and plug in the numbers yourself:

Tom & Missy Strothers | String Choice

Bass dulcimer strings

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

What  gage  strings are used for a bass dulcimer tuned DAD?

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

<Chuckle!>  I've always figured it was a pun on rosining the bow from the start.

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi @lois-sprengnether-keel.  Well you've demonstrate how you can do good history lesson using folks music.

The words we know to Old Rosin the Beau certainly makes it a drinking song, but I wonder if the song was not originally an instrumental simply called Rosin the Bow, and someone put some tongue-in-cheek lyrics to it, creating a song better known than the original.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Aeolian or Wind Harp.  You set it across the width of the sill of an open window, and close the sash down almost on top of it, to funnel the breeze over the strings.  

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I do a program using the abolition song "Roll on the Liberty Ball" that was sung at the planting of the enormous cedar that was the marker (seen for miles) of the Underground Railroad Station operated by the family of the woman I portray (Liberetta Lerich Green).  Later when Civil War years near and I talk about the family's involvement in that & Lincoln's election, I use "Lincoln & Liberty, Too" -- his campaign song.  Both sets of lyrics to "Old Rosin the Beau" were by the abolitionist music group, The Hutchinson Family Singers.  I have 3 blog articles about them and Civil War music at  http://www.storytellingresearchlois.com/search/label/Hutchinson%20Family%20Singers .  The most recent (therefore the first shown) has a video of ex-Weaver, Ronnie Gilbert singing "Lincoln and Liberty, Too."  Personally I always found it funny singing to the tune of "Old Rosin the Beau" as the family's father was staunchly anti-alcohol, even salting the corn crop he sold to pay their part in an Underground Railroad fine paid by all members of the network.

I use the songs to tie together Liberetta's life story, fitting some incidents to verses, since a normal life, unlike fiction doesn't have an easy outline.  The song also has predictable repetition, encouraging audience participation.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It does look to be an Aeolian harp! Thanks for everyone’s help.

Looking forward to it being shipped and receiving it.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Cool!  The name sounded familiar so I looked it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_harp .  You let the wind play it.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Now it’s really beginning to get interesting.

Found a Don Oblander who was the guitar player in 1967-1970 for a Beaverton, Oregon band called, Summer Blues Band and later called Chains of Illusion. He did some posting on a guitar forum and might possibly have been a luthier.

Would this be meant to play with hammers?

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Aeolian Harp

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It reminds me  of psalters like this ones: https://www.klangwerkstatt.de/psalterien

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Found a couple of obits with the name but no info on a Don Oblander who made instruments. I’ve been searching for a couple of days and can’t find much info at all about this instrument.

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've never seen one. Is Don Oblander still around on the internet?

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

More pics…

What is this instrument?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hello to all,

I just bought this instrument online because I really thought it was neat and interesting looking. I own two mountain dulcimers and like collecting musical instruments, especially wooden stringed instruments.  My question is, what is it?

It is almost 24” long. If identified, how should it be tuned?

thanks,

Rosin the Beau and recycling melodies for new songs

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, @ken-longfield and @ken-hulme. I should have know you two would be the first to join the conversation!

Having grown up in Boston, I've know the Charlie and the MTA song about as long as I've known the Longfellow poem about Paul Revere ("Listen my children and you shall hear . . . ").  Both were required material in elementary schools.

There are lots of one-offs, I assume.  I heard an old Scottish tune called "The Bold Princess Royal" that must have been the source of the melody for Sweet Betsy from Pike.

But so far you guys have confirmed my sense that Rosin the Beau has been used more than any other melody.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Thanks Dusty and Strumelia. I think I will use the comments section and stop worrying :)

As somebody, who maintains servers for a living I can understand your attitude. My coworkers and I have to to some regular maintenance work (e.g. before the hard drive of the server gets full). Most of this stuff isn't a real hassle or just doesn't happen too often. If tasks  tends to repeats a lot we are looking for a way to make the server do the work for us :)

So: Although I think it would be good to hide the boxes it's propably not worth the hassle If they are not used by most people anyway. 

Regards, Jost.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Steven, if you are planning on using the bridge on I40 over the Mississippi, check to see if it is open. It has been closed due to a crack in a beam that supports one of the spans. Wouldn't want you to get wet.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm taking the scenic route! Just have to make a left turn at the Mississippee, cross over at Nashville, and head north and east from there.....

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I hope he's got big floaties for his wagon and oxen -- the Gulf of Mexico due East of Texas is kinda rough this time of year!

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Steven's gonna wind up in Florida and wonder where everyone is. 

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Both east and north, Dan.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

You taking the scenic route, I thought it would be north?

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be there with mask and vaccination card...don't forget to bring any necessary paperwork, folks...and a few dulcimores! Now I gotta get the oxen and wagon ready for the big trek...Wagons EAST!!!

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

And I'll be packing my illustrious J. E. Thomas replica Cumberland dulcimore, which will be won by an attendee!  Plus a few other things of possible interest and/or sale.  Should be a great few days, folks!

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I agree with everything Dusty said! 

No worries at all Jost.  The activity feed changes all day anyway as other things get added.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hey @jost.  Well first of all, the people who worry about dominating the activity feed are never the ones who need to worry about dominating the activity feed, so think no more about that. The Moderators do have the ability to delete an item from the Activity Feed, and sometimes we do that when one person uploads several audio and video files and then edits them all, but in your case, a few items in that feed is nothing to worry about.  

We have discussed getting rid of some of those boxes that show up when you upload an audio text since they are not displayed publicly.  I suppose we could also find a way for them to be shown, but since so few people use that feature it has never been an issue.  In the meantime, you have two choices if you want to share lyrics. One is to put them in the description.  That will display, but will require significant scrolling on the part of the viewer.  The second is just to add another comment in which you put the lyrics.

Don't be ashamed. Just the fact that you posted your concern here shows you to be a good dulci-citizen.

Edit audio descriptions without spamming the Home site

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hello everybody,

I uploaded an audio file and noticed that no lyrics where shown. I also noticed an typo in my description. Thus I edited the description and tried to move the lyrics to "audio text". Lyrics are still not displayed I guess that's just the way it is. I can live with it but will not enter the lyrics the next time. 

I'm however shocked that every edit ended up on the Home screen of fotmd. Is there any way I can  disable this kind of spam from me? If not might some of the moderators or admins remove them? 

I'm quite ashamed since this looks like a scream for attention (which it's not I assure you!) 

Best regards, Jost.

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be there with my mask on as well. I'll have some dulcimores to exhibit and maybe some other stuff to show. I'll have a video projector with me if anyone has something they want to show that way.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

2021 Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering Details

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Registration is closed.  We have 34 attendees!  A good time will be had by all -- espcially watching Dan with his bells on!!

Randy Wilkinson tab book for Elizabethan Music

Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

I'm another person interested in a copy of Randy Wilkinson's Elizabethan Music for Dulcimer.  Thankfully became aware of him while enjoying the sendinthemusic.com 5/15/21 jam video; see 19:54 mark where "Gentle Maiden" tab is shared and attributed to Randy.