Forum Activity for @ken-hulme

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Doodling up a smaller version of my Burnsville Holly Leaf dulcimer.  This one will be only 5" wide and 30" overall, with a 25" VSL

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I am working on a few kind of fast fiddle tunes. Trying to learn from a couple Phyliss Gaskins CDs. She is known for Galax dulcimer. I don’t have one, but I do have one of Bobby Ratliff’s Honaker style dulcimers that is tuned dddd (unison) and it suits just fine.

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm constructing a mean-tone walnut hourglass Thomas replica for a guy in Yorkshire.  The body's assembled, but needs trimming and pegs, nut, bridge, frets, strings, etc.

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you, Dusty.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

EBow on the dulcimer?

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Thanks for replying, the EBow even with it's problems and not meant for the dulcimer does let one experiment.

   I received a reply form Jerry Rockwell which was pretty exciting. I was able to move my melody string over - I have a floating bridge & not notched so it wasn't hard to do & now I have the melody & middle strings lined up with the grove of the EBow. I'm deciding not to move the bass string over because, so far I haven't liked the sound I get on it with the EBow. But I do like it with the GT-1 when I strum with a pick. 

   I don't mind just playing 1 string, I have the EBow on the middle A string and playing more like noter style but with my fingers. Having the dulcimer hooked up to the GT-1 I am able to get different sounds & tones, not the same as if I was strumming but as an interesting experiment. My idea - having a piece of music played in A (on the middle string) with the EBow sounding like a flute then changing out to a DAd tab & strumming - maybe something like 'Shenandoah'

   In 'The Gift of Love'      https://youtu.be/MHQl_AvIk_o     (you tube said error so maybe try this) 

     

I play first in A on the middle string then switch to DAd. Thinking something like this but with the EBow first

Thanks again,

m.

updated by @marg: 06/04/20 02:55:45PM

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It looks like you're doing very good work with those zitters. @Ken-Longfield.  That kind of preservation is obviously important.

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Learning “Carrickfergus”. Mostly got the tune down (cgc) now starting to work on the other two strings. 😉

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, I finally finish the restoration of a Pennsylvania German zitter. I purchased two of them back in the Fall of 2019. The other one was easier to restore as I just had to repair a few cracks and reglue some joints. The top on the one I just finished was beyond repair and I had to make a new top. Here is the instrument.

Ken,

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

What Are You Working On?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thought I'd resurrect this discussion thread. What are you guys working on?  building a new instrument?  learning a new tune?  putting lyrics to a melody you wrote?

I was watching an episode of the BBC series Poldark the other night and heard a charming Irish jig called "Haste to the Wedding."  I'm working on it now.  Not quite up to speed, but we're getting there.  I'm playing it on my Ron Ewing octave dulcimette, which is a 3/4-size instrument.  The smaller frets and the proximity of the strings make it a bit easier to play faster tunes.

EBow on the dulcimer?

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I hadn't thought of trying to use my EBow on the dulcimer so gave it a go.

I'm afraid that I cannot offer any advice on moving the strings to fit the grooves as I would not like to disturb the spacing I currently use, but it is possible to use the EBow holding it slightly above the strings.

The sound is quite different to normal dulcimer playing and even more so if you also use a guitar slide rather than fretting the string. I do not think you can get the range of sounds that are possible with a guitar as on a guitar the EBow is normally moved over the magnetic pickups to alter the sound.

I don't think I would buy one just to play with the dulcimer but some may find the possibilities interesting. One problem with it of course is that the EBow only works on one string at a time so it is not possible to play chords and difficult to move quickly from one string to another. Although I do not have one, something like a Fernandez Sustainer pickup might work.

Changing setup from left to right handed

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On my MMD the bridge is definitely compensated:

I would suggest just contacting David.  He'll know what to do.

Changing setup from left to right handed

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If my MMD is typical of David McKinney's work, his nut and bridge should be able to be rotated 180 degrees to convert a left-handed set-up to a right-handed set-up. Neither the nut nor the bridge has been modified for intonation purposes. The nut has a flat top with slots for the strings. The bridge rises to a peak where the strings pass through the string slots. Rotating both 180 degrees should not change the VSL.

Of course, my experience in playing a MMD is limited to the single instrument that I purchased used. However, both nut and bridge appear to be original to the instrument. If my instrument is representative of all MMD, there is no reason the nut and bridge should need modification. Simply rotate both nut and bridge so the bass string slot is reversed.

Changing setup from left to right handed

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Yeah... unless you've made nuts/bridges from scratch, this is not a good time to start learning    

MMD can probably just send you a couple Of blanks with appropriate grooves already in place.  Then all you'd have to do is use a piece of 100 grit sandpaper to sand the bottoms off a bit to get the action height adjusted to what you want.

The Nickel & Dime action is a good place to start.  That's dead easy and we can walk you through it when you're ready.  Could even set up a zoom session if you need some virtual hands-on.

Changing setup from left to right handed

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Thanks Ken, I was thinking that may be the case... and probably not something I can do.   I will contact Modern Mtn and see if they can send them if they are really all precision made and don't vary, then maybe it's possible to get the nut and bridges...  

Changing setup from left to right handed

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Basically you just change the nut and bridge to ones designed for right-handed stringing.  Simpler to change them than muck about filing slots...

Changing setup from left to right handed

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

I am considering a used modern mtn Dulcimer that was set up as a left handed Dulcimer.  To change it to right handed  how much to you have to change on nut and bridge?  Is it easy to do? 

EBow on the dulcimer?

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  I  contacted (Ambient bass looping #3, Graham Blanche (aka BassBus)  a guitar player) after listening to one of his youtube recordings. He helped me figure that maybe I could move one of my strings over. so the EBow would ride in the grove of the EBow. He said he also has trouble with spacing & sometimes needs to tilt the EBow.

 So I moved my melody string over a bit, it was just sitting on top of a floating bridge - so wasn't  hard to make a small adjustment without needing to do any bridge adjustments. Now, I just need to figured out how to move the bass string over some also, without messing up the spacing I have now. 

   I know trying an EBow isn't something a dulcimer player would usually do but Jerry Rockwell did & after listening to him, I did want to give it a try.  I was hoping since so many members know so much about the dulcimer, someone could have help me figure out my problem or the idea of moving the string over to  fit in the grove bottom. But now that I maybe have it figured out, I am just sharing what I learn in case anyone else would want to give the EBow a try.

Just another way of playing the dulcimer - but without the strum of a pick. I do like to Experiment -Try - Ask - Share

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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Not a clue of maker.  Nice workmanship.  Interesting design take on the modern, not traditional dulcimer design.  Not having a 6+ fret doesn't make it an older build.  There's a guitar builder guy turned dulcimer maker, on one of the FB groups recently,  who was all upset when I suggested his $800 new-made dulcimers would more likely sell of they included the 6+ fret and did not include French polished finish.  He had no clue what the 6+ fret was -- he'd followed one of the old building booksbooks.

Obviously this instrument is only good for ball-end strings, with those tail pockets.  The tuners are pretty common covered singles still made today.  The head and tail aren't carved, just bandsawed to shape with the edges rounded over.

updated by @ken-hulme: 05/31/20 03:14:03PM

EBow on the dulcimer?

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Does anyone know about the EBow? Has anyone used it on the dulcimer?

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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Thank you for the new photos. That really is an imaginative but tastefully-done spin on traditional design. The tuners are the same style as were common on Japanese guitars in the mid 70s-early 80s. I'm out of touch with such things these days. I don't know if the same style tuners are still available, or if not, when they went out of production. 

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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I love the looks of this instrument and would love to hear how it sounds!  

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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I may have to adjust my guess of the age of this instrument as it has no 6 1/2 fret that I can see. If someone were going for a traditional dulcimore, I understand leaving out that fret, but since at least the mid 1970s the 6 1/2 has been basically standard.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Top and back. 

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

I agree. It is a little unconventional, but a nicely done piece of work.

It would be nice to see a view of the top.

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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It sounds terrific. I like to learn as much as I can about my instruments! 

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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The bottom line, How does it sound?  aloha, irene

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Thanks!

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

I have no idea who made that dulcimer. I doubt that the peg head and tailpiece are carved. It looks like a simple cut with a band saw. From the look of the tuning pegs, it would guess it was made within the last 20 years or so.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

FUNNY songs you sing & play on your dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've always loved Doug Berch's "Shame and Scandal in the Family". 

updated by @susie: 05/29/20 07:59:32PM

FUNNY songs you sing & play on your dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My grandkids love the following, sung to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb:  Bunny rabbits have no tails, have no tails; Bunny rabbits have no tails, they use powder puffs;  Same song, Second Verse... Bunny Rabbits have no tails, etc.   

No, doesn't make any sense but the kids love it. :)  Like, 99 bottles of beer on the wall....etc. :)

 

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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Hah! Good one, Stumelia!

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Whoever built it did a very nice job!

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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It's a "PushMi-PullYu" dulcimer. 

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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Thanks for introducing, me to yet another person to spend my time and money on!

updated by @gstringer: 05/29/20 06:00:08PM

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

After taking a second look, it appears that I mistook the tail end for the peghead. Like John K. states , you can't tell if it's coming or going.

So it looks like I've taken two posts to say "I haven't the foggiest idea."

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Nope. No marks. But thanks for your input. The string holes are in the tail piece. Ball end strings are anchored and out of sight in the holes. It’s a very nice design!

updated by @gstringer: 05/29/20 05:57:05PM

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

I don't recognize the peghead shape, but Kerry Rapp in Myerstown, PA runs the strings through holes in the peghead and attaches them to the tuning peg shafts on the underside of the peghead. It looks like this dulcimer does the same. Rapp sells some dulcimers on Etsy under the name Divergent Lutherie. Is there any kind of identification mark. Rapp's typically have a "DL" stamped in the strum hollow area. However, in all honesty, I haven't a clue as to who made your dulcimer. Probably a one-off by someone unknown.

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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It’s a strange one for sure!

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Is it coming or going?  Never seen the like of it.  Sorry I can't help you!

Carved headstock and end piece.Maker?

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

Bought this used, without any labels or marks. Is this a one-off or a known style of some luthier?

updated by @gstringer: 05/29/20 01:45:10PM