Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Jill, tell us a little about the boat ..... we lived on ours for 20 years whilst doing a very slow circumnavigation.
Forum Activity for @hobbyhorse
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
EVERY good boat should have wirecutters in the basic tool box! The jewelers screwdriver for tightening tuners is a good idea.
updated by @ken-hulme: 05/16/20 05:38:47PM
Dulcimer String Anchor Pins
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
John C. Knopf:
You could check these out if you like. I've used them with great success:
https://www.folkcraft.com/collections/building-supplies-plans/products/dulcimer-string-anchor-pins-2340171
Yeah, I did actually find those cheers. I was on Folkcraft looking for a combined bridge/pickup system ( had actually tried loads of sites to be honest ) and found the L R Baggs one. I checked to see what else they did and came across the anchor pins. But, they're metal and like someone else on here, I wasn't sure I liked the idea or sound possibilities.
Dulcimer String Anchor Pins
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Clive Quinn:
I got so fed up with pins that I decided to try something else. I drill 4 shallow holes big enough to hold the ball end and cut 4 slots between them and the bridge. It makes changing strings easier and makes the sound better, on my dulcimers at least, perhaps because it is attached to wood and not metal.
That looks a very nifty way around the problem. Wish I'd thought of it before drilling the holes for the bridge pins. But I'm happy with the way I've gone and I think it looks ok.
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks everyone! I forgot about string cutters, although we'll have (big) screwdrivers on the boat. We'll be on/in salt water so this is definitely a concern. We have de-humidifiers and also a generator for air conditioning (also helps to dry out the boat - I can't stand mildewy musty stuff) - yes, having di-silica (sp) gel/packets would be a good idea. I know on our sailboat for long distance sailing it was always best to keep tools coated with some kind of light oil before putting them in ziplocks. I just got some extra strings so I'll go but them in ziplocks and get some of those silica get thingys. Thanks!
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I'm sure the two Kens can tell us the exact year that Bruce created ED. I joined there after it had been online for maybe two years.
Jason's SweetMusicDigest listserve was (to the best of my knowledge) the first dedicated online 'discussion group' for dulcimers. That was before people could easily put up online forum software websites like ED. But remember that SweetMusic was a listserve- an email mailing list...it did not have a website where the discussions were threaded and browse-able, like what we are all used to today.
Ed was started more than ten years before FOTMD. Fotmd was started in July 2009, making it almost 11 years old now.
Yes, there is still an 'official' ED facebook page which was created by the folks involved with running the old ED site, when ED was still running. That FB page is still quite active:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/165673533442748/
I 'think' Ron Zuckerman started that ED FB page- Ron had volunteered and helped Bruce a lot with the tech/admin duties of maintaining the ED main website during its last couple of years. I think Ron then relinquished the ownership of the ED facebook page to others as of last year. They run it now, but I don't know their names.
Feel free to correct me if I have any of this wrong.
There are many other dulcimer 'groups'/pages on Facebook as well these days.
updated by @strumelia: 05/16/20 03:12:34PM
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
ahhhhhhh, another good learning post thread. THANKS LOADS. and that screwdriver and wirecutters are both things that I've forgotten. ahhhhhhhh, storing in cases our dulcimers. Well, I can see that too....However, I've made all my cases and they are material with a thick lining on the inside. Mostly for traveling and getting them on airplanes and such. Never been turned down bringing my dulcimer....the scroll head pokes out. Easy to see that's it's an instrument. The last trip from Hawaii, it was stored in the same closet that the pilot puts his coat. nice. aloha, irene
Humidity and a sticky fretboard
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thanks for the advice. Simple fix.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
TTAD started December 8 2018 from a small traditional dulcimore builders group that had been on Google+ since around 2012. When Google+ closed we decided to go with a website.
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Screwdriver for Tightening Tuning Pegs
Wire Cutters for Trimming Excess String
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Thank you for the correction, Lisa. Perhaps we need a chronology of online dulcimer discussion forums.
Was the Sweet Music Index that Jason started the first? Followed by Bruce Ford's Everything Dulcimer site? Or was it Lisa's (Strumelia's) FOTMD that came next? Now we have Bobby's TTAD (The Traditional Appalachian Dulcimer) and the new Everything Dulcimer site, not to mention the Everything Dulcimer Facebook group.
What is the correct sequence of these groups and what have I missed?
Humidity and a sticky fretboard
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Lift your fingers rather than slide. Dr. Duck's Axe Wax, or Lemon Oil to rub on the fretboard. Also try baby powder on your fingertips.
Humidity and a sticky fretboard
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
As bodily fluids are not exactly the same from person to person you'll sometimes find that a specific remedy will work well for one person but not another person. For me, the following remedy works great. Whenever the fretboard gets a bit yucky I simply immerse a cloth into very hot water, then squeeze the cloth till it's only damp, then wipe the fretboard whilst the cloth is still very warm. Just wipe it over the top of the strings, back and forth a few times, and then wipe it again straight away with a clean, dry cloth.
There's lots of products that contain all sorts of chemicals, but I've found the warm, damp cloth method works really well for me. Hope that helps.
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Only 1 thing is necessary, an insatiable desire to play your dulcimer again and again and again and again and again. If that's the only extra thing you have, then you'll be living in dulcimer Heaven.
Humidity and a sticky fretboard
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I've noticed in the recent humid days we have had here where I live that my fingers don't seem to want to glide across the fretboard as easily. The fingerboard appears to be a little tacky or sticky therefore my fingers kind of drag on it. Any tips on solving this problem?
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I did read your post about Jason, but did not realize that Steve and Dan had a played a role in ED. I know Ron Zuckerman did quite a bit of work with the ED website.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Read my post below about who Jason was.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I agree with Ken Hulme as I joined ED just after he did. Bruce called me and we did some testing of ED together. I don't remember any Jason involved in the origin of the website.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Greg:
Jason was the guy who started the SweetMusic Index, which was the early and long running email NEWSGROUP/LISTSERVE for dulcimers. Not to be confused with Bruce Ford's EverythingDulcimer. Jason was not around on his SweetMusic newsgroup very often, and it sort of hummed along by itself until listserves mostly faded from use.
Bruce was quite busy with his military service career, and after many years of running ED he wanted a break. It was Stephen Seifert and Dan Landrum who took over from Bruce on ED for a year or two. But then Dan and Stephen wanted to move on to start Dulcimer School, and Bruce resumed managing the ED forum again for another few years. Bruce finally got too busy in other life activity, and decided to close it down.
updated by @strumelia: 05/16/20 11:07:17AM
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
When I lived aboard full time, as well as living on a small island in the Pacific, keeping strings "good" was the hardest thing, after the first couple days while an instrument stabilized to the higher humidity.
Do Not store the instrument(s) in cases -- hang them from the bulkheads or lay them on a spare berth or banquet where they can get plenty of air circulation. Stored cases or tucked away in lockers they will definitely have humidity/mildew issues.
To store your spare strings and not have them turn black from salt air, store them in a zip-top bag along with a couple of those de-humidifier 'pellets' or 'packets' or whatever they're called.
For your 'on instrument' strings, light coat of molybdenum lubricant or even wiping them down with WD40 after you play, or at the end of the day, will help keep them corrosion-less.
updated by @ken-hulme: 05/16/20 10:30:30AM
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I was on ED the week that the site opened to the public. There were a couple of 'bots that Bruce used for testing, and two or three humans other than Bruce. But, I don't recall any Jason or mention of Bruce taking over from anyone.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Please remember, Bruce Ford provided a great service for all Appalachian dulcimer players. But he did not create/originate Everything Dulcimer. If I remember correctly ED was created by "Jason (?)" Bruce Ford stepped forward when someone was needed to keep the website up and running, and we should all be thankful that he did.
The new website moderator should be given every opportunity to get ED back up and running.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I continue to check in to ED every day and make comments there when appropriate. I also tell people to check it out. It is important to have as many resources as possible to promote the mountain dulcimer and encourage people to play it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Definitely it's no competition. But because they assumed Bruce Ford's original site name, comparisons to his site are just unavoidable. ED was special, and beloved by many.
Is the strumhollow redundant?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
The strumhollow is certainly not redundant, in fact dozens of thousands of players pick & strum in that area. That area provides a slightly stronger and brighter tone which is precisely what many dulcimer players want. Other players will use both the strumhollow & fretboard area & some players use the fretboard area exclusively in order to get a more mellow tone and for other reasons.
It's important for us to remember there is no correct way and no wrong way. No superior way and no inferior way. If it works for you then 'your' way is what you should use.
A huge majority of dulcimers are built with strumhollows & that is driven by public demand. If nobody wanted strumhollows then builders would not build strumhollows.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
When I said it was was just like the old ED I was referring to the design & format of the discussion forum.
I think we should all remember it's not a competition. I believe we should all be inclusive of, and supportive of, all dulcimer websites & dulcimer Facebook sites etc.
Let's spread the dulcimer 'love'.
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I hope you have a case for your dulcimer as all that traveling in a car and then on the boat. If it's an ocean you'll be living on.....stuff gets rusty and Dulcimer might swell a little being the humidity might be higher on the boat. Where will you be going? Not Hawaii? (wishing) aloha, irene
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Yes, Thanks Ken. And a capo (maybe two in case I drop one overboard LOL!)
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
It takes dedicated effort to keep spammers and unpleasant offenders off a public site. Bruce did a great job running ED for so many years. When he closed down ED, he did in fact explain publicly why he chose not to turn the site over to someone else. I can respect that.
updated by @strumelia: 05/15/20 08:36:31PM
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Indeed, it is not the old ED site. I was a moderator on that site and know the frustrations Bruce Ford experienced keeping it a safe place to discuss all things dulcimer. While he was at sea, he gave me and another person administration rights. I was overwhelmed by how much time it took to eliminate spurious material and offensive members. After he retired from the Navy and started his own business, he just did not have the time to put into ED anymore. Rather than turn it over to someone else, Bruce decided to retire the site. At least, that is how I understand it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Don't forget your tuner.... and spare batteries for your tuner.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I signed up for it but didn't find anything of interest on it. Sad, sad, sad :(
Now I no longer look at it. After years of following the old ED site, it was quite a disappointment. Does anyone know who the "administers" are who owns this new site?
updated by @ptl: 05/16/20 01:00:45PM
Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hi friends, I've traveled a lot - but this time (C-virus permitting!) we'll be driving 1200 miles to spend 4 months on our boat - on the water 95% of the time. I know all the obvious things (don't leave your dulcimer in a hot car, etc.), but I don't want to be gone 4 months, away from stores or shipping, and then find out, "oh, shucks, I should have brought ________ with me" (insert item here). I'm bringing extra strings, extra picks, digital and print tunes to play, and a strap. That's all I can think of! If you were traveling with your dulcimer for an extended period, is there something else you would bring? Thanks! I think that's all I need. I think....
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Just to be clear... the old ED has not 'returned'. It's a completely new site run by someone who doesn't identify themselves. They bought the domain name when it went up for grabs online, and they decided to use the same name of Bruce Ford's original site. They mimicked the structure of the old site's forum topics, and copied over the original site's tab collection as well.
It's a whole new and different site, using the same name Bruce Ford created. It is not the original EverythingDulcimer come back again.
updated by @strumelia: 05/14/20 10:51:45PM
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Not exactly the same as the old ED. But the new, anonymous Admin copied the old discussion structure pretty closely, Not much traffic yet. But it took more than a year to get decent discussions rolling on the original ED, so there may be hope.
The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I've just discovered that the ED site is now back up and running again.The discussion forum there is just like the old discussion forum. It's been back on line for several months.
I'm very happy that it's back. It was my favorite dulcimer website for years. Just go to the usual www.everythingdulcimer.com address.
updated by @corvus: 05/14/20 08:37:17AM
Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 5th Year
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Congratulations! Hearts of the Dulcimer is a GREAT Podcast!
VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Folks, please stay on Nate's thread topic and don't take over the thread to introduce other subjects. I have removed a few off topic posts.
Does anyone have more to add to actually answer Nate's questions? If you have other things to discuss then please start a new thread specific to that subject in the appropriate location. And please be clear and specific about your discussion subject if you start a new thread. Thanks.
updated by @strumelia: 05/10/20 02:45:42PM
VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Question posed by the original poster:
NateBuildsToys:
This might end up being a controversial topic, since I cant seem to find a lot of agreement on it elsewhere, but I'd like to know what y'all know and have observed about how much the headstock angle, length of the headstock, radius of the nut, and bridge breakpoint angle, radius of the bridge, and excess of string between the bridge and tailpins affect tone, volume, and sustain...
...In the attached image the black objects represent 'bridges' the red lines represent 'strings'. The first diagram shows a 'bridge' with very minimal contact, which I believe puts tremendous amounts of extra stress on the bridge and the string. The second shows better contact but still a sharp angle at the breakpoint, which i believe can cause intonation issues and buzzing since the string might not actually be able to bend all the way to match the angle of the bridge without over-applying string tension, and therefore the breakpoint may be further back on the bridge than intended. The third diagram is what I currently do more or less, which is round off the side of the bridge and nut that is outside the VSL so that the string has a lot of contact and no sharp angles. I have never paid attention to the length of string outside the VSL, I have always assumed that if you have adequate downward force on the bridge and nut, that anything past them is irrelevant. A lot to think about but I'm sure plenty of you have thought about these things before! I'd love some more perspective