Forum Activity for @dusty

Hi Cathy,

You may already have found that you are getting more information than you expected. Embrace that fact and learn as much as you can.

To your specific questions, I have personally never heard anything bad about the Black Mountain dulcimers, but I have often heard people sing the praises of TK O'Brien and McSpadden as well as other builders.

As you probably know, astandard dulcimer usually has avibrating string length (VSL)of 25-29 inches. Dulcimers that are shorter than that are usually tuned higher, either to a fourth or fifth above in the keys of G or A or a full octave above to a high D. Dulcimers such as the McSpadden Ginger or Ron Ewing's baritone dulcimette, for example, are usually tuned to G or A. If you want to play with your husband or other at a dulcimer jam or workshop, you won't really be able to do so. You may want to visit the group here I started a while back called Little Dulcimers, and in particular right now you may want to look at the list of little dulcimer makers that I am compiling there. That list indicates the VSL and the intended key of the dulcimers. You will notice that only two makers (Mike Clemmer and Folkroots) listed thereregularly makedulcimers with VSLs less than 25" that are intended to be played in the same key as standard dulcimers.

I point this out because a couple of other people have recommended little dulcimers to you and you should be aware that most of them are intended to be played in a different key or a different octave than a standard dulcimer. However, your initial question is about standard dulcimers with a 26" VSL and you seem to be wondering whether your less-than-professional playing deserves a dulcimer nicer than the cheaper ones out there.

To that question I say yes. You do not need to spend a thousand dollars, but if you can afford $300 or a bit more you can get a really nice dulcimer. And some makers such as David "Harpmaker" Lynch (also a member here) offer really nice student models even less expensive than that. LIke all good luthiers, David will work with you and make sure you get a dulcimer sized and priced just for you. Get a dulcimer that encourages you to play and facilitates your improvement. If you get a dulcimer with inaccurate intonation or buzzing strings or whatever, you will not want to play it and will either give up or have to buy another dulcimer soon. Get a dulcimer worthy of the player you hope to become rather than the one who is just beginning now.

The first thing I'd say is Buy American, not offshore - who knows where that Roosebeck thing is made. For that kind of money you can get a lot more instrument from someone like Harpmaker Dave Lynch, the TK instruments and several other builders. If you have an instrument built for you rather than buying off the shelf, you can have whatever VSL you want. I've played an O'Brien, they're good. And one of Dave's - very nice. David Beede's short VSL instruments are very nice too. And I've played others from other builders. Not played a Black Mountain, but have heard good things from people I trust, who have.

I'd also avoid Applecreek and First Act, again they're made in third world countries by people who don't know what a dulcimer is, and you may be buying trouble. Buy an instrument from a person who is also a player, not a company (although MacSpaden, FolkCraft, Blue Lion and Cripple Creek to name a few are quality builders).

Yes - even as a true novice you can hear the difference in quality between instruments. This is why we suggest you buy by ear, not by woodtypes, or shape, or bells & whistles.

I had a couple of my students show up with an Apple creek Dulcimer. It had a fret length for open G tuning, much like the Ginger model of the McSpadden line. It seems to me they were around $150. which is low price, and a fair instrument considering the price. However if you can afford it I would get a McSpadden Ginger as they are a better instrument and would probably make you feel more like playing and practicing.

I had a Black Mountain for my first dulcimer, but like the Apple creek dulcimer, if you can afford a bit more I would do so. You'll be happier latter.

One member to go before we reach 3000 members ....!

Here's a tip o' his favorite, Mountain Dew...a toast to ' Depity Mo ' who I'm sure is smiling down from someplace as we reach 3000....

25 miles- that's wonderful Bill !!! I plan to do an easy 6 miles on my bike tomorrow morning, and a 2 mile walk.

That guy in front of the computer is actually a stranger- i just picked it up on the 'world wide web' after searching for 'geek'....lol!! I like to imagine he was part of the Design and Development Team for FOTMD's formation three years ago. Gotta love his tech setup...and got his ash tray, cigs, and mug of Cream of Mushroom soup all lined up on top there....

Yes i guess I'll go look for that jar of pickled dulcimers, gonna wait til mid next week though. Last two times the contest took way too long and the suspense was killing us all!

Seems like only yesterday it was 290 members.

Time to warm-up the dancin' hillbillies video...3,000 approaches!

Yes, Dana, from 2000 to 3000 in virtually no time! It's because people want to see what us crazies are up to and keep an eye on us.

FOTMD has a lot to offer. It's the most positive site that I know of. I think all the active members really look forward to spending a little time here amongst friends.

Anyone notice exactly 100 members from 3000! Boy this site is growing fast.

Love the looks of that 3-stringed Ledford! Congratulations on your great find, Curtis.

Great find, Curtis. Looks like a wonderful instrument

Rob

I really like the looks of that Ledford dulcimer. Congrats on a fantastic find. Hope you enjoy it for years to come.

I recently obtained an unnumbered Ledford dulcimer which came from a thrift store in Midland, Michigan. It looks identical to the Ivyton TN dulcimers on the Ledford site.

[ http://www.backroombluegrassband.com/hlccweb/instruments/storiesandpics.htm ]

It has walnut sides, scroll, fingerboard, and endblock, with pine-like top and back. The pegs, end pin, and perhaps the two nuts, are a lovely, light butterscotch-colored wood which seems to have a slightly mellower grain than maple. The scroll is slender and untapered; the whole instrument is light and responsive. The frets are wire staples under the first two strings only, however the placement is faulty: mostly flat until the upper notes which are sharper. I was able to render it playable, at least in the lower range, by shortening the string length with an additional nut at the distal end, though the first fret is still Very flat. It is signed under the lower left diamond soundhole, in pencil, directly on the back: [Made By/ Homer C Ledford/ Winchester, Ky.].

I sent all the information and pictures to the site but, considering how infrequently it is updated, I thought I would mention it here and see if anyone else has additional info that would help me place it in time. There is, evidently, a log book of Ledford's dulcimers and the woods and style should narrow it down; if Midland MI was the home of the original owner that would cinch it.

I see you dig Clemson.......wow nice instrument ......my cousin Olga had one of these

Here is a picture of an autoharp my uncle (of Pawprint Autoharps) made for me a few years back. Notice that the main tuners for each string are zither pins. But down below are fine tuners which are adjustable with a tiny allen wrench.

As Ken has explained, it can be hard to tune a string with great precision using those zither pins; the fine tuners allow more nuanced adjustment. And incidentally, this autoharp was a prototype. My uncle now covers up those fine tuners with a nice piece of wood. We all agreed that this version reminds us of a teenager's braces.

thanks this is all new to me......learn something new here everyday

My Keith Young dulcimer has pegs and the beads for fine tuning. I was amazed at how well they work. Took it to Portage PA Dulcimer Day and was able to get in tune and then re-tune very quickly andaccurately with them. I think this will now be my "go to" dulcimer!

Fine tuners (there are several kinds including tuning beads) are often used on instruments that have wooden violin style tuning pegs, as well those with autoharp style steel tuning pins.

Many people have trouble hitting the desired note accurately with those kinds of primary tuners. Fine tuners let them get more accurate tuning. The idea was first developed with Violins/Violas etc back in the Renaissance. Fine tuner beads are on a portion of the string which is higher at one end that the other (usually between the bridge and the tailpiece), and as you push/pull the bead along it slackens or tightens the string in very tiny amounts.

I`ve seen them used with zither pin`s already, cranking the zither pin to a certain note but it still needs a slight adjustment to get it right on.

The micro adjustment can be done with the " tuning bead " .

since I'm the green leaf rookie here ....my question is what is the purpose?....does its keep em in tune better and how?......I see some with them and not.....seen a lot of older Dulcimers with just 3 made of wood ...saw one with black metal ones?

Yes Robin, that Laura Elder is a right 'ole tease , for dangling treats which are beyond my reach !

John

Keep coming back to these pics, 'the more you look the more you see' It took me a while to pick up on that 'D' end tailpiece which has a heart shape to its cutout !It's a bad enough job towork a nice cleanly finished inside to a typical 'D', lots of endgrain, me fingers ache just thinking about working that heart ! Just wish I could have handled it !! Lucky you seeing 'em Robin

John

John Henry said:

Sorry Bobby , its already gone ! ( I've made a couple 'near to' that pattern, be great to have the 'proper job'!)

John

Sorry Bobby , its already gone ! ( I've made a couple 'near to' that pattern, be great to have the 'proper job'!)

John

I'll take one these, one of these. can you even imagine all the beautiful music that has come from these instruments.

Can you imagine if someone told you you could choose and keep ONE of these instruments hanging on the wall there.... how on earth could one possibly choose? Just as well i suppose that we'll never be presented with such a 'terrible' dilemma. lol...

COOL

They are all so gorgeous!

Hey Dusty that Was MY favorite too.

Does any one know where this exhibition Well be heading next? I would Love to see it If it would come closer.

Thanks for sharing this. My favorite is the Parlor stove bass fiddle.

Laura Elder said:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150878062047267.406304.7...

Here are a few more pics from the Facebook link

Dusty, if your dulcimer knew about the dulcimers on the other walls, it would've bawled its little eyes out.

Dusty Turtle said:

Wow, I had these pictures up while playing my own dulcimer, which jumped off my lap with a tear in her eye and cried "gramdma!"

Wow, I had these pictures up while playing my own dulcimer, which jumped off my lap with a tear in her eye and cried "gramdma!"

In the lower photo, see the dulcimer with the open tailpiece that's heart-shaped? Any of you seen that before? If I remember right, there were 2 other mountain dulcimers with open tailpieces; one was an open circle and the other an open D.

The exhibit has a room devoted to each of these instruments: banjo, dulcimer/scheitholt (w/ 2 hammered dulcimers), fiddle, and guitar. It truly is a wonderful exhibit.

Thanks for the heads-up. May have to come over & check that out.

Thank you, thank you for posting pics, Laura!

I, too, attended the exhibit and plan to go back for more looks. There are instruments from both individual and institutional collections. Should you make the trip to Lancaster, you're in for a treat !

PS-Laura got permission to take photos; otherwise, there are to be no photos taken. I talked with a woman at the exhibit about the possibility of photos being made public so they could be posted or linked to FOTMD. Got my fingers crossed!

Van, thanks for your input....I think it will be a perfect fit for me. I Love the way the scroll looks....but functionally its just not quite as easy as the flat head on my MMD. When I talked to Sue at McSpadden she said they were getting very popular and she had just sold two others before I called. I'm wondering if eventually smaller scales will be the most common dulcimers?

CJ

Sarah!! I saw that one....so cute!