Forum Activity for @dusty

Hey @mandapanda.  That's a really nice stand and I can see why you would like one similar to that. Notice, though, that all the dulcimers on there are by the same luthier (Terry McCafferty), and the stand is made specifically for that design. If you had other dulcimers by other makers, they would not likely fit the stand so snugly.  Personally, I've opted for the "wall stand," as you can see here .

There are a few dulcimer stands out there, including some made by members of FOTMD, so hopefully one of them will chime in here.

Good morning, FOTMD! 

I'm newer to this site and even newer to dulcimer playing. I have one fantastic instrument already and another one coming. How do you folks like to store your instruments? I'm hoping to find a stand like the one in the attached image (although my husband won't be happy if I attempt to fill it too quickly!!!). I would definitely like a stand that is pretty and looks more like nice furniture than just a utility. 

I would love your ideas!! Thanks in advance!!

P.S. I'm not a builder. No plans, please. 

 5 on stand_2.jpeg - 101KB

So sad to lose another in our greater dulcimer family.

@venni That's great news, welcome back

Dusty and Robin - thanks for your encouraging words. Very much appreciated.  Stay safe everyone!  :)

@james-phillips I'm glad you both got in your second vaccines!  Though we rarely make videos anymore, we still play music to brighten the days.  Hope you've been able to make plenty of music!  

A bit of an update - my partner and I both got our second vaccine a week ago on Thursday.  No serious side affects - had a bit of a sore arm at the injection site, a bit of a mild headache and that was it.  I didn't know if we were going to be able to function at 100% for work the next day, so we took it off which we probably didn't need to, but knowing folks that got sick or had a fever etc. I wanted to prepare for the worst case scenario.  Also finding myself contemplating doing videos again - I had not done any in ages and ages, at least a few instruments ago LOL and also been talking to our former room-mate about maybe doing some kind of monthly video serious with him singing and my playing guitar, 4 string tenor guitar or tenor sized ukulele.  Nice to have some goals to aspire to.  

@brian-g I appreciate you and all who have worked hard and tirelessly on all phases of dealing with SARS-CoV-2!  I know people who were sickened and I know people who died from this virus.  So much heartbreak for so many.  Thank you for posting here!  I hope you are able to take some time to play a bit of music.  

My husband was out mowing the lawn with a push mower (gas engine) while it was snowing.  Definitely a sign of spring.  He said the grass was growing so fast he could barely keep up between snows (we got about an inch of accumulation, so it wasn't just "snow-globe snow").

Nice to hear from you Brian, and heartening to know that you've been fighting the good fight.  So many people have been working in so many ways to help us deal with this pandemic.  One day the uplifting story will be told about the determination and sacrifice of so many.  And yes, it does appear that little by little we're getting vaccinated.  Perhaps a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Sad news indeed. Larkin Bryant's book has had a great and long-lasting influence on dulcimer players.  She will live on in the playing of many others.

Sorry to hear of this.  I had never met Larkin, but knew of her and a reputation in the dulcimer world.  RIP.

Hello All!  It's been a long time since I've posted at FOTMD.  SARS-CoV-2 has had affected my life pretty dramatically.  I've been involved in the clinical development of a couple vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19 (in addition to my "regular" work), and have been working insane hours.  Unfortunately, I know more than a few people who have died as a result of the disease, and many more who have suffered greatly.  This pandemic has exacerbated systemic injustices related to the social determinants of health, and the US response in particular has been pathetic.

It's heartening to read of more and more people getting vaccinated. I hope you all stay safe!  :)

Brian

Very sad news.  I also still have my book and cassette (and still think hers is one of the best introductions to the mountain dulcimer I've seen).  She certainly touched many lives.  My deepest sympathies to her family and friends. She will be missed.

That's good news about your family, @jost.

Sad news indeed, Robin. Thanks for letting us know.
She certainly gave a lot of people joy through her own music, and through helping others to find their personal music as well.

Thank you for sharing this, Robin. This is sad news. Many people learned to play using her instruction book and cassette tape. I still have mine. My sympathy goes out to her husband, her family, and friends.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Musician Larkin Bryant has died.  Larkin's mountain dulcimer instruction book is a treasure I enjoy.  I also have Larkin's last mountain dulcimer cd and it is one of my favorites.  I post the following video in memory of Larkin-- in it,  Larkin and Bonnie Carol are playing music together.  

Both of my parents  and one of my siblings got their first vaccination dose now, it's a big relief. 

My other brother and I will have to wait though most likely up to autumn. But at least it's making progress and I can visist my family without fearing to bring the virus to them

Not yet, but someday someone will invent one. I've been tempted to try one of the automatic guitar tuners, but it would just be something else to clutter the accessory pocket in my guitar case.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Wow. Electric, robot mowers?  You all make me feel like dinosaur.  I still push around a gas mower.  I am self-propelled, but the mower is not.

Do you have a machine that tunes your dulcimers, too?

My self-propelled mower lasts a little over an hour on a fully charged battery. Mine is a Kobalt from Lowe's. My robotic mover also lasts around an hour on a full charge. It docks itself when it needs to be recharged. It is a Husqvarna. I saw these in action when I attended the A.S.I.A. Symposium in East Stroudsburg, PA in 2018. I was impressed by how they worked. My wife wanted me to get someone to cut the lawn. The robot was a compromise. It cuts the largest part of the year and I use the walk behind, self-propelled mower to do parts of the yard that the robot is not programmed to do. These are areas out near the street and outside of fenced in year and along the fence as the robot does not cut all the way to fence.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken, we have a 1acre lawn.  Will the battery powered self propelled mower last that long?

What is the company name?

Thank you!

Don

@ken-longfield Our new mower is battery-powered-- neither gas nor oil needed for an engine.  We have a string trimmer coming today from the same company from which we got the mower.  Our new mower is a self-propelled walk-behind mower-- we don't own a riding mower-- and we don't have a string trimmer yet. :)   

I got my dulcimer from the Klangwerkstatt in Markt Wald,Germany. I don't know whether they ship to other countries but asking never hurts: Although their dulcimer lacks extra frets it should be possible to ask them to add them without costing to much (they build every instrument for every order and the beginning price is quite affordable even with the porto):  https://www.klangwerkstatt.de/dulcimer

And fellow FOTMD forum member Martin Osterles student models in his shop  have the 6+ fret If  I don't see anything wrong:
https://www.dulcimerstore.de/c/dulcimershop/dulcimus-standard 

He delivers inside the EU: https://www.dulcimerstore.de/l/shipping 

Regards, jost

Robin, I am guessing that you are talking about a plug-in mower with an extension cord. My sister and her former husband used one for many years. My sister still does.

Last year I switched over to  battery powered lawn mower, string trimmer, and hedge trimmer. Most of my lawn is done by a robot, but I need the mower for places the robot doesn't reach. No more messing with gas and oil.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

We just got an electric mower.  Mark had a chance to try it out before the cold snap hit and I look forward to getting to use it.  Very lightweight and very quiet-- big pluses!   

My husband was mowing the lawn when the snow started falling, but he wanted to finish, so he just kept going.  We got about an inch here in Lexington, KY.

Ken:  I have asked for the seller to 2x check, for the VSL.  He's a music shop owner who deals mostly with guitars.  I'm thinking this is actually 28.5 inches, too.  I'll let you know what I find out. 

I did not know that regarding who sign the McSpadden labels?  So, although several folks may have been involved in building this dulcime, Larry McSpadden at least "inspected" it before gluing on the back??

Regardless,  I'm glad to hear you say " I think you are making a good decision".

Made good sense to me.  Thanks For All Your Help - John

Really cold here in NY too. It was snowing pretty heavily for like 45 minutes, and freezing wind. But the ground was warm, so the snow melted immediately. Weird. Not sure how to dress anymore. !

oops I guess that's not really 'positive'. 

I think you are making a good decision. I would have passed on the May dulcimer for the same reason. Are you sure the VSL on the McSpadden is correct? Most McSpadden's fo that period were 28.5 inches. Also, McSpadden dulcimers were not built by one person. The craftsperson whose responsibility of gluing on the back was the person who signed the label. Someone else may have bent the sides, installed the frets, tuners, strings, done the glue ups, etc.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Richard:  Thank you kindly!!  I have a line on a 2001 McSpadden Spruce over Walnu, 29 VSL.   It was Larry McSpadden. 

It is in mint condition.

I think I'm going to go with the McSpadden. 

I know Warren May does beautiful work, but I have concerns about the rework on tuners and 6 1/2 fret.

Thanks Again for answering all my questions.

 McSpadden M12 S 1.jpg - 259KB

Robin, it has been getting colder all day. Tomorrow is not going to be a day to be outside doing yard work. Maybe I'll be able to get some of dulcimer projects worked on. You stay warm as well.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Good news, Venni. Welcome back.

@ken-longfield Anything for you, my friend!  :) On a more serious note, very cold temperatures are coming tonight and lots of fruit trees are in bloom now.  Time will tell how it goes.  Keep warm there in PA!

Venni, so glad you have recovered. COVID is wicked.

I agree that the dark spot looks to be in the wood.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Venni, glad to hear the you made it through. Best wishes for continued improvement in your health.

Robin, you can keep the snow in Ohio, thank you.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

@venni I am happy you are feeling better! 

To me the dark spot looks like it is in the wood.

Does not appear to have a 13.5 fret. The 6.5 will not be a problem. As you learn, you just have to remember it is there. I play a dulcimore without a 6.5 fret most of the time then if I pick up my only one with the 6.5 fret, it takes me a few minutes to remember it is there.