Forum Activity for @strumelia

Dulcinina, yes cheese cloth and a rubber band works too!  Some people cut plastic cross-stitch mesh into circles to use with the canning jar's metal band top. Others use pieces of tulle fabric or landscaping mesh. Anything that keeps the seeds in but lets water drain out. I just find the stainless steel screens to be convenient to clean and reuse, since I sprout a lot.

Try to use the WIDE-mouth canning jars, so that it's easy to pull the finished clump of sprouts out once they are done growing... usually the sprouts pack the entire jar if you start with 4 teaspoons of seed, and it's hard to pull a big dense clump out with a small mouth jar. You can use a little less seed, or smaller jars or different containers, but don't use more than 4 teaspoons of say alfalfa or radish per quart jar or the sprouts will get too crowded to grow. I read that a 1/4 cup of mung beans per quart jar works well, but I'm trying that out now.
I'll try to get some photos later to add.  :)

I haven't done this in a long time.  But you've inspired me to start again. Post a picture if you can of the jars before and after sprouting. I don't have screw on screen tops for my jars.  Would cheese cloth and a rubber band work?  Thanks for posting.  Going to give this a try again.  Nina

Now that Winter has set in and the veggie garden is dormant, I've started my winter tradition of growing fresh sprouts in jars in my kitchen.

Especially now during the pandemic when I want to avoid frequent trips out to buy food, fresh SPROUTS are a terrific substitute for lettuce! We pile them on sandwiches, in tortilla rollups, and as a side for scrambled eggs or anywhere you would want a little handful of greens. Mung sprouts are also good in stir fried dishes. I find that a head of pretty purple raddichio stays nice for three whole weeks in the fridge, so a couple of thin slices of raddichio, some grated carrot, and a handful of sprouts (and some croutons!) makes a wonderful salad.

This year with buying lettuce less frequently, I went all in and am adding two other types of sprouts to our usual favorite of alfalfa sprouts... I'm now alternating growing jars of alfalfa sprouts with mung bean and red clover. (we don't care for the peppery types like radish sprouts though some folks love those)

I use quart jars with screw on screen tops, and because each jar takes 5 or 6 days I keep two jars growing at any given time. I start a new jar every 4 days or so because it takes us about four days to eat through each batch. I just have to remember to rinse and drain the growing sprouts twice a day so they stay moist and clean while growing. I keep the jars upside down (to avoid any water pooling in the jar) in my dish draining rack, covered with a cloth to keep them dark. On the last day I sit the jar near a bright window and they totally green up within a few hours- so pretty and magical! Then I pull them out of the jar, tease them apart, rinse several times to remove most of the hulls, and put them in a plastic tub in the fridge to eat. A quart jar can make a big bunch of sprouts! It only takes 4 teaspoons of alfalfa seeds to wind up with a quart jar jammed FULL of mature sprouts.
I buy organic 'sprouting seeds' on am*zon in 1 pound bags. Don't use seeds meant for planting because those are often treated and/or GMO. A 1lb bag will last you at least a year. 
Just seeing the green jars growing in my kitchen during the dead of winter always brings me a feeling of hope and renewal.

Oh, my, has it been ten years since Rod died?  I remember getting home from a family gathering and seeing the sad news.  

You're welcome, John. I've seen a few Tignor dulcimers over the years. I, too, was struck by the narrow waist and wide lower bout as well as the depth and the large pegs.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks, Ken! I remember seeing John's dulcimers at a shopping mall and being blown away by the depth, the width, and the wasp-waist on those critters!  I taught a young girl how to play one, and it was nearly as big as she was!

Rod was a generous and caring person. He was always so helpful. I've missed him over the years. I can't believe it has been ten years.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

This website has a nice photo of a Tignor dulcimer from the tip of the peg head to the end of the tailpiece. A mountain dulcimer does not have a neck. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1970s-appalachian-mountain-dulcimer-1904007493

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

On Christmas day 2020 it will be ten years since Rod passed away. Just wanted to post a fond remembrance of "Deputy Mo" again. He contributed so much friendship and encouragement to members here on FOTMD. Rest in peace and in music, Rod.

Yes I'd say they were old Grover planet banjo tuners. Probably previously used. Not the highest quality of planetary tuners, being 2:1 ratio.

Anyone have a pic of the front of the dulcimer from neck to base for John T Tignor

Will do thanks

"Uncle" Ed Thomas. Nathina if you are really interested in this subject you'll need to do some reading and learning from books and articles on dulcimer history and traditions. There's a lot to learn but it's all well worth the effort to those with a serious interest. Stumbling onto a real Thomas is arguably the Holy Grail of antique dulcimers. Also some fun related content here on fotmd by doing a main search for "Ed Thomas". Also, maybe you'll enjoy some of the threads in this Group . And you'll definitely want to read Ralph Lee Smith's Dulcimer Traditions, and his The Story of the Dulcimer.

And what does a "Thomas" design mean exactly?

That's a beautiful dulcimer, John.  I remember the Galax you showed me in Berea a couple years ago.  Beautiful work.  Nina

The first two strings are #4 gauge or .013", and the bass string is #8 gauge or .020".

That is so cool, @robert-schuler!  I passed along the Jeffreys I had to a young folks music enthusiast and he is thrilled to have it.  Such a sweet little instrument.  

Happy anniversary 1865! I'm sure it will continue to provide you with inspiration.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Just for clarification: Tennessee Tech's  Appalachian Center  for  Crafts are not the same.  Maxwell's Craft center was privately owned and preceded the Appalachian Center for Crafts.  I do own one of his dulcimers, and live in Cookeville, Tn. where he had his shop and his dulcimers were built; made primarily for the tourist trade but overall not a bad instrument.  The wooden pegs are a pain to keep in tune however. 

I have -- somewhere-- a brochure from the Upper Cumberland Craft Center when John Maxwell was running it, and a John Maxwell dulcimer which was damaged when somebody removed it from the wall of a T.G.I.Friday's restaurant years ago.

My Jeffreys dulcimer is 49 years old today!. Number 1865. I still remember the excitement I had the day it arrived. Still in perfect condition. It became the model I use to make my own instruments. I never seen a dulcimer in real life before but it started me on a great journey into traditional old time music... Robert

I have a question for you Nathina. Have you been to the Musical Instrument Museum? There is a nice display of dulcimers and their predecessors there. My wife and I visited there in 2018.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

By the 1980s most workshops at dulcimer festivals were in DAd. People looked at you like you were a lunatic if you tried to offer anything in DAA.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I think I have traced the movement which started bigtime to 1978. By the 80's "everyone" (not everyone) wanted DAd. Music also started changing becoming harder to find DAa tabs. I guess they somehow would pin the 2nd string at the third fret? Not sure how they would pin it, especially if they were noting.

Nathina, I forgot to address your question about the 6.5 fret. There are some examples of it being used in the early part of the 20th century. On some of those, the 6 fret was absent. For the most part the 6.5 fret began to be included by modern builders by the mid-1970s. Some included it before that. It was also at that time the mountain dulcimer players began moving away from DAA to DAd. Before that they moved from CGG to DAA. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Lisa, I will try to put together a thread on my Thomas dulcimer #1465. I did not do the restoration myself. I had John Huron do it. I met John at Dulcimerville in 2011 (I think). John was teaching a dulcimer building workshop based on the Thomas pattern. I showed him the dulcimer and was thrilled that I asked him to restore it. John took many photos during the process and some video as well. At the time, I was still working full time and did not have the time to do the work. John and I consulted a few times by email and phone during the three years it took to do the restoration. Betty and I stopped in Bristol, TN where John lives and picked up the dulcimer on our way home from visiting our son in CA. I wrote an article about the restoration that appeared in Dulcimer Players News. I will have to look up what issue it is in.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I will call him. I can fix the tuners without any "real" modification. Recommend that I don't add 6.5 unless he demands it and fix the case. I will also remove any dents to invisibility so it will be pristine. A good cleaning, maybe new strings and bring it back to new. I can also match the patina. I will post it when it is done. I should also ask him the number to see what time this might have been made. Wish there was a time line somewhere. Wonder if there are any archives?

Maxwells are vintage and are slowly now becoming 'historic' dulcimers and collectors items. Be careful about making changes to one, as putting in more frets, changing the wooden tuners, replacing parts, and refinishing can all actually permanently devalue it. If it's an original wooden case made by Maxwell that too would be part of the value. An old dulcimer is most valuable when it is in good condition and as close to unchanged as possible.
The thing is, there are so many newer dulcimers available for sale that already have geared tuners and 6.5 frets etc. And dulcimers are not that expensive. I always feel it's a shame to change a lovely vintage dulcimer from its original state and intent. Modernizing antique instruments usually devalues them. Just my two cents!

I would love for Ken Longfield to post again (with pix) about how he restored a rare "Uncle Ed" Thomas dulcimer that was all smashed up. An monumental and successful project!

I have a way of filling in dings and matching restoring the look. 

Ok I get it- cutting the wire and twisting the loops ends. I wondered whether you were making strings from some other material. Like weedwacker line maybe, or maybe like when I twist one to two dozen horse tail hairs into a rope to make strings for my jouhikko . Thanks!

Just curious- what gauge strings did you put on this walnut beauty, John?  And is it tuned to the key of D?

If the pegs are in good condition I will clean and adjust them. There are a couple of items that are available to enlarge the peg body itself without loosing anything to the wood. Do you know when a 6.5 fret became the defacto or when eveyone decided to go from 1-5-5 to 1-3-8 (DAa toDAd)

The Maxwell dulcimers I've seen were solid wood.  Replacing the tuners might be a challenge depending upon the diameter of the tuners he made. You might have to plug and re-drill the holes. As to the 6.5 fret it depends upon the tuning the person wants to use. The 6.5 fret is not needed for a 1 - 5 - 5 tuning. If playing 1 - 3 - 8 the 6.5 fret is helpful as well as the octave, 13.5. When I replace those frets I measure the VSL and calculate the proper placement. I can't speak for others, but I don't mind you asking questions. Ask away.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

This one is also interesting. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John-maxwell-dulcimers-moa-tn1.jpg

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I did read all the links here. I can ask the owner for a number.  From what he tells me there is no 6 1/2 which would make the dulcimer around 1970ish. Did he use solids or veneer? His tuners were wooden pegs. So I will probably have to redo that for her. Should I upgrade it for him for a 6.5, or leave it pre / 1970s. This has a wooden custom box, that accompanies it, which I can fix easily. I am trying to find some pics of his obviously upgrade pre 70's. Revels I believe has his new ones or those within the last few years of manufacturer. Hope people don't mind me asking difficult questions?

Here is a link to a thread here: https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/instruments-discuss-specific-features-luthiers-instrument-problems-questions/24674/john-maxwell-dulcimer

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Nathina, I've seen a few of his dulcimers over the years and may have played a tune or two on one. Here is link that shows what I believe to be typical of his instruments. https://revelsmusic.co.uk/dulcimers-for-sale/historicunusual-dulcimers/maxwell-teardrop/

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

He stopped building in the late 1970s. That is about all I know. He built about 3000 dulc, and was from Cookeville TN. Cannot really find any pictures re his builds or prices? Did he ever add 6.5 fret and if so when did he start. Thanks. I believe he added a sound hole into the 4th fret.

I make my own strings when necessary.

Lisa, homemade strings are made by taking a small spool of piano wire, and twisting a loop in the free end.  Then you cut the wire off to the length you want.   It's a little tricky to get a good twist of the wire.