Forum Activity for @lisavb

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

Thanks, @ken-hulme, that's very helpful.  I'm going to presume the luthiers at both Folkcraft and McSpadden surpass my "junior luthier wannabee" skills, LOL!  The dulcimer I made is all book-matched black walnut--gorgeous wood.  At the moment, I'm leaning in a McSpaddenly direction, eyeing that cherry w/redwood top combo.  The walnut is gorgeous, but I have walnut.  Life is short, variety is called for.  I prefer darker/redder woods, rather than the lighter, sort of yellow like the spruce.

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Which it means pulling of a possibly glued bridge and drilling more holes into the soundboard?

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, they go under the bridge/saddle of the dulcimer.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just tested the Kmise. It works fine, no soundboard tap or anything. If you tap directly on the unit it will produce a noise, so I might have to move its location, if I find that I touch it while playing. Probably because it is created for a small soundboard, has a volume control, and has worked well for violins as I have learned. The Schaller, as yet I don't know. It is a powerful pickup and might give me ambient noise problems. The Kmise was useless on the HD. The sound pickup radius was very limited. It didn't work well on a 16/15 and was of no value on my bigger HD. 

In regards to the under saddle pickups? Don't they have to go under the bridge or are limited by the type of sound hole?

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I, too, will be interested in your reaction to these pickups. I started out with the Schaller Oyster and also tried the Dean Markley Artist pickup. Both created too much ambient noise as I handled the dulcimer. I switched to under saddle piezo pickups and have been happy with them.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Nathina, I will be curious to read of your reaction to these pickups on a mountain dulcimer.  The criticism of all external piezo pickups is that they capture every vibration, so as the instrument shifts on your lap or you touch the top with your hand, those sounds get magnified.  That might not be a problem with the hammered dulcimer, which is why your experience has been so good, although the size of a HD probably warrants one of those systems with two or more pickups to catch the range of the instrument.  I am eager to hear of your experiences with these pickups on the MD.

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The Schaller Oyster, a very good piezo with no preamp requirement. I use it for the my 16/15 HD, and will use one on a McSpadden. The only downside is the hanging cord, but will tether it somehow. I have used Schallers on acoustic guitars and the output is great.

Turning your acoustic into an electric amplified.

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I added a small piezo that I liked and had from another project. Designed for a small sound board it was perfect for the Ron Gibson. Unobtrusive, with volume control, can plug directly into an amp without a preamp. I will add a Schaller oyster to the McSpadden coming tomorrow.

updated by @nathina: 11/06/20 07:33:22PM

Buying a used McSpadden questions

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

I hope so. See when it comes Will post pics.

Buying a used McSpadden questions

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

Looks like you found a winner, Nathina!

Buying a used McSpadden questions

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

I just purchased an older McSpadden with the horseshoe logo. From the pictures it appears it was never used. The case shows no internal wear whatsoever. I will know more once I receive it. The label as from the Dulcimer Shoppe and I will see if it has a number. The dulcimer itself has no scratches and the finish is still full and intact. From the pic it doesn't look like a ply on the back but matching panels

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

@LisavB -- wood types are strictly subjective.  There are over a hundred variables that can affect the sound of a dulcimer, and wood choice is pretty far down the list -- not even top ten. 

A good luthier can make plastic or cardboard or balsa wood sound really good. A recent Winfield dulcimer champion played a cardboard dulcimer.  

I always recommend that you buy the dulcimer that LOOKS the best -- woods you like the look of -- and coincidentally sounds good as well.  Don't buy a spruce top, or walnut body or cherry/maple instrument because someone tells you it's more mellow or whatever.  Buy what sounds good -- to your ears.  A good luthier will play you various instruments he/she has in stock -- over the phone if you can't shop in person.  All you have to do is ask.  

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

Yes, definitely weighing, not jumping in. Now considering woods...  It has been quite a journey and plenty of fun. It all started about 2 years ago when I decided I wanted to build a musical instrument, more as an art/craft project than anything else. A carboard dulcimer fit the bill--inexpensive in case I screwed up, wouldn't feel bad about painting cardboard (as opposed to a nice wood), etc. Completed it, strung it up, and...that first strum mesmerized me.  So then I went on the Internet and discovered Bing Futch and Jessica Comeau.  Oh, the dulcimer can do *that*?  Then I wanted to build a "real" wood one (with a 6+ fret, sorely needed!).  That led to the Cedar Creek Black Walnut I have.  Then I wanted "all the notes" but didn't want to go chromatic, so that led to the Fender acoustic guitar bundle I got last December. Well, that led to vastly improved strength/span in my left hand!  And then that led to the shell pink Stratocaster in April.  And the pandemic led to Zoom, and Zoom led to live workshops with Jessica Comeau.  She's been doing them roughly every other week since summer, and I've been at all of those, loving them!  

Yep, quite a journey, and soooooo much fun!  

GigBook & a pedal

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I just checked with the member of my dulcimer group who uses one of those pedals.  He does not use special music software at all, just a generic pdf reader.  The foot pedal is called a PageFlip Firefly and connects via bluetooth to his tablet.  No special software is needed for the foot pedal.

I would check if your foot pedal will work with Acrobat Reader or even just a generic version.  Then you can just keep all your files in a big folder and don't need GigBook at all.

updated by @dusty: 11/04/20 11:24:44PM

Questions about the bridge

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

I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. This is the md that is being sent. 

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. Oh the picture that I posted initially is not the McSpadden I bought. Here is the one I chose. 

updated by @nathina: 11/04/20 08:04:01PM

Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String

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

The Ron Gibson came today. A really nice instrument.  Now I have to get a pick that will work in the hollow, otherwise all my picks, and I have many, are too stiff for the strings and I'll have to play on the fret board. 

GigBook & a pedal

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

files are in PDF

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

Lisa, it sounds like you are giving this a lot of thought, having gotten feedback from several people here (and probably elsewhere). That is good. You know what your variables are, and are considering those for YOU, considering how/what you play. I feel you'll make a great choice, no matter which way you go. Enjoy the journey. It's fun, isn't it?!

McSpadden v. Folkcraft?

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

A tardy thank you to you all (work's been a little crazy this week).  I went on a measuring spree for comparison purposes.  I already have a full-length VSL (about 28") and would like to stick with that, both for sustain, and for fret spacing considerations.  Really want to go with 1+/8+ but don't want to wind up with too tight a space at 8+ with a shorter VSL.  My original cardboard dulcimer has a 26" VSL and when I first built the walnut one, I thought I would surely die with all that space to cover.  But my hands have adapted (got a lot stronger and able to stretch when I started playing guitar in the past year!). 

Oddly, my fretboard is 1 5/8"!  Standard should be fine.  I don't have especially large fingers and don't wish to go 4-equidistant.  3 strings are fine with me, with the option to double my melody should the mood strike me.  

I have a scroll head, like the look, but would like to go flat for easier string management.  Not interested in a pickup, full acoustic is fine with me (not planning to do concerts!).  

I like the rich sound of the walnut I have (aside from the frets being a tad less than perfect), would probably do walnut back and sides and perhaps a redwood top for something a bit different than what I have, but still resonant.  Jessica's McS has that combo and she says it has a very full, rich tone.  

I've ogled both sites, both have just beautiful instruments, for sure.  I love the one I built, but the thought of perfectly seated frets and a few more features is pretty tempting.  

Questions about the bridge

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

Looks like some form of Delrin plastic -- essentially the same thing they use today.  Doesn't look like bone.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Just call or email McSpadden Instruments.  They'll be able to tell you.

Questions about the bridge

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

I have traced this as a McSpadden late 1980's. The question is about the bridge. What is it made of and is this typical of a McSpadden? 

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Now traced the symbol to then end of the 1980's. Still trying to find if it changed in 1989, 1990, 1991.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I have traced the symbol which was still in use to the 1980's. It seems to have changed to McSpadden name in 1990's but trying to find out what year?

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Thanks

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

That logo is woodburned into the fretboard.  I have one just like it.

GigBook & a pedal

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Their site implies the files are pdf's. You may find them using a file management program [in the apps data folder maybe].  If so, you should be able to copy/move them to a new folder. You may be able to email them to yourself, they will probably be attachments.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

I though McSpadden burned is name into the toe.

GigBook & a pedal

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Marg, I am pretty sure a couple of people in my dulcimer group don't use any app at all but just keep pdf files of all their tab and use a pedal to turn the pages.  I'll check with them and get back to you.

What format are the files in GigBook?

GigBook & a pedal

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Help:

It seems GigBook has not updated or managed their site in some time. I have a page turn pedal - AirTurn which will not work now with GigBook. I checked & the pedal seems good, I tried another pedal and it also will not turn any music pages in GigBook but will will scroll other programs. 

Yikes - now what do I need to transfer all my music files to another app & if so which ones do you fine work well?  How hard is it to transfer all the files?

thanks

marg

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

The harmony would definitely need to be simplified.  But I wonder about the melody itself. I just took a look at some sheet music, and there are one or two accidentals involved.  Those notes just might not be found on the fretboard, although there are always workarounds.  (You could change the melody slightly or bend a string to get the note you wanted.)

Another option would be to choose a chromatic tuning such 1-3-5.  But in 1-5-8 or 1-5-5, I think there would be a missing note or two.  

It's certainly worth a try, though!

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Hello, Nathina! 

That symbol is the logo of McSpadden Instruments (also known as The Dulcimer Shoppe) of Mountain View, Arkansas.

Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol

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

Trying to figure out the Luthier with this symbol?

updated by @nathina: 11/03/20 12:52:14PM

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

What if I removed some of the harmony notes and rewrote it for the key of D 2 octaves?

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Wow, @nathina, the contrasting tones of those two instruments is remarkable.  You're quite a good player, too.

For what it's worth, I am skeptical that you could get the Gershwin tune on the MD.  Just going by ear, it sounds like there are too many non-diatonic notes involved.  I could be wrong, though, and if you have any extra frets it might be possible.

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

 
With the HD, chords are played from the bottom note to the top. However each note takes up part of the time signature. So trying to put chords into the song, shortens the melody note, and the tune goes bye bye. A harmony note can be played along with the melody, but the tendency is to play too much harmony and loose the melody. This is a song that I experimented with recording. The song is by Joshua Messick, it uses bass support for the melody, so nothing is lost. I played it on the big HD and you can hear the difference between the bright and my EXR. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/woodland-wonderlust-experiment-1

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thank you, I bought the Ron Gibson Teardrop and now have to become acquainted with it.

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

 

I am starting to figure out the harmony, not well yet, but I find enhanced tunes sometimes tend to drown the melody so I rewrite them to sound better. I also have a 16/15 "bright" HD, so called because it uses lacewood as the sound board. Most burled woods or patterned wood will feed the tone back into the wood giving it a higher tone. I use it for the Celtic tunes, and I also rewrote a George Gershwin tune for the 16/15. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/someone-to-watch-over-me-key-f

I wonder if it can be converted to the MD?

Hammered Dulcimer EXR

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That's a beautiful hammered dulcimer, @nathina. 

I'm going in the opposite direction. After playing mountain dulcimer for about 10 years, just a few weeks ago I was gifted a 16/15 Dusty Strings HD.  I can find simple melodies pretty well, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fill in chordal tones.