Forum Activity for @robert-schuler

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Beautiful autumn weather here. Started day picking banjo before the real picking began. Picked corn for the market, then back to the banjo.
Girlfriend brought me a crumb cake, she went up the field to pick tomatoes all day. I sat on the porch eating cake, picking banjo and snoozing. Later another girlfriend came by with fresh brownies. She went up the field to load her car with vegies and cut flowers. I sat on the porch till midnight eating brownies playing my Galax, and fiddle... What a great day... Robert.

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Such decisions. Definitely want a traditional instrument for noter drone playing.

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Richard, I don't think you can go wrong with either Dan's or John's. You just might end up with both, lol 

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, Patty. Beautifully done and beautiful voice of the dulcimer.

 

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Richard, I just linked to my Old Joe Clark video. I am playing one of Dan's traditional dulcimores.

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Gail... thinking of you today.  What you did was so full of love and strength.

I'm afraid the closest I came to the porch thing was that I spent several hours painting our new porch doors with several coats of blue paint before they are to be hung.  Had to work against the clock today, with more to paint on them tomorrow... the paint (primer plus two coats) has to all be totally dry by Monday morning early when the guy comes to put the doors on.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I played my baritone ukulele in Gail Weber's living room....that's as close as I came.  Tomorrow afternoon we'll be joined by Karen Smith Gratto and we'll play whatever comes to mind.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I packed-up Mom, Dad, and a mountain dulcimer and we met my favorite guitar player about a 50-minutes drive from here at my folks'.  We really wanted to participate. :) 

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Strumelia, I'm sure you'll enjoy your porch every bit as much as we do. We forget we have a living room or dining room altogether! Except when it's rainin' sideways.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yup! Just came in from the screened porch; played with my guitar-playing buddy. Started with Shady Grove,ended with Dona Nobis Pacem (Give us Peace), which we sang, too. Anybody out there want to be the third part? As it was we sounded pretty good, and for once drowned out the neighbours' dogs and kids on the trampoline! ;-) 

Peace to all, Annie

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lots of heavy rain with Harvey down in TX, the pond behind me came up really quickly this morning but I did play the dulcimer today. I hope you all had a nice day and had time to play, on your porch or inside. It has been a comfort having my music help drown out the rain & emergency alerts.

Lucky find, needs some work, 6 string Edd Presnell

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

George, that is a very nice find. If you can close the crack by squeezing the sides, a little CA glue in the crack and clamp across the body should do the trick.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Lucky find, needs some work, 6 string Edd Presnell

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, I lucked out and found a 1972 Edd Presnell. Overall decent hape, but on the back there is a crack, I was aware of it but had to have it anyway!

 I've done some minor Dulcimer repairs and restoration, no Luthier, but was a custom Goldsmith for many years so have lot's of very fine, detail tools.

 Looking for suggestions, method that is best to repair that, I am attaching pictures so you can see it,

 Thanks in advance, Was surprised by this find, have seen 3 and 4 string Presnells, own a 3 string, but have never seen a 6 string before..

 

updated by @george-desjardins: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks all. I did not realize sound and video clips were so easy to find. I had never even thought to look.

 

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I like Sutliff but this was Low Country...

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Are you smoking Sutliff Buttered Rum?

 

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I love coffee & drink my fair share but not 3 cups at night but hope you enjoy yourself, sounds like a grand evening.

(Today we are getting all the screens )

    How lovely, many enjoyable times to come.

I think we are in for maybe a lot of rain Saturday but I will step out on the patio no matter what for a few strums than continue back inside.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'll be spending the next three hours on my porch. 3 cups of coffee, one pipe of buttered rum tobacco, and a banjo... Robert.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lisa, congratulations on your porch. My favorite place to play, read, talk and nap. Your will love it.

Sitting on our porch, I love opening the glass windows, then it turns into a screen porch. Turn the fan on, grab a harmonica, and wait for the birds to arrive. Almost always.

Yep, I figure your and your flutes will do the same.

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Richard, David Bennett has posted videos of himself playing his walnut Thomas replica on his page here ("Down in the Valley", "Holy Manna", "Send the Light") , and Robin Clark posted a couple with his poplar Thomas replica on his page, including "Coleman's March".  Robin also did some soundtracks with it ("Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss", etc.)

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm glad to get the update on your porch, Lisa.  I was wondering about it.  I contacted a couple people about coming over to play but no one can make it.  So it will be only me.  But I told my dulcimer group today (50 miles away from here) about playing on the porch on Saturday, so I expect some of them will. 

During the eclipse I played You Are My Sunshine on the porch. Dulcinina  (thinking of changing my handle to Dulcinerd)

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Sandi, I just luuuuv that plan you made, especially the table and tea on the sidewalk to pull folks in.  

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lisa, you're going to have a great Saturday out there with your instrument(s)!  

I was hoping to get a line-up by time on my porch, but I haven't.  I'm just putting out a call to anyone who might come now.  We live in the city and plan to put a table out on the sidewalk with some sweet tea and cups, a homemade sign, and an extra chair or two.  Our porch is smallish, but we are excited for whatever happens!  ~even if it's just us~

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Congratulations Lisa! I know how you feel. I have a back porch attached to my kitchen, that for 30 years used to store stuff not worthy of being in the home, but too good to toss. Last year I remodeled my home, except the porch. Finally cleaned it out. Still need new screens but otherwise I made it very livable.
I absolutely love sitting out there... Robert.

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

You'll be all set for porch-playing, Strumelia!  

Are you playing on your porch today? -Aug 26, 2017

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Today we are getting all the screens and the two screen doors installed on our brand new wonderful back porch!

I've been waiting over 15 years for this back kitchen porch to become a reality instead of just a wishful daydream.  

       

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

There are several examples of both in the video and audio pages.

 

Dulcomore Dan or John Knopf sound clips

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Anyone have a sound clip playing a Dulcimore Dan or John Knopf traditional instrument?

Tell us about your VERY FIRST dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

gaelicgirl

Never too late, I hope you continue to enjoy strumming. Good luck with your new dulcimer, the  adventure begins

Cardboard Dulcimer

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

If it were me, I'd cut BIG holes in the sides that will be joined together, and then glue them up;  That way the sound can travel from end to end of the body very easily

Cardboard Dulcimer

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

If I glue several cigar boxes together, do I need to create an opening between them for the sound to move around or just put a hole in the top of them?

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The VSL on this is 28 1/2 inches, 2 inch wide fretboard, 3 inch deep body, 12 1/2 wide lower bout, 44 inches overall length.

 I have attached a couple pictures of it next to my Edd Presnell 3 string for perspective.

 One of my larger ones, but I have several Carl Gotzmer/June Apple dulcimers that are also bigger, The "Cellomer" being 46 inches overall, VSL of 29 inches. 

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

George, can you tell us the scale length of this dulcimer?

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, I like the "functional" art aspect too. I am now up to 32, all very playable, a lot with history behind them, all kept in tune, humidified, and played on a rotating basis.

 I like different, but need to be playable.

 Thanks!!

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, WOW! I think it sounds great, and I loved listening to you play! I especially liked the last part, but I enjoyed all of it--

 

I did not think he meant the Blevins. I have 3 (vintage) dulcimers where the fret board goes out past the end and two of them produce cringe-inducing sounds, so I concur with him! Both made by makers with the history of making many instruments, so a person would think they would know better. In all three cases the dulcimers had something else unusual that attracted me--a carved head stock, for instance. Hence I gave myself that mental note about not getting distracted in the future unless I strictly want wall art (which I don't!  I like functional art!)!

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I agree with Ken about Dulcimers where the fret board extends past the body, I have only one and pretty much never play it.

 I don't think he was referring to this Blevin as the Fret board does not extend past.

 I have posted a short sound clip so you can hear it, the play is sloppy but not meant to impress. Just wanted whom ever to be able to hear what it sounds like. I may make a more serious attempt later.

 By the way, I have it tuned right now to C-G-C

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 Now I just have to remember that and not get distracted by other pretty details!

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

FWIW, in 40 years of dulcimers I've seldom seen a good dulcimer where the fretboard extended beyond the body, regardless of how many instruments the builder has made

Milford Blevins Bass dulcimer. How do I tune this thing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you so much for your prompt reply, George! Just what I wanted to hear!  

And, Ken, I'm just twice shy now because I used that "Well, this is number 217, so the builder must have known by then what he was doing!" logic on a fairly recent purchase online, only to discover that the instrument was well put together but is completely unplayable. But as I write this I am realizing that the instrument I'm talking about does have a fret board that extends off the end, so perhaps warping has robbed it of any good intonation. . . .

 

Back to the Blevins --I could only find an obituary with a fleeting mention of being a dulcimer maker and one comment on Everything Dulcimer (aside from Dan's comment below). I'd love it if you could post a link if you've found more info. Thanks to you both!