Forum Activity for @hugssandi

Love, love, love....

Two instruments I built lately.  The one with no sound hole is a pentatonic Gusli, a kind of 14th-15th century Russian Winged Psaltery related to the Kantele, Kannel, Kokle etc.  The one with two strings is a 'proof of concept' built of a Spanish and Latin American Rabel, a 1-3 stringed folk fiddle played upright in the lap.  This one is in the 'wine bottle' style from the area around Toledo, Spain.

Both instruments have carved bodies - the back and sides are a single piece of 2x6 hollowed out, with the soundboard added on top. 

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A truly unique and beautiful story, it shows we all still have love and appreciation of beautiful things :)

DARLING DULCIMER BAG HANGING ON A LINE WITH WONDERFUL FOOD GROWING IN THE BACKGROUND.  woah.  and little pockets.  love it.  With as many kids as I had in Hawaii, I made most all their cloths and for 10 years on a treadle sewing machine.  soooooooo I make bags for the instruments that I make now.  when I went to Hawaii last month, I took my dulcimer with me as we were playing for our granddaughter's wedding.  (oh fun of course) but on crowded planes.....and I ask stewardess or steward, "do you have a closet for my dulcimer?" and then they want to see it and I pull it out and oohhhhh and ahhh and they take care of it right away with no problems.  Last flight at 10:00 p.m. on 8 August leaving Kona, Hawaii, loading up our 4 big bags .....we were last to board, and we were an hour early....WHAT???? I was worried about the dulcimer and did my deal, "oh do you have a little closet to put my dulcimer that I made"....I show it...no closet, but she MADE SURE it was in a safe upper compartment and I put my husbands autoharp in the same overhead bin and she slamed that compartment and said nothing else is going in there.  (happy face here) and it was a full to the max plane because of the DELTA deals going on all over the world.  When I'd take my harp back and forth to the mainland, I'm upfront about it all.....I'd not even cover it....they could see what it was, treated like little jewels.....so travel with home made bags, let 'em know what's inside, offer a tune....and all will be well.  

I have TRULY missed this happy site.  and this post cracks me up.  I've been in Hawaii with three grown daughters and family and lots of DRAMA for one month....and yet of course it's beautiful and had only my phone...sooooooo here it is........I'm home and this the first site i go to and LAUGHING AND LAUGHING. thanks so much. yep, I've got four.  I'm  half way through making a T.M.B.  with more decorations and all.  gonna be fun...but gotta replace my bowed psaltery as i sold that sweet baby #88.  aloha for now, irene

Feed the kids, or buy a new dulcimer...feed the kids, or buy a new dulcimer...hmmmm, that's a tough question!

Steven

That looks amazing, Ken!

Sandi, I don't know if you'd be interested but the songbook we use at church camp is this one: http://songsandcreations.com . It is certainly worth the price. I've used it for years.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Kum By Ya, of course.  Will the Circle be Unbroken, Amazing Grace, Simple Gifts, Farther Along, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, are all good "gathering" songs. 

So I have learned that one, Ken!  I'm also practicing up some hymns and folk songs.  :)

Ken, I always love your creations!  Vlillik, when you make it I wanna see it!  Jennifer, I LOVE IT~is it lined?

Mine is crocheted with yarn and fun fur in greens and blues.  I am still wondering what I will line it with~a t-shirt?  An woolly vest with a faux, suede-like outer?  Will definitely post a pic when it's done.  

I so love the fruit of people's hands!!!!!

Beautiful bag Jennifer, you are very creative.

Terry and Lisa, we are sitting on the edge waiting for you to  "Coordinate"  this new musical journey.   

I looked up you-tube videos and it is very interesting, have fun!

Like John, I build and sell dulcimers. My advice to you is ... Feed your habit... ... Robert.

I am here to report that today is a much better day.  Less stiffness, less pain.  

Strumelia, don't give up on me just yet.  "I'm still here baby!!!"   I can't wait to witness you post a video of you playing pipe and tabor.  That will be the highlight of my day when that day comes, and will probably open the door for others to take up this fantastic combo.

In my humble unlearned opinion, Strumelia, I believe you will be happier with a shorter pipe.  I now prefer wood over plastic.

I need to make one too...my MD came in a banjo case!

Here are pix of my poplar Possum Box case.  It's a tight fit inside, purposely, so I wouldn't have to add padding.  Made from 1/4" poplar with a 1/4" square rail that the lid rests on.  The handle strap is buckled on the underside. 

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I'm sad to hear that my pipe&tabor buddy Terry has been experiencing sever arthritis pain in his hands, and thus has to back off quite a bit.  Terry, you admit you were overdoing your practice sessions, so I hope things will improve if you cut back a great deal.  

I've had to skip my pipe/tabor practice on some days, depending on whether my schedule is real busy or not.  But I have to admit I really look forward to my more or less forty minute sessions now, because I'm slowly improving in playing the little simple folk tunes I've pulled together to practice on.  This weekend I dreaded picking it up because I had skipped 3 days in a row, but I was so delighted when I picked it up again to notice that I had slightly improved from my last time, rather than getting worse as I had feared.      Pretty soon I guess i'll make a little informal video demo with mistakes and all, and just post it here rather than publicly...no sense broadcasting my wrong notes to the whole world!  

I am thinking of getting a shorter/higher pipe soon, like Terry has.  My low G pipe is 17" long and thus the finger holes are pretty far apart and it's quite tricky to cover the holes cleanly while stretching my hand.

I'm really enjoying the learning process and struggle...the reward is great when hearing a passage come out prettily, and the drum is a perfect companion accompaniment when playing alone.  It's such a clever instrument pairing- the drum with the one-handed pipe!

I am currently working on crocheting a bag for my Feather Dulcimer....

Hey, I BUILD them, and I only have about 6!  Some of which can't easily be played, either...

To paraphrase the Mad Hatter, "I keep them to sell".

I've got a friend that seriously asked me, "why do you need more than one?". She's perfectly happy with the one she has, made by a local luthier.

She's a very good friend, so she keeps her eye rolls to herself when she hears that I've ordered another one.

My personal experience has been very good and have found some of my most collectible, favorite dulcimers on E Bay, Bill Davis, Bob Mize, John Stockard, Warren May, and most recently a Homer Ledford in fantastic condition.

 My biggest disappointments have been on the selling end, and with the USPS that completely destroyed 2 that I had sold and packed in my usual type A method.

 I am fortunate enough to have not been let down by any I have purchased sight unseen and sound unheard.

 My only surprises were my first accidental discovery of Just Intonation with an on line purchase, took me awhile to figure out that it wasn't a defect, it was built that way, and my first "floating bridge". I had always had fixed bridges, so when I went to restring it the bridge fell off and I was horrified thinking I had broken it.

As far as selling online, I have never had anyone ask to return one. Since I'm out here on the left coast most of my sales have been online. If someone did want to return one, I would share (or in some circumstances) pay the cost of the return shipping. 

Coober Pedy?  I know names can change as they jump continents so is this any kin to Don Pedi?  Sometimes he looks as if he crawled out of a hole!  ROFL

I hear ya, Helen. If not for Ron Gibson's layaway plan my stock of dulcimers would be a bit lower. It makes it so easy to say "well... just one more".

Helen -- you could always go to Coober Pedy and live in a hole in the ground!  Climate controlled!  Solar powered!  Hack an occasional opal out of the wall to cover expenses!!  Start the Coober Pedy Dulcimer Collective (you could probably get a SA government Art & Culture grant), and you'll be no more eccentric than the rest of the residents!

Wow, no self control in this bunch!  

I still just have and play the two mountain dulcimers I bought like 19 and 17 years ago or so. 

I do have 9 banjos though.  Six of those are fretless. I occasionally buy or sell a banjo, but I've almost always floated somewhere in the 6-10 banjo range.  I do play them all and they serve a wide variety of different musical applications.

Oh Terry!! 

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I am going to the doc at the end of the month. I hope it's not arthritis!!

I'm glad that you are able to still play for the old folks and I'm glad that your new "treatment" is helping. I am severely allergic to fish so I can NEVER take fish oil!! 

Take care and keep on keeping on!!!

Maria

Decided to attach the photos of all the "kids" hanging on the walls, hate to admit, but I'm already looking at possibly number 22! 

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I just bumped up to 21 after finding a sweet Homer Ledford to add to the mix, I was thinking 31 should be the target, That way I can play a different one each day of the month!! I think that counts as DAD.

 Have posted a couple of photos of all the kids hanging on 2 different walls on my profile page.

I, too, suffer from Dulcimer Acquisition Syndrome and ALSO received a brand spankin' new Ron Gibson teardrop this week! LOVE IT!!

One day after I received a used Blue Lion.      Love it too!

My corner is full with the Gibson, McSpadden, the Blue Lion, the Gallier and the FolkRoots. 

What to do, what TO DO. 

A dear gal friend came to visit and she loves playing with the dulcimers, so I gifted her with the Folkroots. She is thrilled and now there is one more member in the dulcimer family! 

And an empty space in the corner!

Three of the four dulcimers currently in my possession were bought sight unseen, sound unheard. One was used, a Music Traditions from 1980 which arrived in advertised condition, one a custom teardrop from Kevin Merchant, a beautiful semi-traditional, semi-modern instrument, one a Feather Wren, a lovely, quiet thing, perfect for weekend trips. The only one I have that I played before I bought is a Warren May, purchased in his shop in Berea April 1st of this year. It is a beautiful thing and getting better-sounding every day. All three of these makers are active, are fair in their prices, and make wonderful instruments.

I presently have five, though one is unplayable.  I have one more on layaway.  I have decided that DAD is ok as long as I thin down the herd once in a while, by selling the lesser loved ones at dulcimer festivals.  5-7 is probably my limit as I don't have room in my house for any more than that!  I'm lucky to be too musically illiterate to pick up a bass or baritone (don't know how to adapt those to DAD songs).

Of course, I should really hold off on getting any more until I can save enough for one of the several that I dearly want that are just out of my price range.

  About 6 months ago I began my journey with the NAF.  I loved it, and I still do.  For several years now I have suffered from arthritis in both hands, especially in the finger area.  Some days good, some days worse.  It wasn't so bad that it stopped me from learning dulcimer and ukulele.  

However, a couple of months after taking up NAF, I noticed a pronounced change in the pain and stiffness of my hands and fingers.  It just got worse and worse.  Recently, I took up pipe (3 hole flute) and tabor (small drum).  Regrettably, I found that holding a flute with one hand and covering the holes with 3 fingers, only escalated the problem.  This is a huge disappointment, as I found pipe and tabor to be hugely fun, I mean really fun.  

So this is a word of caution.  If you suffer from arthritis in your hands, just know that if you take up NAF, you too may suffer more pain, as I have.  My advice would be to take it real easy.  Don't start playing 2 or 3 hours a day, as I did.  When I attempt to learn a new instrument, I'm all in, I go hog wild.  Just limit your playing time to perhaps 30 min. a day, and notice carefully of any increased discomfort.  

I still have my harmonicas, which is painless, so I have stepped up my playing time.  I still manage to play dulcimer and ukulele at two assisted living homes each week for an hour.  Dropping a pic was a problem this week, but Strumelia gave me a great tip, "use a larger pic".  I think it will work.  Yes, it's painful, but I love these folks too much to give it up.  

The good news is I may have discovered some help.  While my doctor has prescribed me some stronger meds, I believe 4000 mg of fish oil, no tomatoes, very little potatoes, and no white bread will help the most.  I've been taking the fish oil for 4 days now, and I can already feel some relief.  Less stiffness when I woke up this morning.  The fact that I am typing up this absolutely way too long post, is evidence that my fingers feel better.  Victory is near.  

Strumelia, I just wanted to thank you publicly for helping me get through this, with your advice and genuine concern.  You are a winner for sure.  "I will not be giving up on pipe and tabor."  

Best Regards,

Terry

Got my first in 2003 and have my order in for the second right now.  ~No money at the end of yer month is a blessing in conquering DAd!  :P ~

When you get up to 20, call me and we'll talk.  I think I'm up to between 25 & 30 now.

Charles, a few people I know own twice as many. I think you should step it up. 

Nowadays they are mostly in pentatonic minor.  The b minor is particularly nice when playing with dulcimers playing in D major (b is the relative minor of D).

Original NAF weren't tuned to any key. They were made according to a person's size of arm and hand. It was called grandfather tuning. Each flute was tuned to itself.

Only thing I can tell you is you're just getting started. lol I had to start making them since I can't afford to buy them. lol I think I got somewhere around 15 or so now. Good luck!