Hi Dana ! I was thinking exactly that, but my inherent sense of 'English' decorum stopped me asking what might well be an indelicate question ! I suspect that the camera settings had a lot to do with things, (or 
, how to extract ones self from a potential minefield
)
John
What beautiful clear water. Now how the heck did you take that picture. LOL
Been a weird year here John. We had 70's and 80's in Feb and March, then it turned cold, wet and nasty for about 4 years then mid June it started heating up again. Water levels haven't fallen to where it usually is in the river yet this year so the water is still moving pretty good and still appears clear and fresh. It's been a great way to cool off and flush some of the sweat and grime off while working.
Hope your breakfast was just the start of a very good day.
Well, I did offer to come and help you Sam , lol, that water sure looks clear!
I am sure that this comment should be somewhere else, but it is more or less connected ! For the first time this year I have just eaten my breakfast outside, no rain, perfect summers morning, not a cloud to be seen, temp. already in the high 70's, and I am wearing shorts, also a first this year !!! Question is, am I awake, or is this a dream ?
JohnH
... yep, I am!
It's been hot here. I've been working on cleaning up the storm damage to lots of my trees. Running a chain saw, piling and burning brush in 100 degree plus temps is hot dirty work. The old place is near the river and it's only a short walk to the 'ol' swimmin' hole' I swam in as a kid. It's a great way to cool off and get a little of the sawdust out of my ears.
If I ever get in that neck of the woods, I'd like to stop-in there, too, Phil. Whichever one of us gets there first can send word back to the other.
Would love to see them and the one your working on. Glade to have been of some help.
Thankyou for posting this wwebsite, as I was going through the pictures of the dulcimers I came to a picture of a raised fretboard box like I am making (three pictures on the photo section). I wasn't sure how the raised fretboard was going to work and in the process of changing it. I will post the pictures I saw on the website.
Was suffering around the internet, looking for some information on Mountain Banjos and Dulcimers. when I came across The Museum of Appalachia, then this link of theirs of a lot of old Instruments they have in there collection. it really worth taking the tme to look at. as for me if I can ever get close to Clinton, TN I am stopping in.
http://museumofappalachia.com/index.html
http://museumofappalachia.com/veWebsite/exhibit1/vexid1.htm
Never, but I did go to Guitar week several years ago. It's the best set up I have seen at any camp or workshop. You have a morning lesson each day with your chosen teacher. Each morning, they build on what went before, correcting mistakes as you go. They have a week to really impart some knowledge. PM classes you can choose a different teacher each day, or go practice the mornings lesson, sleep so you can stay up late jamming, etc. The teacher and classmates get very familiar by weeks end. I still correspond with my guitar teacher from 6 or 7 years ago, and am hoping to set up a lesson next month, when our passes will cross for a few days. It spoiled me for the 1 hour classes at festivals & such. Now I take very few of them, and just find someone to jam with instead.
Paul
Thanks, Cheryl. My folks are falling apart just ahead of me. LOL
Yes, a week is a lot, especially if one has any physical problems that are effected by playing an instrument.
Cheryl Johnson said:
Robin,
Hopefully I'll be fully recovered from Dulcimer U by then! :) :) A week is a lot! I have that week off from work and its either Old Time Week or up to John Campbell for some bluegrass guitar picking. Hmmmmmm.
Hope your folks are okay.
Cheryl
Robin,
Hopefully I'll be fully recovered from Dulcimer U by then! :) :) A week is a lot! I have that week off from work and its either Old Time Week or up to John Campbell for some bluegrass guitar picking. Hmmmmmm.
Hope your folks are okay.
Cheryl
Phyllis Gaskins is teaching at Old-Time Week? Wow! I didn't know that!
I've been to Augusta twice during Old-Time Week/Vocal Week/Dance Week. In '04, I took autoharp at OT Week and last year I took different classes from the Vocal Week offerings. Augusta's pretty durn cool. If my folks' health were better, I might consider going this year.
***I just saw that it's the Old-Time Week in October (and not the one in August). Got me thinking now. . . And wondering how I'd do toward the end of a week's worth of strumming. I'm going to keep this in mind and will have to see how mom & dad are doing come early autumn.
That sounds great!! Maybe you should come again this year!!
I've been, about 12 yrs ago. I love Augusta, and old-time week is particularly nice. No lack of fascinating classes to take, and lots of mixed jamming everywhere. Lots of variety and something for everyone.
Wondering about any experience with this event. Phyllis Gaskins is teaching and I think it looks like a great week of mixed instruments!
Helen, Rob Gibson was one of the people I first considered when I was buying my first dulcimer. In the end I went with someone more local because the idea of buying an instrument over the phone made me nervous. But since then I've heard a lot of great things about his dulcimers, and just a few weeks ago I found a used one at a local music store. I tuned it up and played it for a while. The sound box is a little bigger than most dulcimers, and that gave it a bit of extra volume. My guess is that it was the Jenny Lind model. The action was really nice and intonation exellent. As you say, it also looks really pretty. I was awfully tempted to buy it, but I just depleted my discretionary fund on a baritone dulcimer, so I had to leave this beauty behind.
His prices are reasonable and his instruments are of high quality. He also posts audio files of each dulcimer he makes, so you can tell what they sound like. I don't think you can go wrong with Ron Gibson.
OH NO It's already started.LOL That's the thing about dulcimers, once you got one, you start lookiing for another, and another and another and another.......A friend of mine has a Ron Gibson and loves it. I've never played one so I don't know about the action but his sound good. Warren May make a pretty and a great sounding dulcimer, Modern mountain there are a lot out there. Well a few less since I started collecting.
I must confess to being equally guilty, here is my latest (awaiting deliveryfrom Ron)
http://gibsondulcimers.com/In%20Stock/JL%2054112%20JL/54112%20Front.jpg
With tongue only slightly in cheek. If, like me, you moved here from mandolin/bouzouki world, you already know about twin courses of strings, (tuning a mandolin can be the most soul destroying experience), but hey if you really really want one and are suffering from Dulcimer Deficiency Syndrome, then get out and start looking at six strings. Then you will know what to look for when you are ready to go for that next dulcimer.
The real issue is DAS! You have all the symptoms of it. If you aren't taking food out of your children's mouths, or leaving the electric bill unpaid to finance a second dulcimer, it isn't a real problem. But I suggest waiting to buy until you can play some songs well enough to really try out prospective 6 strings and find the one that really sounds like you want it to sound. Shop from a position where you can play enough songs, hopefully in a few different playing styles, and decide which is the right one.
Paul
No you're not silly. My first dulcimer was a 4 string, my next a six. If you're playing Chord-Melody style there will be a bit more learning curve as you get used to fingering doubled courses all across the board. If you're playing Noter & Drone or Melody Drone style there's minimal adaptation to make.
Well, I see it like this (and 4 other people may give you 6 more opinions,) most of us guitarists did not start on a 12 string guitar. Instead we learned on a 6 string and once we got some proficiency we progressed to a 12 string. Holding down the doubled strings is a bit harder on the fingers and (again IMO) you should develop some strength before you go there, otherwise you could (repeat could) get frustrated. Practicing when you are frustrated is not fun. So... continue practicing and when you get a little experience under your belt.... GET ONE!
Rob
You will eventually see the term "Dulcimer-Shaped Object" on posts here. I think Websters Dictionary defines that as "Junk, made in uncertain locations by untrained workers, and sold by the unscrupulous to the unsuspecting, over the internet." I suspect you may have found exactly that. It's good you had the notion to ask your friendly, neighborhood FOTMD forumites for advice. Always glad to steer you away from the unscrupulous.
Paul
How long is the scale length on the one you have? If it's too long, but is only slightly longer than 26", a 26" may not be enough change to really help you. Half an inch may not make much difference at all, but an inch might.
I have heard a number of stories about Apple Creek, mostly dealing with inconsistent quality, out of tune frets, etc. A good Apple Creek sometimes gets a decent review, but most seem to get bad reviews. I would stick with the makers recommended above.These are people who have shown to have high standards.
Paul
Hi Cathy,
You may already have found that you are getting more information than you expected. Embrace that fact and learn as much as you can.
To your specific questions, I have personally never heard anything bad about the Black Mountain dulcimers, but I have often heard people sing the praises of TK O'Brien and McSpadden as well as other builders.
As you probably know, astandard dulcimer usually has avibrating string length (VSL)of 25-29 inches. Dulcimers that are shorter than that are usually tuned higher, either to a fourth or fifth above in the keys of G or A or a full octave above to a high D. Dulcimers such as the McSpadden Ginger or Ron Ewing's baritone dulcimette, for example, are usually tuned to G or A. If you want to play with your husband or other at a dulcimer jam or workshop, you won't really be able to do so. You may want to visit the group here I started a while back called Little Dulcimers, and in particular right now you may want to look at the list of little dulcimer makers that I am compiling there. That list indicates the VSL and the intended key of the dulcimers. You will notice that only two makers (Mike Clemmer and Folkroots) listed thereregularly makedulcimers with VSLs less than 25" that are intended to be played in the same key as standard dulcimers.
I point this out because a couple of other people have recommended little dulcimers to you and you should be aware that most of them are intended to be played in a different key or a different octave than a standard dulcimer. However, your initial question is about standard dulcimers with a 26" VSL and you seem to be wondering whether your less-than-professional playing deserves a dulcimer nicer than the cheaper ones out there.
To that question I say yes. You do not need to spend a thousand dollars, but if you can afford $300 or a bit more you can get a really nice dulcimer. And some makers such as David "Harpmaker" Lynch (also a member here) offer really nice student models even less expensive than that. LIke all good luthiers, David will work with you and make sure you get a dulcimer sized and priced just for you. Get a dulcimer that encourages you to play and facilitates your improvement. If you get a dulcimer with inaccurate intonation or buzzing strings or whatever, you will not want to play it and will either give up or have to buy another dulcimer soon. Get a dulcimer worthy of the player you hope to become rather than the one who is just beginning now.
