Forum Activity for @jimmy-lamar

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I might try copy and paste with my phone, because 90% of the time I use my phone for the internet.

Thanks Ken!

Thanks Strummy!

Thanks. Got it. It wasn't working because I was using my phone, and I guess phones don't have that ability. 

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Like Dusty said!   :)

Here's a picture in case you need more detail:

updated by @strumelia: 12/07/18 01:28:35PM

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

You use the speech bubble icon that appears in the upper right-hand corner of message you want to copy when you move your cursor over it.  

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I just use Copy and Paste.

How Do I Quote Someone?

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I quoted someone a couple weeks ago, but now I forget how I did it.

In other words, how do I copy someone’s post, so that I can comment about it?

updated by @jimmy-lamar: 11/08/22 12:53:29PM

Many dulcimers are made with hardwoods rather than the softwood soundboard in guitars.  Hardwoods tend to shrink and expand less with changes in humidity.  That is why many people get away with not humidifying their dulcimers.

With a spruce top, well, consider whether how much the air dries in winter.  People who live further north here in Michigan get more dry winters and may need humidifiers.  Not so much here in Detroit.

I believe Foldcraft used to sell dulcimer humidifiers.  Haven't looked for a while.

I have nothing to add that Ken and Ken have not already stated, except to point you to our group here on Dulcimer Care and Maintenance .

A basic rule of thumb is "if you are comfortable, your instrument will be comfortable." I find that my mountain dulcimers are not as sensitive to humidity as my guitars and banjos. I keep the latter in their cases to help maintain humidity. I also use humidifiers in the cases. Only once have I found the need to humidify my mountain dulcimers which was during a particularly cold winter here in Pennsylvania. I notices the fret ends stick out from the fret board. I stuck a wet sponge in soap dish in which I drilled a few holes in dulcimer's case. That solved the problem. What Ken said about the strings.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It does not matter whether your instruments are solid wood, or cheap doorskin plywood...  IF it gets dry enough wherever it is that you live, such that you get static shocks when you walk across a carpet sock-footed;  then YES you need the house/room humidified.  Not just for the instrument but for you!  Bowls of water set out with a sponge in them will help -- as long as they are kept replenished.  Damp towel(s) over heater vents will help too.   

Where I live in South Florida, however,  that is never an issue.

Those miniscule (and I do mean miniscule) increases in string diameter will NEVER harm your instrument!  You can re-string it as a baritone using much heavier strings and it won't hurt anything.  

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship!

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

Thanks for the responses!  In answer to your question, Ken, it's number 1296.  There's no description in the Master List, just the name of the first owner.  I got it recently from the third owner.  The label just has "1296" and "SPECIAL" written by hand, and the writing is quite faded.  I think the scroll is walnut, not cherry.  It's definitely fretted for just intonation.  I play both DAD and DAA, but my screen name is a rather poor attempt at a pun, as I am the father of a wonderful 16 year old young lady of whom I'm very proud!  Anyway, I've attached some pictures of #1296, including a picture of the fuzzy area on the back.  To be honest, it looks much worse in the picture than it really is.  It definitely is an issue with the finish and does not go down to the wood.  I would love to do something about it if it can be done correctly.  If not, I could live with it.  

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

Homer used Sherwin-Williams Sherwood Dull Lacquer.

DAN

www.dulcimore.com

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

Send a PM to John Knopf.  He's our Homer replicator.  He should know what finish was used.

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

If there was a photo to see the spots you are concerned about it may be easier to give a suggestion.

That being said, however, if it's just a cosmetic rather than a functioning issue, I would lean towards letting it be and keeping  it in its current condition.

If you have ever watched "the Antiques Roadshow" you can see what appraisers think of 'cosmetic restoration' done on historic pieces, which is what I think you have.

Steel strings are the norm for mountain dulcimer.  Never, ever trim the first set of strings on an instrument until they've been played in for a few days.  If adjusting the nut/bridge you don't take the string off, just slack them enough to move the strings off to the side.

Personally, I would tune DAA.  That way your scale starts at the 3rd fret and you have a few notes below that "low do".  

 

There seems to be something amiss with the graphics.  Every time I try to download them the period before jpg is ignored and it tries to open them as a text file. Just give the files common names, you don't need .jpg or .jpeg....

updated by @ken-hulme: 12/03/18 04:03:58PM

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

What number is your Ledford?  Look inside.  There is a Master List of the known Ledford builds, which contains a variety of information.

I have to say, if you really are "dedicated (to) DAd", you may not be happy with that classic instrument.  Homer didn't build them with DAd or other Mixolydian tunings in mind, and didn't always use a Mean Tone intonation so his dulcimers would "played well with others"...

Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish

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

I'm fairly new to FOTMD and this is my first discussion post.  I recently acquired an older Homer Ledford 3-string dulcimer with staple frets (for all you "Homer heads" out there - 1967, birdseye maple back, butternut top, quilted mahogany sides, cherry scroll, pegs, and tail block).  It's in excellent condition and sounds great.  My question is about the finish on the birdseye maple back.  There are two 2" spots where the finish is a little dull and cloudy looking.  It's very minor, but it's the the only real flaw and I wanted to know if there is a way to even out the finish on the back so those two dull spots disappear.  I've used lemon oil on furniture with good results, but I'm hesitant to use it on my dulcimer.  Any suggestions?  Or is it better to leave it as is, to keep it "all original" even with small flaws?  Thanks in advance for your input.  

Dulcimer Players News 1975-2012 Searchable On-line Archive

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

John Dunn -- here you go:  

Dulcimer Players News 1975-2012 Searchable On-line Archive

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@John-Dunn, have you tried asking @Ken-Hulme for a copy?  It used to be publicly accessible at Everything Dulcimer, but I'm sure Ken can post a copy.

updated by @dusty: 12/02/18 06:10:05PM

Dulcimer Players News 1975-2012 Searchable On-line Archive

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Trying to locate Ken Hulmes article "I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What?" 

Would greatly appreciate help locating it.  Many thanks and Best wishes from Oz.  John

PHOTOS!! Without pictures, it never happened!

How did you decide to anchor the ball-end guitar strings?  With pins?  With small nails with the heads snipped off? By creating loops from the ball-end strings?  By drilling holes through the fretboard (like a guitar bridge) and anchoring with guitar bridge pins?  Some other method?  Inquiring minds want to know?

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I've made 106 bowed psalteries.   I do put fancy letters on the right hand side....I iron these on before I put the finish on.  I have a decoration that I add as well, making the bowed psaltery more mellow.  All of my psalteries are altos.  It's too late at night to see if I can post photos....and yes, I'd love to make some little bowed psalteries to go with Dulcimers...that would be fun.  That's a great suggestion.  aloha, irene

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Colored string for the c and fs

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Use painters tape ..little bits andvwrite the notes..after you realize it is cdefgabc  over and over and then a strong colired diff for the g and c will give u the geography of the psaltery...also mark the c and f sharps and the b flats as those are the most used

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

black-dog-bess, making my own note guides like the Unicorn Strings note guides is something I've considered. I will probably do that, making the letters with my P-touch label maker. I also thought of using a plastic sheet (clear report cover) as the base for the note letters. I have learned/played so many instruments in my 45 years of playing music. So learning the note placement on a Psaltery is definitely doable. However, at this point in my life, I see the note guides as a quick way to play songs and enjoy the instrument (which is what I was doing, until I sold it). By playing, the learning will happen. Thanks for your post, it is consistent with my thinking. Then, the suggestions of the others posters here can also be done.

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I have 3 bowed psalteries. The first is a used Unicorn Strings chromatic. I liked the idea of the plastic guide they use. It is just a piece of plastic with areas cut out at the top and bottom so the guide hooks around the top and bottom zither pin. Since I am dyslexic, I need all the help I can get to know where the notes are! For me color coding is just one more translation my brain has to make so give me the note names!

I also got 2 Rich Long diatonic in the key of D psalteries. He said that he had a friend who jammed with dulcimers and asked him to design a psaltery limited to the key of D that would be quicker to use with dulcimer jams. I also jam with dulcimers so not having to saw back and forth for the C# and F# really helps me. I made my own guide for the notes. I just found a report cover in the office supply section at Walmart (nothing but the best for my musical friends!) and cut it to shape. Probably sharpies would have worked to write the notes on the strip but I was wanted something looking more uniform. At Guitar Center they have strips called Guitar Buddies or something like that that have the names of the notes to help people learn the fretboard. Unfortunately, they are on a strip so you have to cut out the individual notes and stick them on the guide--I'm willing to do this for a more finished look. I sometimes use a small piece of gaffer's tape (supposed to be a tape with very little residue that is used to set up stuff for exhibitions) to stabilize my strip if it wants to wander around. I cannot say it will not mark your instrument. I only use them temporarily and have never had a problem. I store little strips of the tape on the handle of my tuning wrench.

Hope this helps, I think many more psalteries would be out of their cases making music if the notes were marked.

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Mine does, too, it's just in and out in temperature changes and my own ear tends to be more "forgiving" ( a.k.a. lazy) than some with perfect pitch.

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Lois..it is worth tuning the strings..the sound is amazing and has a different ambiance ..mine stays in tune pretty well..

Bowed Psalteries

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Years ago I bought a very nice 2 octave +1 psaltery made by Harbor Town Dulcimer Shoppe.  The tag says P.O. Box 48, Rockaway Beach, MO 65740 with a phone number of 417-561-2728.  It has the notes on one side with the  accidentals on the opposite side unnamed.

Without the notation I would never have tried it.  I have used it in my programs, but tuning 28 notes can be a pain.  It was before I fell in love with the dulcimer.  My husband tries to get me to return to it, but it's very low on my priorities.  Haven't tried to sell it, but admit it's possible.

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well now....this was interesting in that I wanted to know how his voice sounded after the comments here.   I went to youtube and hear, I WONDER AS I WANDER....very interesting voice and it could be an aquired taste.   When singing the "R"....it can stand out too much.   Then I didn't know that he wrote this song.  I've loved and performed this song often on the harp and will do so this year too.  I listened to Joan Baez and another one sing it.  Such a beautiful song with a message of great worth.  aloha, irene

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Several people asked to see the article, so here it is.

Niles was a colorful character and arguably an important American artist. It is interesting he remains controversial a half century after his death.

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Some were pretty strange looking.  He seemed to enjoy monkeying with fretting patterns on dulcimers.  I had to ignore the fretting pattern on a Nathan Hicks dulcimer he glommed onto in order to reproduce a Hicks dulcimer for our "Banjimer".  I'm not sure what the original Hicks pegs looked like either, since J.J.Niles threw some violin-family pegs in the mix.

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've seen photos of some of Niles's creations so get what you're saying, Strumelia.  

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

A lot of the instruments he made over his lifetime were inventive hybrids of various instruments or instrument parts (like in one case using a cello body) in varying combinations. He was a big experimenter in design.

Many also had very creative fret pattern arrangements.  I think if an instrument has a diatonic (or partially diatonic) fret pattern, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a 'dulcimer'.  

Many of his hybrid instruments were quite showy, clearly intended to impress. Certainly JJNiles was well known for making 'grand flourishes'-  in his concert music performances, in his writings, his luthier output, even in the multitude of composed (and posed) photos taken of him. He was a unique person.

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@Banjimer Greg, I think I can only take JJNiles's singing in homeopathic doses.  :) Yet would like to hear, on a good recording, how he used plucked zithers. 

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Try Googling "John Jacob Niles You-Tube".  There are a few selections from his recordings available there.  Be forewarned.  His singing will need to be listened to in small doses.  It's not for everybody.  

I sampled three or four of his songs and didn't hear much dulcimer playing.  Although the dulcimer may have not recorded well considering the emphasis was on his voice.

Personally, I couldn't take his singing, so there may be some dulcimer playing buried in the available recordings.  Good luck if you intend to listen to the recordings all the way through.  

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm interested in hearing plucked dulcimers used in various contexts.  And know Niles made some wild instruments. . . I'm up for hearing some wild.  :)

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The Grumpy Old Men got a private showing of Niles' instruments last spring during our Gathering in Berea, when we took a road-trip to Lexington.  Dr. Revell Carr, director of the John Jacob Niles Galley and the Center for American Music, and his staff, graciously removed all those instruments and more from their display cases so that we had a room full of dulcimers to fondle and measure.  Yes Niles played the "dulcimer" but many of his instruments were larger than a dreadnaught guitar body and carried as many as 10 or 12 strings!!

Folks who attend the second First Annual Berea Traditional Dulcimer Gathering, May 16-19, 2019, may also have an opportunity to visit the Gallery and Center and see those instruments.

John Jacob Niles's dulcimers and playing

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Robin, virtually all John Jacob Niles's recordings have his dulcimer-playing on them. He used his dulcimers strictly for song accompaniment. They were huge, low-tuned instruments and he played rhythmically free arpeggios, strumming across the strings with either his thumb or fingers.

After starting this discussion, I followed up on the suggestions, writing Ron Pen, visiting him and Niles's instruments at the University of Kentucky, meeting and spending a day with Jan Potts touring the area, and writing a piece about Niles and his dulcimers for The Dulcimer Players News. It was published a couple of summers ago. Unfortunately the version which made it to print had some errors. If anyone would like to see the corrected version, drop me a line.

updated by @john-gribble: 11/29/18 06:39:07AM