Forum Activity for @jim-fawcett
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Melissa, there are a few very good articles and guides on the web about how to choose the right dulcimer for you. I've written on on my website, Dulcimer Buyer's Guide . There is another (which I also wrote, though long ago) on the Sweet Music index, hosted by bearmeadow.com. You'll find that at Buying a Mountain Dulcimer . Jerry Rockwell also has good things to say in an article on choosing the right dulcimer on his website at Buying Guide .
Read all these carefully and you'll get a lot of insight into how to choose best. Hope that helps.
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Don't be afraid to be frank with him though- banjo players are used to being told to 'stuff a sock in it'.
LOL!
How can you tell if the stage is level at a bluegrass concert?
....the banjo player is drooling out of both sides of his mouth. 
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks! It's actually a new banjo to him--he'd been concentrating on other instruments for a long time, so he's still adjusting to playing the banjo again, plus the power of his new instrument! It is such a neat sound; I'm just not used to it. I hadn't played with a banjo player before. I don't get out much. ;)
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
You know, any banjo player worth their salt 'is' able to tone their volume down. just something you should know when 'negotiating' with them.
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thank you for your replies! It looks like I have some good options to consider. I think I will do some more reading and listening regarding Galax dulcimers. In addition to the dulcimer I will be buying for myself, I will be looking for a bomb-proof inexpensive beginner dulcimer for my son. I have visions of the dulcimer flying off his lap and onto the floor, and I hate to think of that happening to a more delicate instrument! If I want to fiddle around with chords, I could use his dulcimer. I don't know why I didn't think of that before.I hadn't thought of using a possum board. I wonder if a regular teardrop dulcimer tuned dddd, played on a possum board would be loud enough to hold its own against a banjo? Every time we play together, I am surprised for the first moment by how loud the banjo is!
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Speaking from my own personal experience... I honestly do not find my Galax dulcimer to be particularly louder than the non-Galax dulcimers I have played. It has a deep large box which makes it sound a bit deeper, so the tone is not 'brighter' either, which Melissa says she wants.
Melissa has no dulcimers right now, and she's looking for ONE that will do it all. Since she says she wants to do some chording as well, I'd recommend against a Galax dulcimer, unless she is going to string it in standard form with a heavy bass string....but why choose a Galax anyway if not stringing it in high octave?
Modern Mountain Dulcimers have the volume and the double back, and probably the brightness if you ask for it...but I doubt they'd fall under the $400 range.
McSpaddens would fit the bill- but Melissa didn't like the looks of the one she had.
Lots of things to consider!
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I would not worry about a built-indouble back to give more sound. For under $10 you can make a simple and effective possum board to accomplish the same thing.
Read some of Robin Clark's commentaries here about how useful and versatile he finds a Galax strung dulcimer to be when playing in sessions with fiddles and other instruments. He may make a convert out of you. If I had access to the kind of playing groups he does, that's what I'd choose.
Wood type is actually pretty far down the list of things that affect the sound quality. If you want a brighter sound you want a shallower and narrower dulcimer than you've had before. Relatively less volume of the sound body gives a brighter tone. Another good trick is to take off the wound 20 to 24 ga bass string and use say an 18 ga, plain steel string, to also enhance brightness.
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hi Melissa,
Though there are some good quality dulcimers made for $400 or less, that price will be a somewhat limiting factor, in terms of false-backs, custom wood choices, etc. Some McSpaddens will fall within that price range, but may go over w/case, shipping, etc. You might want to look in the beginner GROUP here at the several threads about choosing your first dulcimer- since you have a lot in common with them in terms of buying only one instrument to 'do it all' plus the modest price range. There is a long and excellent thread there discussing the good luthiers who produce modestly priced new dulcimers.
One more point- chording does not require a 26-27" VSL. Any VSL/scale from 26"-28" will be just great for doing anything. 
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hi, Melissa! Since what one wants in sound is so subjective, I'll pass on offering a specific luthier. (I have instruments built by Gary Sager, Keith Young, Jerry Rockwell, the Bakers (of Blue Lion), Rod Hensley, and Paul Conrad.) That said, I'm so happy I had a false back put on my Timbre Hill (Paul Conrad) dulcimer!
Need Advice--Buying a New Dulcimer
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hello all! I haven't been around this board for a while because I've been concentrating on my hammered dulcimer. (No tomatoes, please!) In fact, my MD was sold to finance said HD, but I'm discovering that I miss it too much to continue to be MD-less.
So, I've received my tax return andI am looking for a new MD. I play regularly with a fiddler and a banjo player, so I need it to be fairly loud to avoid being drowned out. I know that I should play several dulcimers, but I live in an area where MD's are uncommon. In the past I had a Black Mountain dulcimer, which I did not like because the frets were oddly placed, and an older McSpadden, which sounded nice very nice, but the VSL was too long to make chording comfortable, and I didn't find it visually appealing. Yes, I am shallow. I'm not fond of walnut.
I considered a Galax dulcimer, but I think that since I will have one dulcimer, I want it to be more versatile than a Galax would be. I suppose that my most important "wants" arecorrect fret placement, (which shouldn't be a problem on any of the well-known dulcimers, I would think) fairly loud, and not a walnut soundboard. I would like to spend at most $400 for dulcimer and accessories (case, capo, etc.). What should I look for? Would a false back be something to consider? I've read descriptions of which soundboard woods impart varioussound qualities, but the descriptions don't seem to be especially consistent. I am looking for a bright sound. I will be playing old-time music, mostly noter and drone style, but I would like the VSL to be not more than 26-27 in case I want to do a bit of chording.
I wish there were an application that would let me input my desired qualities, then spit outyou need a: McSpadden! or Gibson! orHensley! or whichever dulcimer would suit my needs. Since that doesn't exist, I figured this message board wouldbe the next best thing. 
Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!
updated by @melissa-pnw: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Don't be too jealous. As it has a very high music box sound, it isn't a good all around instrument. High bouncy sounding songs like "Old Joe Clark" are good on it, but the eery murder ballads and slow soft songs just don't come out quite right. (IMO)
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I'm too jealous to offer any congratulations.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
No , mine has no feet. And my action at the nut is only 1 dime high. I hope you can remove the feet without any damage to the back of your dulcimer. Have you tried to contact Keith to see if he made it or is it someone else's knock off of one of his "Youngsters?" I've never heard of feet on a dulcimer. Mine just sits on my lap, behaving nicely even with vigorous strumming.
folkfan said:
Daniel, Does your Keith Young "Youngster" have round button feet on the bottom? My instrument does, and I'm finding them difficult to work with. When I tune, the instrument wobbles. I was wondering if the Keith Young instrument has the same feet since my instrument doesn't have a label inside.
And are the bridge and nut glued in their slots. Mine are and I'll have to have my brother lower the action for me the next time I see him as it's just too high for my comfort. It's two dimes high at the nut. I'm still wondering if mine is a true Keith Young or a copy.
Thanks, FF
Daniel Lewis Goad said:
Hummmm, left front paw for strumming and right rear paw for fretting. Interesting technique, Tigger.
ns that is a Keith Young "Youngster." The only difference between yours and mine is that mine has walnut back and sides.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Daniel, Does your Keith Young "Youngster" have round button feet on the bottom? My instrument does, and I'm finding them difficult to work with. When I tune, the instrument wobbles. I was wondering if the Keith Young instrument has the same feet since my instrument doesn't have a label inside.
And are the bridge and nut glued in their slots. Mine are and I'll have to have my brother lower the action for me the next time I see him as it's just too high for my comfort. It's two dimes high at the nut. I'm still wondering if mine is a true Keith Young or a copy.
Thanks, FF
Daniel Lewis Goad said:
Hummmm, left front paw for strumming and right rear paw for fretting. Interesting technique, Tigger.
ns that is a Keith Young "Youngster." The only difference between yours and mine is that mine has walnut back and sides.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I should have gotten him to pose this way with the dulcimer
Daniel Lewis Goad said:
Hummmm, left front paw for strumming and right rear paw for fretting. Interesting technique, Tigger.
ns that is a Keith Young "Youngster." The only difference between yours and mine is that mine has walnut back and sides.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hummmm, left front paw for strumming and right rear paw for fretting. Interesting technique, Tigger.
ns that is a Keith Young "Youngster." The only difference between yours and mine is that mine has walnut back and sides.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Sounds like an ideal instrument for your trip. I, too, am looking forward to seeing pictures. What a great find.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Wow, that sounds exactly like a Keith Young "Youngster." I'm surprised that you didn't find a lable. Looking forward to seeing the pix.
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Keigh, that looks perfect for travel! (Saw it on the pets thread.)
New instrument from OVG
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I just bought the sweetest little 21 inch long dulcimer. It's a 3 string cherry with a 17 inch VSL. The sound box is a trapezoid sort of shape with the bottom width being only 3 1/2 inches across and the top is the width of the fret board. There's no makers label so I can tell you who made it. I just tuned it down from DAA to CGG to see how the sound changes and it really sounds sweeter in C. It has all unwound strings, probably 16 on the bass and 12/or 14 for middle and melody
And the best thing of all is that it fits in my carry on bag, so when I go to the UK, I will have a dulcimer with me. With zither pin tuners, I'm going to have to invest in some spare clock keys in case I lose my goose neck. And the prototype possum board that Dave made years ago, is just the right size for this little baby.
Hoping to get some photos of it posted soon. Now I have to go make a carry bag for it. I think I'll use a quilted plaid I have. That some how seem appropriate.
I'm thinking of calling her "Candy" as she's a sweet little bit and really bounces through songs like "Coulter's Candy".
updated by @folkfan: 02/27/19 07:58:32PM
Dusty Turtle said:
There is a group here at FOTMD entitled "I have extra frets," which sounds like the opening line of a 12-step group: "Hello, my name is Dulci and I have extra frets.I knew I had a serious problem when after getting a 1-1/2 fret one day I was banging on my luthier's door at 4:00
AMbegging
for more."
I got a good laugh out of thatjohn p
Hi Tony,
John P has this right. I believe the 6-1/2 or 6+ fret became common in the 70s and is almost standard now, to the point that a dulcimer that does not have that extra fret will usually be labeled explicitly asa "true diatonic."
The 1-1/2 or 1+ fret is the next most common "extra" fret. It is useful for blues, as John P states, because it gives you the lowered third, the most important of the so-called "blue" notes. But it has other uses as well, most notably the ability to play the 7th chord of the I and IV and also a wider variety of minor chords.
Two of Bing Futch's recent Dulcimerica videos examine the 1-1/2 fret in depth, so if you want to see what can be done with that extra fret, give those videos a look.
I've seen some folks who have added a 4-1/2 fret, and Ron Ewing convinced me to put not only a 1-1/2 but also a 1/2 (0+?)fret on my dulcimette, the logic being the greater number of chords that could be played. I'll be honest, though, although I use the 1-1/2 fret often, I have not yet begun to explore the .5 fret (or however you designate it).
Traditionalists will argue with some pursuasiveness that once you begin adding extra frets, the dulcimer ceases to be a dulcimer and becomes something closer to a guitar or mandolin.
There is a group here at FOTMD entitled "I have extra frets," which sounds like the opening line of a 12-step group: "Hello, my name is Dulci and I have extra frets. I knew I had a serious problem when after getting a 1-1/2 fret one day I was banging on my luthier's door at 4:00 AMbegging for more."
These extra frets have been added to increase the flexability of the instrument when it's in the hands of more modern players.
The pure diatonic scale is a bit restrictive if you play outside of the older traditional style, but that's not to say you can't play in the traditional manner if they have been fitted.
Most common is the 6+ fret, one of it's immediate effects is to allow you to play the Major scale starting at the open string as well as the more normal 3rd fret you would be restricted to on a pure diatonic instument.
In fact many makers now add the 6+ as a matter of course, and only supply a pure diaonic scale to order, used to be the other way about.
The other common extra is the 1+, used by blues players I believe.
After that I think most players would go to a fully chromatic fretboard.
john p
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Should have added Sea Chanteys to my list.
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I play mostly hymns now, they're just easier for me to play for some reason.
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I love Appalachian fiddle tunes!
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I like to play primarily original and improvisational stuff.
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Favourite would be folk ballads I guess, anything that tells a story.
I like a good dance tune as well but my playing style is not always up to speed on some of them.
I often have current favourites too, something I've just discovered and can't leave alone for a while.
Or I'll get into a particular mode and find a few favourites that get played to death until I retune. I'm on Aeolian at the moment and playing 'Son Ar Chistr' a lot(Breton cider drinking song), also part of some Spanish tune that's really well known but can't remember the name of.
john p
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
My favorite is John Stinson's # 2
But I just found the words to Harrison Town and I am currently mesmerized by that tune too. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I like to play most anything on my MD. I have very eclectic tastes in music. Everywhere from Celtic to Hard Rock, but Celtic and very old time Appalachian music is what sounds "right" to me on the dulcimer. Good thread!
Scott
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Scottish, Irish, and English folk songs. Especially the old ballads and songs of historical uprisings etc.
If it mentions Bonnie Prince Charlie, it is probably in my TAB or on my to be tabbed list.
What kinds of tunes do you most like to play on your mtn dulcimer?
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Folk music, both US and British Isles. Modern folk styles tunes. Shape note and Shaker hymns. Celtic music. Grateful Dead songs.