Forum Activity for @mary-z-cox

I agree that "technically" it's not a zither, but the double melody course belies the dulcimer intent. That deserves a mention.

The design reminds me of a Merlin (by Seagull guitars) but with enough frets to be useful. And the design reminds me of a '57 Danelectro. So maybe something that plays off of both of those ideas? "The '57 Merlin".... or maybe just "The Lancelot."

Just my 2p 

Yes I like "River lute" as well. This is part of a topic that usually inspires some debate. But yes technically a mountain dulcimer is defined as type of zither (box with strings going over the top, and no real neck). Lute family is broad and includes guitars, and lutes all have necks. Yours can be most accurately described as a (mostly) diatonically fretted guitar.

@fharlm , the ones in your link are all pretty big. I had a personal sized indoor rebounder for a year or so. I liked it at first, but eventually found it made me a little dizzy. I occasionally have bouts of vertigo, so that's not the greatest fit. If not for that it might have been fine. I do suggest you get one that is made specifically for one-person fitness use and not for multi-kids fun use. And pay attention to the weight limit suggestions.
I switched over to having a rowing machine in my living room, which seems to suit me way better. 😃

I have always like 'mustached' dogs. They remind me of my very first dog Facha, and my big sweet mixed breed dog Jasper.

Here is a working link to Ken's article:

https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/2316/ken-hulmes-i-just-got-a-dulcimer-now-what-article

What a cutie.

He IS handsome!

A lot of people who use straps tile the dulcimer slightly upward so that the bottom doesn't sit flat on their lap, thus enabling the back to vibrate more freely.  That makes a noticeable difference in volume, and perhaps a slight difference in tone as well.

Thanks, @Strumelia. I am considering adding a mini-tramp to my home workout equipment. Specifically, I am looking at the "Urban Rebounder". Jumping is supposed to be good for you, and has less impact than jogging (which I hate). I feel like it would keep me in shape for my tap dancing and other activities. I also ride bike daily, and do some light strength training. Anyway I was wondering if you uses one of these ?, and if so, what kind of results do you get, and any other thoughts you may have.

My handsome fella

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I hadnt thought of that, thanks for the reply. 

I have seven dulcimers.  Over the years, I have made thirty nine of them.  I have a new one underway.  It will feature Gonca Alves, Lacewood, Zebrawood and either the Honduras or Nicaraguan Rosewood, I'll have to check the packing slip to see for sure.  I have been purchasing my wood from The Wood & Shop Inc.  They ship high quaility wood products and usually get the stuff within a week of ordering.  Most generally I use Cedar, Mahogany and Walnut.

If there are anyother dulcimer enthusist in the Cheyenne Wyoming area, we have dulcimer practice at Salt Life Church at 6:00 p.m.

Ken, I'll pass this along to Kristin, Sadie's mom. Sadie is back into gymnastics, music, voice and dance in a studio and the dulcimer has been lain aside for a bit. Thank you for the info.

The fret spacing does not define it as a "dulcimer" anything -- the instrument has a neck.  Lots of instruments in the past 1000 years have had diatonic fret spacings.  Dulcimers, by international definition, do not have necks.  It is a small bodied diatonic guitar, a member of the Lute family of instruments.    River Lute isn't a bad name...

No, as I don't use straps.  However, it may seem different because you aren't pressing down on the instrument so firmly, and thus allowing it to vibrate more.

I have a new to me Folkcraft, took it to a luthier and had strap buttons put on it. I swear it sounds different now. Has anyone experienced this? TiA. 

Still waiting to get my first mountain dulcimer (my wife says I have to put together my ukulele kit before getting the next StewMac kit for a dulcimer).

But I do have ...10(?++) stick/pickin'/strum dulcimer guitars.

I do not have a habit, it's entirely intentional, I can quit anytime I want.

Hey all, I've been working on this instrument design for a while now, and it's ready to start into production.

I've been toying with calling these river dulcimers, just to differentiate it from the term "stick" or "strumstick" or something like that. It would also open the door to river names. Dulcimer guitar is what it is, so in the end I'll probably stick with that... BUT... what should the model name be?

I've just referred to it as the Model 1, and the longer I go the more that seems to be what it'll be called, but I think it merits something sexier or something. 

Being in Nashville I've been contemplating finding a naming convention that would lean on something outside of dulcimers, like geographies of the town (the "Music Row") or state, bodies of water (the "Cumberland"), artists or styles, woods (the "Old Hickory"), etc.

Anything come to mind for this crew?  Open to suggestions!

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Leo, in my prior post I said the hoya "Krinkle 8" flowers smell just like chocolate covered cherries! Most hoyas release more intense scent at night because they are primarily pollinated by moths.
My hoyas are kept inside my house, in partly-sunny windows.

Hoyas don't like excessive watering, and they tend to have tough thick leaves. So in a way they are a bit like succulents. The potting medium is important- they like a pot that is not too large for them, and orchid mix that has chunks of bark and maybe some perlite or sphagnum in it. They grow on trees in the wild and can be found all over the world.

WOW, I love that flower!! The little stars in it, so cool.

Does it have a scent? Attract bees or other pollinators? 

I don't always do very well with non-succulents, but that's a tempting one to try... 

Thankyou so much Ken for sharing this all beginners like me:) 

Some varieties do and some don't Dusty. You have to do some research on that. My hoya Krinkle8 did not drip nectar. I think my hoya wayetii did drip a little. I agree that would be annoying.
You can get cuttings or young started plants on Etsy. I got 2 Krinkle8 young plants and potted them together in a hanging pot... that gave me a nicer bushy young plant to start with. Now a year later it has grown to twice the size.

They are epiphytes, like orchids. So they like airy soil that has lots of drainage and bark chips.. like chunky orchid potting mix soil. They do not thrive in typical potting soil that has little aeration.

Here is the first bloom of my Krinkle 8, a year after i potted the young plants together... there are now two other buds forming:

Strumelia, do those delicious-smelling hoya plants drip nectar? I seem to remember getting rid of some years ago because they were dripping this sticky nectar that required significant cleaning.

I agree on the easy growth of spider plants! Definitely good hanging plants with those cool cascading offshoots.

And despite the name, they leave no cobwebs, ha-ha. 

Now I'm a-checkin' in on hoya plants!!

@Fharlm - that's a lovely spider plant! It's been decades since i had a spider plant, but I agree they give back a whole lot in return for a little considerate care.

I've had several of my indoor hoya plants bloom for me in the past two months. The most exciting one was my hoya Krinkle 8. The spherical umbel of pink blooms smelled exactly like chocolate covered cherries!

I've had the greatest success with spider plants. They like overwatering, underwatering—whatever you throw at them. NASA studies indicate they are one of the very best plants for filtering the air. They are ridiculously easy to propagate. They can be kept in any size pot just fine. They handle different light levels with grace. Their flowers aren't large or showy, but they are delicate and lily-like (if very small).

Totally agree with the slick slack advice.  Since I retired, my preference is shorts and blue jeans!!!  Thanks for the advice on straps advantages and disadvantages.  I have tried a strap and just did not like it that much.  I am seeing less movement using the advice of 'proper placement'.  I think I am going to stick with it for a while and see how much improvement I see.  

Great advice from great folks.

Thanks.

"If you habitually wear slick polyester slacks, then a shelf-liner is useful."

I think if you wear slick polyester slacks, it's probably best that you not venture out in public anyway. 

Actually @jmhundley, I personally think your original solution -- a "lap cover" if you will -- is a much safer option.  Seems like every time I get around a group which favors straps over good leg and dulcimer placement, or a cover, I see someone stand up without unstrapping, and the instrument hits the seat or ground.   Can't say I've ever seen an "unstrapped" player stand and drop their instrument.  I firmly believe that a "proper position" is more important that any artificial solution. 

The knees needs to be spread more than shoulder width apart; the first fret needs to be over the player's left knee (assuming right handed) while the bridge (more or less) needs to be tucked into the right hip, with the dulcimer diagonally across your lap.  You do not want your knees any closer together, and you don't want the instrument setting at right angles to your body, with more dulcimer hanging outside the knees than between them.  If you habitually wear slick polyester slacks, then a shelf-liner is useful.

I install an end button and use a regular guitar strap around my waist that ties around the headstock.

Thank you very much for the great advice.  This is exactly why I joined.  I needed help and you have really kept me from making a mistake storing the dulcimer with the shelf material.  I will start looking for a strap and getting used to it.  Sounds like a much better long term solution than mine.

Thanks again!!!!

As Dusty said, this is a common solution. When I first started playing dulcimer, I took this approach. It worked well. The warnings given already about not storing the material against the wood of the dulcimer are valid. Eventually, I did move on to using straps, which works better for me now. Don't rule them out, maybe it's something that will work for you later. If not, using the non-slip liner is just fine. Another case for straps is at festivals when people are moving around you. A strap helps secure your dulcimer in the event of an accidental hit. 

It's a great solution. But to confirm what Dusty warned on- do NOT store the rubber shelf material directly in contact with the wood. It WILL leave strange waffles patterns on your dulcimer over time. Not residue, but actually lightening the color of the wood so you can't just clean it off.

Hey @jmhundley, you've discovered a great solution that is, in fact, a pretty common one.  When I went to my first dulcimer festival there was someone there giving out pieces of the shelf liner for exactly that purpose.

My only advice is that when you store the items in your case, make sure they are not in permanent contact with the wood of the dulcimer.  They sometimes leave a mark on the dulcimer's finish if left in contact for too long, especially in a case with little air flow.

I was have problems with my dulcimer sliding/moving while I was playing.  I did not really want to use a strap if possible and I found a simple solution that so far has worked very well and I wanted to share it.  I cut 2 (12"/12")  pieces of rubber shelf liner.  I put one piece on each leg and it seems to have solved my sliding problem.  The two pieces helps keep the back of the dulcimer from getting scratched also while playing.  It also seems to be a little louder with the pieces lifting up the dulcimer.  The added benefit is I simply fold the two pieces and put them in my case when I store the dulcimer.  The extra padding helps keep the dulcimer from moving around in the case when storing it and toting it.  The link for the product I bought at Walmart is https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLiner-Select-Grip-20-in-x-6-ft-Shelf-Liner-Taupe/16486832.  I am sure other stores have the same or similar products that will work just as well.

Just want to throw this in:
I have been making this small dulcimer for years. It's a Teardrop Dulcimer for Kids & Small Hands. 
The reviews on Esty have been very positive. 
If you happen to own one, I would appreciate feedback, and maybe start a discussion. I am always looking for improvements.

During November, I am offering free personalization [see listing]

It can be found here in my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/681037717/dulcimer-for-kids-small-hands

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Ken and Strumelia both have given you really excellent advice. The only 2 things I'd add is 1. You need new strings, you should change strings every couple of months as a rule (not that any of us do) and it's unlikely the seller put a new set on. 2. spend the money on the tuners. They're easy to replace, easier than the restringing will be. You can get them from Folkcraft for $18 and I'm pretty sure, based on your pictures, they'll fit. 

I also get what you're saying about appearance, and that's not silly. But I say just live with it if you can, it's a "bird in the hand" after all. As Strumelia said, If you practice, in 6-8 months you'll have a much better idea of what you really want. 

I wrote an article about it in 2007. You can read that here  (on page 6)
Dan Evans wrote one more recently. That's  on his website.

Dan and I have different views on under saddle piezo pickups but we both use them the most.

One thing that has changed since these articles were written is that both Folkcraft and Robert Stephens have been working with magnetic pickups (and Jerry Rockwell has been using them for years). With attention finally being given to using them with dulcimers, they begun to sound really good. Folkcraft in particular has a great sounding, small sized magnetic pickup that they wind themselves, they may be willing to sell one to you.