Forum Activity for @cindy-stammich

This makes me so sad🥲. I have a beautiful Bill Taylor dulcimer, which is actually what led me to FOTMD!  He was amazing, and I had the opportunity to meet Bill at the first Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club retreat many years ago. He was so talented, so humble, and so much fun!  He sang and played the best ever version of “The Preacher and the Bear”!  And “Emma’s Song” is, to this day, one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard!

Rest In Peace Bill 💙

Though I never met Bill Taylor, I have seen others write wonderful things about him.  My heart goes out to his family.  

That's so sad.  I know Bill was not only a great luthier but also an important part of the dulcimer scene in Tennessee and generously shared tablature arrangements.

I have a stunningly beautiful Bill Taylor dulcimer. It's not my main playing dulcimer, so I periodically think I should sell it. But then I take it out of the case and fall in love again.

Tennessee dulcimer maker Bill Taylor has passed away. Here is an obituary:

https://www.knoxnews.com/obituaries/kns040386

Thanks Dusty!

At least they had an appropriate (musician) sense of humor. (Although,  a drummer may disagree.)

That's funny!

Positive?  Maybe not.  Mildly funny?  Perhaps.

I recently bought matching stands for my dulcimer and guitar.  The instructions for how to attach the base to the arm read:

"Do not overtighten.  You can crack the wood.  Maybe not a job for a drummer."

And similarly, the instructions for attaching the hanger to the arm read:

"Do not overtighten.  You can strip out the insert.  Keep the drummer away from this."

For the record, the assembly went very well.  Clearly dulcimer players are more gentle creatures than are percussionists.

Someone posted in Everything Dulcimer they were selling a dulcimer for a friend - Walnut Valley Dulcimer.

   Turns out thats just the info. I have been needing to know where this dulcimer (that a someone's grandfather had) came from - kit or not. The  arched fingerboard,  the inset maple ball and the chamfered strum hollow. 

 The dulcimer is a great adventure.  Always with a bit of patience we find out more about what it is we are wanting to know.

m.

.

As a writer my manuscripts are often page numbered "X of Y" because the software does the updating of both numbers automatically as I type. 

However I've never seen or heard of a builder numbering instruments "X of Y".  That implies that he/she was only ever going to build Y number of instruments either in total or of a particular model.  

From what I know they are a USA company, and was building dulcimers in 2009. He built enough dulcimers so that there should be some recognition, and the build was good. Not just a hobbyist. I just restore an hourglass that has a number 18133 but I doubt he ever built that many, so it may be 18 of 133 or 181 of 33 or etc. The date on the dulc is 01-09.

I agree with Dusty -- position dots are not necessary on the dulcimer because the wide and narrow fret intervals of the diatonic fret layout are their own indicators...

Each builder has his/her own finish preference -- some like rub-on or brush-on urethane, others have a spray booth for varnish, lacquer or urethane.  Many of us prefer the more satin look of an oil finish --  Tung oil, True Oil, and boiled Linseed Oil are favorites. 

Frankly a "machine made" fretboard is as accurate as it gets for fret placement. 

For what it's worth, @art-s, position dots are not really necessary on a diatonic fretboard.  The pattern of fat and skinny frets tells you everything you need to know. It's very different than a guitar or mandolin where all the frets look the same.

The Folkcraft kits are very good.  Even their cardboard kits make pretty darn good dulcimers.

Thanks Ken. I heard back from them. 27" vsl is correct. They include a 6½, but not a 13½. I asked about position dots. The kit fretboard does not have them and they can't add them, as the fretboard is "machine made". However, they offered to swap out the kit fretboard for their "design your own" fretboard for a reasonable fee and l will have the freedom to add the inlays and extra frets.

It probably won't make much difference, but I feel better about having the fretboard handmade rather than by a machine.

My "good builder" has a few fiddles under his belt, so we should have fun.

One more thing. What did you finish yours with? Again, I'm sure my friend has a varnish he likes for his fiddles, but that may not work on the dulcimer. 

Almost time to go log in to QuaranTune5. 

Thanks again.

Art

I've built several Folkcraft kits, but not since the move to Indiana. It looks like the kits now come pre-fretted with a 6 1/2 fret. The vsl is probably 27 inches which was pretty much the standard vsl on Folkcraft dulcimers at one time. The hourglass kit should have about the same dimensions as an FSH model. They are very nice kits and make a good dulcimer depending upon the skill of the builder.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

@ken-hulme Dang heel spur! 

I walked 2 miles yesterday in a local park, with "some discomfort",  as I'm experiencing a heel spur.

It was a nice day here and would've been perfect for hiking.  I hear you on the joints end of things, @slate-creek-dulcimers.  :) 

Flat tire on the bike today so I hiked 7 miles. Perfect temperature for hiking. My joints can definitely tell it this evening. 

Thanks for those lyrics, John.  It's amazing to see how many songs have used that melody.

The lyrics are the second set  in this collection: https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=xy1CAQAAMAAJ&pg=PT2&lpg=PT2&dq=%22temperance%22+song+to+Rosin+the+Beau&source=bl&ots=t1a2c1jBH8&sig=ACfU3U0Mx0-u_EhPoHoGqxsGvXSTdafnyg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjN1_7v26_zAhVGGaYKHT-AC3YQ6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=%22temperance%22%20song%20to%20Rosin%20the%20Beau&f=false

I can only report what little I know about the Washingtonians. They were something of a precursor to Alchohoics Anonymous, but fell apart when they became involved with the anti-slavery and prohabition movements.

So Geoge wasn't  a tee-totaler. Maybe he didn't really cut down the cherry tree. Or was occasionally a little "loose with the truth." 

I never heard of that tune, @john-gribble.  Interesting. It's another for the list, certainly.  Do you know where we might find some lyrics?

I am pretty sure, however, that George Washington was a drinker.  I had read somewhere that well into the revolutionary war he used to drink a toast to George III, and I don't really know if that's true or not, but when I looked into it I found a lot about old George's drinking habits.  Check out this website , which explains that he was partial to madeira wine and porter beer.

I am interested in reading opinions on the Folkcraft kit. I am waiting for a response from the company for details. Things like vsl, 6½ frets, depth etc.

Has anyone built one?

There's a temperance song, "The Washington Badge," to "Rosin the Beau." The Washingtonians were a temperance group active in the years prior to the American Civil War. George Washington was, appaerently, a non-drinker. 

I love that tune. Playing it is a sure cure for a gloomy mood.

Thanks. In case anyone doesn’t know, Robert is on the site if you’re thinking about a new dulcimer. 

@traildad I enjoyed seeing your pictures and hearing your play!  Those instruments have a great  old-timey sound and you play them very well.  Have fun with those nice frogfiddles!  

Audio

And more photos. 

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More photos

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Some photos

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I’ve added two Robert Schuler dulcimers to my collection. They are pretty close to identical and I’ve strung them so I can tune one to C or D and the other to G or A. They are deep body dulcimers and I am very happy with them. The workmanship looks great and I love the sound. I’ll post some photos and a sound sample. Just don’t blame him for my limited musical ability.

Thanks Robin and Lisa!

Yeah Lisa it's a fatbike. More suited for off-road but I didn't have time to go to the mountain today.

Bobby is that on a bicycle? Good for you. Looks pretty there. 

Corvus- lol, whatever floats your boat.

@slate-creek-dulcimers Nothing like getting outdoors to help heal mind & spirit.  We're going to head to the nearby lake in just a bit for a time of refreshing.  Take care, Bobby.

5 miles of mind therapy this morning, (or breakup therapy to be more precise). And of course exercise.

2.5 miles uphill grade and a coast back home.

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So nice to read the lovely tribute written by John's wife.  John has been a treasure in the mountain dulcimer world and his influence remains here and with all who knew him and who loved his music.  

I missed this when it was first posted. It must have been when I was traveling out west. His wife's tribute to him gives us a wonderful picture of him. I know he is missed by family and friends. His music will live on and continue to inspire all who listen to it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It is deeply sad that John Shaw passed away. His music and creativity will continue inspiring others for a long time to come.

Thanks for picking it up Ken, it looks as if the link got broken in the middle

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/19/john-shaw-obituary

John

John Rawlinson -- your link to John's obit does not work...  But this one does:
John Shaw obituary | Folk music | The Guardian