Forum Activity for @mill-branch-dulcimores

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

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/19/john-shaw-obituary
John's obituary, written by his wife Angela is in today's Guardian. I knew him since the 1980s in Bristol, from the Iron Acton folk Club at the Lamb Inn, where he was the only other person I knew locally who played the mountain dulcimer. He was a wonderful, but modest, player, a knowledgeable folk musician and a lovely, kind, unassuming gentle-man. He is such a loss to the dulcimer community. 

Hey @celtic-cowboy, I see that you have in fact posted a "thanks" to people who commented on your East Virginia video, so clearly you know how to post.

There is no option called a "comment back" but there are two ways to accomplish the same thing.  This is how things work on a pc. It may be slightly different on a mobile device.

One is what I did above. I just wrote your username complete with the @ symbol, which does two things. One, it creates a hyperlink so anyone can click it and get to your homepage. Two, it sends you a notification that someone has mentioned you.  Of course, it also indicates clearly to whom you are responding.

The second way is to directly quote someone:

To quote someone, hover your cursor over their comment and you will see an icon appear in the upper right of that box that looks like the speech bubble from a cartoon.  Click that and their entire comment will appear in quotation marks in a new comment box.  You rarely need to quote an entire post, so most of us then edit the quotation to include only what is necessary.

I hope that helps.  If you need further instruction, ask your limberjack.

You should be able to see or access a text box so that you can respond to them with your own comment right there after their comment. 
Are you doing this on a desktop/laptop, or on a tablet/phone?

Was going to post this in Dulcimer Making section but i could not figure out how to attach a photo in that section the attach file is not there when you start a new discussion so i posted it here

Any way my wife was having issues keeping her Dulcimer on her lap while sitting in her chair so I made her a simple stand that allows her to sit her dulcimer in front of her on a stand while sitting in her chair she likes to use

here is a photo can provide details and parts list if someone is interested in making one

How do I respond to comments under my uploaded video? There is no "comment back" button under the comments.

Have been there and done that with my banjo's and my wife's dulcimer

I second Ken H's suggestion to pluck a string then turn the tuning knob.  It is so easy to be turning the wrong tuner-- I've done it enough times.  ;) 

johnpat -- here's another mental note for you -- never tune a string that isn't 'singing'.   Grab the tuner knob, strongly pluck the string you want to tune -- a quarter turn only.  LISTEN  If the sound doesn't change, Stop!  You've got the wrong tuner.  Try again.  Lots of people break strings because they just keep turning the knob even though the sound doesn't change, and Snap!

Thanks, everyone!

I had a set of guitar strings laying  around so i was able to meet my immediate need and it worked fine. I suspected, as Ken said, a string is string.... But I wanted to make sure before I tried. I already broke a string and I didn't want to break the dulcimer, too!

(Mental note to self: tune down, not up. The strings won't stretch that far...).

@ Ken Hulme- that's the way it came, as far as gauges go. It sounds nice so I've no reason to change it at this time.

Online company called Just Strings sells every kind of string for every kind of string instrument. Including individual strings ball or loop end...Robert

Y'all are super! Thanks for the words and actions of support. I did contact the email address given for Warren May to ask if there were any records for this instrument. A woman responded with a pretty brisk message about using a flashlight to read the insert on the inside of the instrument (which I had done already) -- so I don't think there's any special news that direction. 

I did take Strumelia's suggestion and played it this afternoon with the noter. It sounds fine -- but that's not my usual playing style and I can't see myself going there much (besides that wasn't the intent of the donor).  It was a good exercise. 

I think I'll take some more photos next. Inching forward . .. 

Here's one on Ebay with an asking price of $700 . Of course, that's just the asking price.  No one has bought it yet.

I did a quick search on eBay of recently sold Warren May dulcimers. There were two hourglass dulcimers sold; of for $285 and the other for $315. The other May dulcimer was his hourdrop model and it sold for $629.95. This is just an indication of what the eBay market place is bringing at the present time.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I think your plan to sell and use the proceeds to purchase a dulcimer fitted to the playing style of those around you is admirable. So many folks would not want to take the time to do that. 

I think you would want to price it at $600, maybe less. You can adjust your price lower. I just sold a Warren May premium model to a local lady who is a friend of mine. Because of that relationship I sold it for far less than it is worth. But I did not have to pack and ship it.

It seems many current players prefer to have the extra frets and mechanical tuners as you noted in your area. If you are willing to wait it out, I am sure you will find a buyer, but it may take a couple of months or more. The holidays are coming up and the vaccine has not prevented me from having dulcimer acquisition disorder (DAD).

You may want to contact Warren May. He may have someone with interest that would not demand a new dulcimer. PM me and I can help you with contact information.

Perhaps there are a few old traditional tunes that appeal to you that you might like to try out in drone style on this dulcimer. Think DAA tuning, and maybe Start with Go Tell Aunt Rhody. You could also try the beautiful Aoelian mode tuning of DAG, and play Shady Grove. It might be a lovely thing to do when you are feeling like playing something beautiful and haunting, without needing to play chords on all strings. Think about it.. worth a try maybe since you already have the perfect dulcimer for that.

Thank you so very much for thinking on this! You are sharpening my thinking. My desire to "do right" should not extend into evaluating someone else's heart. And Ken is also insightful. I play "melody/chord" and I should give the instrument a try with a noter. 

It's a lovely instrument -- but it isn't served if it sits against my wall and isn't played. Will continue to think on how to move forward. 

Have you sold things on Ebay before? If so, then that's a fairly easy way to sell it, though you have to ship it carefully. If not, perhaps Craigslist, or contact any dulcimer club within driving distance. You must decide whether you are willing or able to ship it.

If it has no cracks or damage at all, then i imagine someone might pay anywhere between $350-600. It's a tricky time for guessing values now due to pandemic. But I'd think $450 would be a logical price with the case and without counting shipping.

If you want to sell it, you really can't be worrying about it going to a 'happy home'. You kind of have to assume that whoever buys it would be happy and deserving.

You're right that Warren probably built that to be played in DAA or other 1-5-5 tunings.  But not because it's a "Kentucky" dulcimer.  Built in 1990, with a true diatonic fretboard (no 6+ fret), Warren probably set it up to be played in traditional Noter & Drone or Fingerdance style, not the modern Chord-Melody style. The label inside may given you some insight -- it may have been custom built for someone.  

Can't help with the value though... others who know Warren better will help I'm sure.