Forum Activity for @ken-longfield

My wife was to get her first shot of the Covid19 vaccine today and I was to get mine tomorrow. Both of us received notices that due to the bad weather and the availability of the vaccine our first shots will be delayed. My first shot is now scheduled for February 28.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Susie, I am happy that you like your Legacy straps. I have used and sold Legacy straps for years. I am partial to the cotton straps that they do not interfere with the instruments finish. When I first started selling them you could only get the cotton straps in solid colors. I like that you can now buy the cotton straps with graphics.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I wanted to replace my 2” guitars straps on my dulcimers, since I find them to be big, bulky, and overkill (just my experience….not trying to discourage the use of them for anyone else.) I searched and found Legacy Straps (www.legacystraps.com). They have a category called “Mandolin and Ukulele Straps”, which offer ¾” and 1” wide straps. I thought the 1” wide straps were exactly what I was looking for. 

I inquired as to the maximum length of these straps (turns out….about 50”). That was at the max of what I wanted/needed, so I got in contact with the owner. He was very responsive and said that length was no problem. He said he could make the straps up to 54” instead, to be sure I had sufficient length. 

I’ve been conservative my whole life and was thinking about going with solid color straps. My husband told me to “liven up my life” and pick straps with designs instead….I’m glad I did. I picked out 6 designs that I liked, enough for each dulcimer, plus one for my guilele. I got tab ends on each end, as all 6 of my instruments have 2 strap buttons.

I just received them and wanted to report that they are nicely made! The tab ends are on the stiff side, but the holes that he cuts out for the strap buttons work well, allowing them to fit nicely on standard strap buttons. I will have to enlarge the hole for my dulcimer that has a pick-up, because it has a larger diameter button. They easily adjust for length and feel nice while playing. The prices were very reasonable and the owner’s communication, customizable sizes, and prompt shipping was awesome. 

I’m really happy with them. If you are looking for a narrower strap for your dulcimers (or any other instrument), take a look.  

I’ve put pictures out here so you can see how they look (the ends, etc.). 

My sympathy goes to Kusani and everybody else who lost somebody because of the virus.
The problem with different local government sounds familiar, it's the same here in Germany and also quite frustrating. At least some learnt the hard way after the numbers in their state sky rocketed. 
Still quite sad and frustrating for everybody who lost somebody because of this mess.

So sorry about your loss. I live between two states KY/TN I understand frustrations with the difference in how their Governors view Covid.  Please stay safe. Covid doesn't care what view you have. It's a virus.

Kusani, my sympathy goes out to your family.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Great answers to a great question!

The calculator will help you avoid putting on strings that would be either too slack or so tight that they might break. It's so useful when you want to try out a new tuning or key for a particular sized dulcimer. (btw, it works well for other stringed instruments as well, not just dulcimers!)

Traildad --  exactly right -- string gauges calculators give you as usable string gauges 

String gauges are  like many, many things "dulcimer", there is no such things as "the one and only" answer.    You've seen several times now that there are no hard and fast rules, no "best", no absolutes. 

Each of us approaches the dulcimer differently, with clusters of people in several different (sometimes wildly different) groups.

The proper answer to most questions is usually "Whatever works for you."

@kusani I'm very sorry to hear about your brother in law passing away from covid. How awful this virus is.

I’m glad I asked. I had gotten the impression or made the assumption that it was like using a calculator to figure what 2+2 is. It sounds like the calculator will give you a useable string but not the one and only. More of a starting point than THE answer. Thanks for the info. 

Drive carefully!

@kusani I offer my deepest sympathy.  

My wife lost one of her brothers last week due to complications caused by Covid.  Please use all recommended precautions and be safe!  Unfortunately we live in a state, Tn.,  where the govt. officials have not taken the virus seriously. :( 

I had my first covid shot two weeks ago.  I was  impressed by the professionalism of the volunteers and how organized they were! No after effects other than a VERY small tender spot for 3 or 4 hours. I go back Mar 4th. It is only about 5 miles from the house.  I got a Focusrite recording interface so will try some recording tomorrow since they probably will not have the roads clear. It will be a good day for that

Yes Strumelia, well worth trip. The more folks who get the vaccine the closer we get to at least a little of normalcy. It'll still be months probably before enough are vaccinated for it to be normal to be realistic. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We'll be doing some snow blowing and shoveling here tomorrow too, Bill!

I'm pretty excited- tomorrow I am getting my first covid vaccine! Will be driving to a Walgreens about 45 minutes away, but well worth the trip i think! 

Covid has had us inside for way to long!  Heavy snow now will require firing up the snow blower so at least I have reason to go outside.   Not so bad though electric start and heated handle grips. 

 Just a reminder that better times are coming, just be patient.

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We are snug in the house and prepared for a major snowstorm heading into the region.  

Take care, all, and wherever you are, be safe!

Your website looks great, Grant!  

That (7-string) fretboard with the fanned frets looks pretty cool and wild!

@peter-w I still cannot find a way to get to the tabs you are referring to here in this thread. Can you please give us a link to where/how to find them?  I suspect the pdf attachments were lost when this site transitioned to a new platform. 

Perhaps this metaphor will work.  Imagine your first time ordering a steak at a restaurant. The waiter asks how you'd like it cooked.  Obviously, the extremes won't work, for fully uncooked could get you sick and completely burned will be a bunch of charred carbon with no meat.  But in between there is an acceptable range from rare to medium rare to medium to medium well to well done, with variations in between.  Maybe you ask what most people choose and you are told "medium" is the most common choice, but just to be safe, you should ask for it a little more rare, since you can always put the meat back on the grill.  That advice is like the string gauge calculator, which errs on the light side.  But then you have to develop and identify your own preferences in relation to that.  So you experiment.  You try a steak medium rare or a string a bit lighter than the gauge indicates, and you see how it fits.  Then you try a steak medium well or a string a bit heavier than the gauge indicates, and you see how it fits.  You have to experiment and decide how you like your steak, or how you like your dulcimer to sound and to play.

Like @susie, I find the string gauge calculator significantly lighter than my preferences.  Tuned DAd on my main dulcimer, I use .026 wound on the bass, .016 on the middle, and .014 on the melody.  And that's for a dulcimer with a pretty short (25") VSL.  I like the heavier gauges for the increased volume, clearer tone, and ease of controlling techniques such as bending strings.

Sometimes, such as when I fingerpick, I like a little extra give in the strings, but instead of changing strings, I just tune down a half step or whole step to C# or C. And when I play fast flatpicking tunes, I want the strings really taught so they are more responsive to the pick, so I tune up to Eb or E.

These are my preferences, and as @ken-hulme explains, you will have to develop your own.  And I make some adjustments depending on the dulcimer I am playing as well.  Some instruments seem to do better with heavier or lighter gauges.  Over time you will figure this stuff out for your instruments and your playing style.

I would suggest buying a whole bunch of strings and playing around.  Once you know how you want to set up your dulcimers, then you can buy strings in bulk and you never have to think about it again.

I'll buy sets of strings in common gauges and packs of singles in light gauges and use whatever I have on hand for a re-string.  Using all light gauge, for example, I might have a .014 for melody then .012 for the drones.  I always have .022 or .024 on hand for when I want to switch-out a high drone for a low one on the "bass" side of the instrument.        

I've never relied on the string gauge calculators. When I've tried them, they have always seemed to be too light for me. I've always started with what the maker of my instrument recommends, in the tuning that I use, then go from there. After playing for awhile, I determine if a change is necessary, based on how the strings sound in relation to each other and how they feel on the instrument (where VSL matters).  I just recently adjusted just the 1st and 2nd string gauges a little heavier on one of my dulcimers, which made a improved change in the sound. The other thing that makes a difference for me is  the makeup of the string. What might sound fine on one instrument, sounds awful on another. Strings are cheap and experimenting is all part of the process.

How do I choose strings for my instruments?  VSL, the open tuning I want to use, and years of experimenting and experience.  That's what the builder of your second dulcimer used -- his experience with various gauges of strings to produce a sound which he likes.  If you are not experienced in such things, the recommendation of the builder is always a good place to start.

You asked "Now I’m wondering if there is more to choosing string gauges than running the string gauge calculator."   Yes. Of course.  But that's the part which comes from experimenting and experience and deciding what sound YOU like to hear.  Not me. Not Chuck, or Mary, or Jim.  What YOU like to hear.  

All  my existing dulcimers are strung the way I like them, I don't experiment much any more -- I know what I like.  When I finish a new dulcimer, I start with a string calculator, of course.  My personal preference is the Strothers calculator, which is known to be noticeably light in its recommendations.  So I step up at least two gauges -- 10s become 12s, 12s become 14s etc.  My preference for bass strings is plain steel not wound for a more traditional sound.  

I’ve learned that it matters what string gauge is used and it depends on the VSL/scale and what key you are tuning to. Then I found out about online string gauge calculators. I’m wondering if most people use the string gauge calculator or something else. Maybe whatever size came on their dulcimer when new or a gauge they decided sounds best. My first dulcimer came with extra strings .024, .014 and .012 for tuning DAdd. The string gauge calculator calls for .019, .012 and .009 for DAdd on the 28.5 VSL. I didn’t know what strings were on my second dulcimer when I got it. After experimenting with new strings and tuning I wanted to return to the original DAA tuning. I checked the calculator and ordered .018W, .012, .012 for its 30” VSL. After playing it I thought something was different. I asked what size strings were on it new and it was .026, .014 and .014 because he thought the heavier strings improved the tone and volume. I haven’t switched back yet but I agree it sounded better with the heavier strings. Both dulcimers have bodies on the larger size. Maybe that is why both came new with heavier strings. Now I’m wondering if there is more to choosing string gauges than running the string gauge calculator. How do you choose your string gauge?

Yes, I bought my 17 and 16 year old granddaughters a Joan Baez CD.

They don’t have a CD player.  They stream their CW music.

Dusty, I am glad to hear of your daughter's discovery of Joni Mitchell. I remember all our car trips when my children asked, "Do we have to listen to dad's music?" There is a certain pride that comes with their discovery that what we listened to and were influenced by wasn't all bad. On the flip side, I have found some of "their" music to be inspirational as well.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

My heart as well.  I think sheltering at home has decreased the influence of her peers relative to her parents and opened a little doorway for me to sneak Joni in there.  And I gained a little stature in her eyes when I told her the woman who made Joni's dulcimer and I attend each other's online dulcimer gatherings.

It does my heart good to hear that Dusty. Get her access to Joni's album Ladies of the Canyon as well. Arguably as good as the Blue album. Joni is a national treasure.

I heard my teenage daughter listening to a female pop singer with a really melodic voice, and I said, "If you like this, you'll really love Joni Mitchell."  We listened to "Chelsea Morning" together, and then I told her to check out the Blue album. A few days later she told me with a smile on her face that she loves it!

I/ve built a couple "scheitholt" type instruments with split bamboo frets.  Softer sound than metal frets, and quieter too.

The dulcimer that Randy Adams built for me has wood toothpick frets. I play it noter style, have had it for a few years now, and have not had to replace any frets.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It is not uncommon for the Norwegian langeleik to have wooden frets. Langeleiks are considered to be one of several traditional instruments that may be antecedents of the American mountain dulcimer.

A closely related concept I am also curious about is the idea of using a different nut and bridge material for the drone strings than the melody string for an instrument intended to be played drone style so as to make the sound of the melody string more distinctive from the drones. For example, softwood for the drones and bone/metal for the melody, or vice versa.

Nate, I believe Randy has built, at least, an instrument or two with wooden frets.  

Hello all, I am wondering if there is information on differences in tone between metal frets vs alternative materials and if there is any precedent for trading off the durability of metal frets for different tonal characteristics? I built 2 dulcimers using 80 lb test fishing line tied on as frets and both had a very soft tone. I am not sure if this is due to the very soft woods I used for them or if the fretwire played a major role.

I've noticed in fretless dulcimer videos by Randy Adams the tone seems to be softer than fretted ones, but this also may be due to other factors of construction.

I have also seen cigar box ukuleles with wooden toothpicks for frets but, again, I do not know if the soft tone was instead due to other aspects of the construction or the nylon strings.

I am aware that very hard woods or bone are the preferred material for nut and bridge, and have read that metal frets offer better projection than the gut frets of historical instruments.

The reason this came to mind is I built a dulcimer with a 0 fret but without noticing used a lower fretwire than the rest of the frets. I was about to pull it and replace it, but out of curiosity I folded up a piece of paper and placed it on top of the 0 fret under the strings and to my ear it sounded much more pleasant.

The difference between the folded paper and the first fret was that the 0 fret was noticeably softer, like a more subtle version of the difference between using a fingertip vs a pick. Since the strings dont bend or rub very much on the 0 fret I am planning to just leave it this way and see how long it lasts, however if i tried the same on any other frets it would most likely wear through very quickly.

This all makes me very curious about the idea of wooden frets, tied on gut or mono-filament frets, maybe even paper topped frets where some type of stiff paper is frequently replaced. It seems like the important thing would be making sure that the fret material can be easily replaced when it wears through.

Would love to hear some thoughts on this! Hope everyone is well

I'm just delighted Robin refers to a dulcimer as  "tool." That makes it so much easier to justify buying another one.  I must have a dozen hammers in my garage, so I should have at least that many dulcimers.

Don Pedi is an American treasure, that's for sure.  He both collects and plays the old music.  He's like the Seegers and the Lomaxes all rolled into one. 

In the 2012 picture to which Strumelia links, he is holding a Modern Mountain Dulcimer, which he seems to have been using for his main dulcimer for several years now.  It does indeed have both a 1+ and a 6+ fret.  Most of the still photos he uses for media stuff show trad dulcimers with friction tuners and no extra frets, but he makes practical use of modern innovations like geared tuners and extra frets.

What impresses me consistently in Don's playing is not the speed of his fingering-as impressive as it is--but his rhythmic strumming.  He never relies on a rote pattern but keeps tunes moving in a danceable and yet varied rhythm.

Well said Robin!