Forum Activity for @robin-thompson

@paulpossinger You are welcome!  That is a lovely mountain dulcimer.  Another thought: if you'd like to address a particular person, note how I began this posting.  It is a way you can respond directly to another member.  

Dusty, you explained it better than I did.  (i didn't see your post until after i posted mine)

Hi Paul... that "comment Back" link is only available for comments left on someone's profile page comment wall .

What you are referring to are comments left on your Keith Young photo , here .

You should simply respond to Robin's comment right above it in the text box, as another comment on your photo. Think of it sort of like it's a little discussion going on about your photo. Robin will see your post.  :)

@paulpossinger, to reply to a post someone left in a discussion, such as that regarding your beautiful Keith Young dulcimer, you do not want to comment on their profile page.  Instead you want to click the link in the email that takes you to that discussion.  It should say something like "To see and respond to the new post, click ...."

That link will take you to the discussion itself, such as your Keith K. Young Concert Model .  Once in the discussion you can post in the comment box or, if you want to respond to something specific someone said, you can click the little speech bubble icon in the upper-right hand tools in their comment, and that will quote their comment in the new comment box, where you can add your commentary.

I hope that helps. It's easier to do than to explain.

I tried to reply to Robin-Thompson's comment on my Keith Young dulcimer.

Below the New Comment email I received it says:  "To respond to someone who has left a comment on your profile page, please go to their comment and click "Comment Back" link underneath it."   

I did not find the "Comment Back" link underneath anyone's comment.  I was on my page, -- Photos, Keith K. Young - Concert Model

Instead there was a box I found to make a comment to Robin-Thompson.  I wrote a reply in that box.  I cannot see it anywhere.  Don't know if it reached her.  

Thanks for your help.  

PS:  Thank you for your comment on my Keith Young dulcimer.  

That was a cool little movie, Strumelia!  It's inspiring!

Currently still investigating, working with the seller, to try to figure out what he really has or if he even has it. Still have reached no conclusion. May be a simple mistake on his part. Asking for more pics, and will continue to speak with him. He is finally coming out of his shell. Don't want to not help a vet, if he needs the help, but obviously don't want to buy a copy. Thanks everyone.

Update, the has gone missing. How strange. Oh well.

Some interesting information on HA Fleming. If correct he died in 1981. So I came across a sale on an HA Fleming according to the owner dated (H. A. Fleming 08-18-90). It is a beautiful instrument that is pictured, but although he said he would show the signature and build inside the instrument. He hasn't. It definitely looks like a Fleming, but unless he came back from the grave, or someone is building under his name it is interesting. It is a 5 string, currently rigged for 3, and I think two hitch pins have been pulled. Now unless I am missing a tuning knob, there are 4 shown in one pic and 5 in another. The back does not come up high enough to cover a tuner. Would have loved to see pics of the sides and the foot.

 Screen Shot 2020-12-01 at 7.04.35 PM.png - 343KB

I always found outgoing strum easier than a back strum. 

Shouldn't be a problem on such a long scale. If they feel loose to you then put on a slightly heavier string, say a .012 instead of .010.

Yeah the Murphy book is a winner as well, Robin! 
I have a vague memory- I forget who is was here, a member, who bought the actual old Will Singleton dulcimer pictured in the Murphy book. Anyone?..

I also recommend The Appalachian Dulcimer Book (Folksay Press) by Michael Murphy.  Used copies may not be hard to come by fairly inexpensively.   

Ordered thanks.

I second getting Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer People!  There's lots to be learned there which can't be gleaned from searching online, I think.  

I highly recommend getting a copy of Jean Ritchie's paperback book Dulcimer People, used or new.
It's hugely helpful for learning about post-revival dulcimer makers and their instruments. Vintage dulcimers pop up so frequently on used auction sites, and they can run the gamut of value, quality, and expense. Jean's book can really help in making informed decisions before one clicks the Buy button. It's fascinating reading! ...and amazingly, a few of the people in it are also members of FOTMD so it's nice to read a little about these talented people.

ahhhhhhhh, well now, if it's a kit, anything can go....especially if it's an unexperienced wood worker.  If your money is involved in buying a dulcimer from ebay, look for EVERYTHING you can see.  and then trust your gut feeling.  If it turns out to be something that doesn't play very good, then use it as a loaner to someone that wants to try it for a while.   If it turns out that you can make it play IN TUNE, more better.  It's all a learning game and exciting to say the least.  aloha, irene

If it were made from a Capritaurus kit, that would explain the label not including a signature or date. Maybe there was a special label included with kits. It would also explain the plywood back and inexpensive tuners.

Browsing old dulcimers on Ebay can be fun and addictive, but it's often frustrating and is never without risk, especially if one is unfamiliar with mountain dulcimer history and makers. With older instruments of any kind there are often more questions than answers, and on Ebay you only get what info the seller has to offer, and they sometimes know little about dulcimers as well.

Howard Rugg is a member here. I would contact him directly.  He kept very meticulous records.

I don't think you can draw conclusions about vintage Capritaurus instruments based on his newer work, though.

One thing to keep in mind is that Capritaurus used to sell kits, so it's possible someone else made a dulcimer from a Caprituarus kit.  Again, Howard would be able to explain the differences and maybe even identify an kit Capritaurus from a photo.

I was looking into his older Capritaurus' and there was a signature on the card. Serial Number etc. Looking at the Folkcraft a "business card" similar to what is pasted on the bottom is attached to the instrument at the neck normally for sale. I checked with Howard's site, and as far as I can tell, they did not use ply on the back, but solids for the Series. This would be the fourth or fifth, I lost count, of "vintage" instruments that were not made by the stated manufacturer if it is what I suspect. This instrument is on Ebay for 199.00. Suddenly there are several more listed on the web, no evidence of manufacturers name and one "new" Capritaurus from a reseller, again no id in evidence. Why I am becoming interested is 1. I don't want to buy a knockoff, nor would I want anyone else to buy one. 2. My brother told me the Chinese have caught on to cheap quick instruments and are making copies, especially since the country keeps getting locked down, and suddenly there is a dirth of dulcimers hds, mds. etc and other folk instruments for sale. I managed to get a great bargain on my vintage McSpadden, and a good buy on my new Gibson. So I am trying to learn to recognize copies of the MD. I can do that for the HDs but copies are few and far between due to the complexity. There is a big copy market on guitars, with knock offs coming in from China.

Well, I don't know the full history of CapriTaurus, but I do know that Howard kept very good records on the production of FolkRoots dulcimers, so I would think he would have done that with CapriTaurus as well. There is nothing showing a serial number or date of manufacture. You could go to Howard's current website: https://dulcimuse.com/capritaurusdulcimers/ordering.html  and find his email address or phone number and ask him.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If one looks for flaws, one can find them always.   I sapose whatever we focus on, we will find and see.   I see a beautiful older instrument that I bet sounds really good and learning to play it with others and share your talents with others will be the joy of this instrument.   Someday this stupid covid stuffs will be in the past and festivals and gatherings will be soooooooooo much more fun.   This instrument will have joy to in being played by you and a good one to take to the up coming music gatherings. I sure do hope to meet you at one of these!!   aloha, irene

Another pic.

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 6.31.54 PM.png - 1.2MB

This is being sold as a vintage capritaurus. The dulcimer has a ply back which actually looks rough. I think this is simply a business card pasted inside. The Ruggs, I thought,  were making a high line in the Capritaurus and this instrument does not appear to be one. The varnish is irregular and pooled in the head, as well as in crevices. There also seems to be "varnish" splatter on the tuners. I may be wrong what do you think?

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 5.50.05 PM.png - 1.6MB

Richard Beard has been building for a long time.

Beard Dulcimers – Revels Music Mountain Dulcimers

Seems overpriced to me.

I think this is a new luthier. Haven't heard of him/her before. Anyways selling only on EBay by the name of Beard. The instruments look beautiful, prices are high for possibly an unknown I would think but have never heard them played, or seen anything about them. Looks are fine, but the tone is all. 

 Screen Shot 2020-11-30 at 1.17.28 PM.png - 329KB

Great!   :)

Two things I noticed about that post this morning: the label photo is no longer part of the post and the dulcimer is now called a Folkcraft. Curious.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

We can now fill in the spot for style or instrument. That works for me. Thanks for the fix. 

If this is the dulcimer on eBay, I think the price is way too high. I'd value it at less then half the price, maybe around $300 - $350. My concern is that the label displayed is not shown in the dulcimer but on the carpet. I am unsure whether that is a Capritaurus sound hole and peg head. I'm sure Howard Rugg would be able to tell us. Just my opinion, but I would stay clear of this dulcimer at this price.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I did a little tweaking. Is it working now the way you'd like? (check by clicking the gear to 'edit' a song you already have up)

Good question, @traildad.  There is obviously a field for "style or instrument" but no way to edit that field.   We'll have to wait for @strumelia to chime in.  Most of us upload audio files to Soundcloud first, which has a different set of fields, all of them editable.