Buying a used McSpadden questions
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Looks like you found a winner, Nathina!
Forum Activity for @john-c-knopf
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Buying a used McSpadden questions
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I just purchased an older McSpadden with the horseshoe logo. From the pictures it appears it was never used. The case shows no internal wear whatsoever. I will know more once I receive it. The label as from the Dulcimer Shoppe and I will see if it has a number. The dulcimer itself has no scratches and the finish is still full and intact. From the pic it doesn't look like a ply on the back but matching panels
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
@LisavB -- wood types are strictly subjective. There are over a hundred variables that can affect the sound of a dulcimer, and wood choice is pretty far down the list -- not even top ten.
A good luthier can make plastic or cardboard or balsa wood sound really good. A recent Winfield dulcimer champion played a cardboard dulcimer.
I always recommend that you buy the dulcimer that LOOKS the best -- woods you like the look of -- and coincidentally sounds good as well. Don't buy a spruce top, or walnut body or cherry/maple instrument because someone tells you it's more mellow or whatever. Buy what sounds good -- to your ears. A good luthier will play you various instruments he/she has in stock -- over the phone if you can't shop in person. All you have to do is ask.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Yes, definitely weighing, not jumping in. Now considering woods... It has been quite a journey and plenty of fun. It all started about 2 years ago when I decided I wanted to build a musical instrument, more as an art/craft project than anything else. A carboard dulcimer fit the bill--inexpensive in case I screwed up, wouldn't feel bad about painting cardboard (as opposed to a nice wood), etc. Completed it, strung it up, and...that first strum mesmerized me. So then I went on the Internet and discovered Bing Futch and Jessica Comeau. Oh, the dulcimer can do *that*? Then I wanted to build a "real" wood one (with a 6+ fret, sorely needed!). That led to the Cedar Creek Black Walnut I have. Then I wanted "all the notes" but didn't want to go chromatic, so that led to the Fender acoustic guitar bundle I got last December. Well, that led to vastly improved strength/span in my left hand! And then that led to the shell pink Stratocaster in April. And the pandemic led to Zoom, and Zoom led to live workshops with Jessica Comeau. She's been doing them roughly every other week since summer, and I've been at all of those, loving them!
Yep, quite a journey, and soooooo much fun!
GigBook & a pedal
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
I just checked with the member of my dulcimer group who uses one of those pedals. He does not use special music software at all, just a generic pdf reader. The foot pedal is called a PageFlip Firefly and connects via bluetooth to his tablet. No special software is needed for the foot pedal.
I would check if your foot pedal will work with Acrobat Reader or even just a generic version. Then you can just keep all your files in a big folder and don't need GigBook at all.
updated by @dusty: 11/04/20 11:24:44PM
Questions about the bridge
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. This is the md that is being sent.
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I got confirmation that the horseshoe or mirrored 2 or whatever is indeed McSpadden before he changed to the Name Brand. Jim Woods confirmed it and will speak with Larry as to when the change occurred. Also confirmed that on these older dulcimers bone was used on some, while others had linen bakelite (micarta) bridges. There may also been the occasional Ivory, during that era, on the higher end units. When I get this one I will put it under a scope as see what it is. Linen Micarta (no longer used), as todays micarta is canvas made apparently, has similar striations with ivory and the difference is difficult to determine without high power magnification. I am expecting linen micarta. Oh the picture that I posted initially is not the McSpadden I bought. Here is the one I chose.
updated by @nathina: 11/04/20 08:04:01PM
Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
The Ron Gibson came today. A really nice instrument. Now I have to get a pick that will work in the hollow, otherwise all my picks, and I have many, are too stiff for the strings and I'll have to play on the fret board.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Lisa, it sounds like you are giving this a lot of thought, having gotten feedback from several people here (and probably elsewhere). That is good. You know what your variables are, and are considering those for YOU, considering how/what you play. I feel you'll make a great choice, no matter which way you go. Enjoy the journey. It's fun, isn't it?!
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
A tardy thank you to you all (work's been a little crazy this week). I went on a measuring spree for comparison purposes. I already have a full-length VSL (about 28") and would like to stick with that, both for sustain, and for fret spacing considerations. Really want to go with 1+/8+ but don't want to wind up with too tight a space at 8+ with a shorter VSL. My original cardboard dulcimer has a 26" VSL and when I first built the walnut one, I thought I would surely die with all that space to cover. But my hands have adapted (got a lot stronger and able to stretch when I started playing guitar in the past year!).
Oddly, my fretboard is 1 5/8"! Standard should be fine. I don't have especially large fingers and don't wish to go 4-equidistant. 3 strings are fine with me, with the option to double my melody should the mood strike me.
I have a scroll head, like the look, but would like to go flat for easier string management. Not interested in a pickup, full acoustic is fine with me (not planning to do concerts!).
I like the rich sound of the walnut I have (aside from the frets being a tad less than perfect), would probably do walnut back and sides and perhaps a redwood top for something a bit different than what I have, but still resonant. Jessica's McS has that combo and she says it has a very full, rich tone.
I've ogled both sites, both have just beautiful instruments, for sure. I love the one I built, but the thought of perfectly seated frets and a few more features is pretty tempting.
Questions about the bridge
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Looks like some form of Delrin plastic -- essentially the same thing they use today. Doesn't look like bone.
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Just call or email McSpadden Instruments. They'll be able to tell you.
Questions about the bridge
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I have traced this as a McSpadden late 1980's. The question is about the bridge. What is it made of and is this typical of a McSpadden?
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Now traced the symbol to then end of the 1980's. Still trying to find if it changed in 1989, 1990, 1991.
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I have traced the symbol which was still in use to the 1980's. It seems to have changed to McSpadden name in 1990's but trying to find out what year?
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
That logo is woodburned into the fretboard. I have one just like it.
GigBook & a pedal
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Their site implies the files are pdf's. You may find them using a file management program [in the apps data folder maybe]. If so, you should be able to copy/move them to a new folder. You may be able to email them to yourself, they will probably be attachments.
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I though McSpadden burned is name into the toe.
GigBook & a pedal
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Marg, I am pretty sure a couple of people in my dulcimer group don't use any app at all but just keep pdf files of all their tab and use a pedal to turn the pages. I'll check with them and get back to you.
What format are the files in GigBook?
GigBook & a pedal
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Help:
It seems GigBook has not updated or managed their site in some time. I have a page turn pedal - AirTurn which will not work now with GigBook. I checked & the pedal seems good, I tried another pedal and it also will not turn any music pages in GigBook but will will scroll other programs.
Yikes - now what do I need to transfer all my music files to another app & if so which ones do you fine work well? How hard is it to transfer all the files?
thanks
marg
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
The harmony would definitely need to be simplified. But I wonder about the melody itself. I just took a look at some sheet music, and there are one or two accidentals involved. Those notes just might not be found on the fretboard, although there are always workarounds. (You could change the melody slightly or bend a string to get the note you wanted.)
Another option would be to choose a chromatic tuning such 1-3-5. But in 1-5-8 or 1-5-5, I think there would be a missing note or two.
It's certainly worth a try, though!
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hello, Nathina!
That symbol is the logo of McSpadden Instruments (also known as The Dulcimer Shoppe) of Mountain View, Arkansas.
Does anyone recognize the Luthier who uses this symbol
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Trying to figure out the Luthier with this symbol?
updated by @nathina: 11/03/20 12:52:14PM
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
What if I removed some of the harmony notes and rewrote it for the key of D 2 octaves?
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Wow, @nathina, the contrasting tones of those two instruments is remarkable. You're quite a good player, too.
For what it's worth, I am skeptical that you could get the Gershwin tune on the MD. Just going by ear, it sounds like there are too many non-diatonic notes involved. I could be wrong, though, and if you have any extra frets it might be possible.
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Dusty Turtle:
That's a beautiful hammered dulcimer, @nathina.
I'm going in the opposite direction. After playing mountain dulcimer for about 10 years, just a few weeks ago I was gifted a 16/15 Dusty Strings HD. I can find simple melodies pretty well, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fill in chordal tones.
With the HD, chords are played from the bottom note to the top. However each note takes up part of the time signature. So trying to put chords into the song, shortens the melody note, and the tune goes bye bye. A harmony note can be played along with the melody, but the tendency is to play too much harmony and loose the melody. This is a song that I experimented with recording. The song is by Joshua Messick, it uses bass support for the melody, so nothing is lost. I played it on the big HD and you can hear the difference between the bright and my EXR. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/woodland-wonderlust-experiment-1
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Susie:
Welcome Nathina. That HD is gorgeous!
Thank you, I bought the Ron Gibson Teardrop and now have to become acquainted with it.
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
Dusty Turtle:
That's a beautiful hammered dulcimer, @nathina.
I'm going in the opposite direction. After playing mountain dulcimer for about 10 years, just a few weeks ago I was gifted a 16/15 Dusty Strings HD. I can find simple melodies pretty well, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fill in chordal tones.
I am starting to figure out the harmony, not well yet, but I find enhanced tunes sometimes tend to drown the melody so I rewrite them to sound better. I also have a 16/15 "bright" HD, so called because it uses lacewood as the sound board. Most burled woods or patterned wood will feed the tone back into the wood giving it a higher tone. I use it for the Celtic tunes, and I also rewrote a George Gershwin tune for the 16/15. https://soundcloud.com/user-9942446/someone-to-watch-over-me-key-f
I wonder if it can be converted to the MD?
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
That's a beautiful hammered dulcimer, @nathina.
I'm going in the opposite direction. After playing mountain dulcimer for about 10 years, just a few weeks ago I was gifted a 16/15 Dusty Strings HD. I can find simple melodies pretty well, but I'm still trying to figure out how to fill in chordal tones.
Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Ron Gibson makes very fine instruments. I've played several but don't own one.
The Barbara Allen tm model is Ron's nod to a traditional teardrop shaped 'Virginia' style dulcimer; but with a deeper than traditional body and the 6+ and 13+ frets which, as the + sign indicates, are not traditional. Check out his website.
DAd, DAA, and CGG can all be tuned from the same set of strings. DAA and CGG are the same Ionian Mode tuning but one is the key of D, the other key of C. DAd is also called Mixolydian Mode. The melody string in DAd or CGc is tuned an octave higher than the bass string note, usually indicated by the lowercase letter d or c.
Tuning up to Ggg is not particularly "Asian", but it will require different strings to prevent snapping the bass string. It is what we call a Bagpipe Tuning in the key of G. The three strings are all tuned to G but the middle and melody strings are tuned an octave higher than the bass string.
You may want to have a read of the article/booklet I wrote a number of years ago which answers many beginner questions about tuning, playing, care and feeding of the dulcimer, It's called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What? and can be found here:
https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/dulcimer-resourcestabs-books-websites-dvds/17129/i-just-got-a-dulcimer-now-what-article
Can you tell me about a Ron Gibson Barbara Ellen 3 String
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Just bought a RG Barbara Ellen. I know woods, and sounds, structure etc. but know little about the MD and playing as yet. I will attach a piezo, one that I have always liked and use for my smaller HD. Otherwise I have been told to tune it to DAD, then DAA, then CCG, if I want to go Asian GGG. Are there requirements for different string dia. for different tunings?
Hammered Dulcimer EXR
Adventures with 'other' instruments...
I play the Hammered dulcimer EXR 4/19/21/9 for contemporary music and 16/15 "Bright" for Celtic. Having evaluated many in woods, technical, audio, it took me over a year to get my larger one.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
What they said.
The wider fretboard gives more room between strings, if needed, a plus for big fingers and for 4 equidistant strings.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
@lisavb, if you have to buy a dulcimer without playing it, both McSpadden and Folkcraft are solid choices. But as you can see, you have many choices to make aside from which dulcimer maker you choose.
Unless you are truly wealthy (in which case, can I get a few bucks?) you will want to develop your preferences before investing any serious money into a dulcimer. Flat head or scroll? Ebony (or micarta) overlay? What size VSL? What width fretboard? Galax back? Extra frets? Jumbo frets? Radiused fretboard? Internal pickup? What about wood choices? The list of options just grows and grows. You may want to take some time to figure that stuff out before you buy an instrument from either of these fine makers.
The action can usually be adjusted, so that is not a true variable differentiating McSpadden from Folkcraft.
Honestly, you will get a fine instrument with either of these folks. I would suggest deciding the other stuff first and then investigating which company can best meet your needs. And as @susie says, give them a call and maybe they can help you decide on all the features you're interested in.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
In my case, yes, the action (set-up) is the same on the McSpadden and the Folkcraft.
Fretboard width is 1 3/8" on both the McSpadden and the Folkcraft. Not sure if you can special order the 1 1/2" fretboard with either company. I didn't pursue that, because I prefer the standard 1 3/8". VSL is something you'll have to choose. With McSpadden, their standard is 28 1/2", but you can also get the 26", which is what I got. As a chord/melody player, I love the shorter VSL. With Folkcraft, you can get a VSL from 25" to 29". I have their 27" VSL.
I agree with the flathead, all of mine are flatheads. But, some people like the scroll look. It's a personal thing.
Yes, the McSpadden is not as deep, yet it is still right up there with the deep bodied Folkcraft for sustain. Volume is pretty close. I believe McSpadden has a great design that gives such great sound and sustain. If you go Folkcraft, I'd definitely do the deeper body. I also got the galax back. Their shallower body is more of the traditional design.
Both my McSpaddens have the Micarta fretboard. I love it as a great alternative to Ebony. I like the looks, fretboard markers, and feel when playing. It is very durable. I would not get a McSpadden without either the Micarta or Ebony. But that's just a personal preference.
As a suggestion, call each company and talk to them. They are both great to work with. Richard Ash is very helpful (Folkcraft). I have talked to him on several occasions, when trying to decide on features.
Hope this helps.
McSpadden v. Folkcraft?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks, @skip and @susie--I figured if there was anywhere I could get firsthand apples-to-apples comparisons, it would be here! Couple questions:
- Is the action similar in both? Sounds like so...
- Fingerboard width. Now there's something I hadn't thought of (I was presuming standard VSL). What are the benefits to wider fingerboard, and who's wider?
- Yep, I'm thinking flat headstock this time. My walnut is scroll. I can well imagine stringing being much easier with a flat one!
- McS not as physically deep, but has good volume and sustain anyway? The D Folkcraft looked interesting b/c I want fullness and sustain and believe the deeper body would give that.
- @susie, you have some beauties on your photo page!! Is that ebony or micarta on one of those fretboards? Trying to see if micarta is worth the extra cost in playability and durability.
- I flatpick and fingerpick, both.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to answer!