Forum Activity for @strumelia

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm sure the two Kens can tell us the exact year that Bruce created ED. I joined there after it had been online for maybe two years.
Jason's SweetMusicDigest listserve was (to the best of my knowledge) the first dedicated online 'discussion group' for dulcimers. That was before people could easily put up online forum software websites like ED. But remember that SweetMusic was a listserve- an email mailing list...it did not have a website where the discussions were threaded and browse-able, like what we are all used to today.

Ed was started more than ten years before FOTMD. Fotmd was started in July 2009, making it almost 11 years old now.

Yes, there is still an 'official' ED facebook page which was created by the folks involved with running the old ED site, when ED was still running.  That FB page is still quite active:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/165673533442748/

I 'think' Ron Zuckerman started that ED FB page- Ron had volunteered and helped Bruce a lot with the tech/admin duties of maintaining the ED main website during its last couple of years. I think Ron then relinquished the ownership of the ED facebook page to others as of last year. They run it now, but I don't know their names.

Feel free to correct me if I have any of this wrong.
There are many other dulcimer 'groups'/pages on Facebook as well these days.

updated by @strumelia: 05/16/20 03:12:34PM

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

ahhhhhhh, another good learning post thread.    THANKS LOADS.   and that screwdriver and wirecutters are both things that I've forgotten.  ahhhhhhhh, storing in cases our dulcimers.   Well, I can see that too....However, I've made all my cases and they are material with a thick lining on the inside.   Mostly for traveling and getting them on airplanes and such.   Never been turned down bringing my dulcimer....the scroll head pokes out.  Easy to see that's it's an instrument.  The last trip from Hawaii, it was stored in the same closet that the pilot puts his coat.   nice.  aloha, irene

Humidity and a sticky fretboard

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the advice. Simple fix.

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

TTAD started December 8 2018 from a small traditional dulcimore builders group that had been on Google+ since around 2012. When Google+ closed we decided to go with a website.

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Screwdriver for Tightening Tuning Pegs
Wire Cutters for Trimming Excess String

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you for the correction, Lisa. Perhaps we need a chronology of online dulcimer discussion forums.

Was the Sweet Music Index that Jason started the first? Followed by Bruce Ford's Everything Dulcimer site? Or was it Lisa's (Strumelia's) FOTMD that came next? Now we have Bobby's TTAD (The Traditional Appalachian Dulcimer) and the new Everything Dulcimer site, not to mention the Everything Dulcimer Facebook group.
What is the correct sequence of these groups and what have I missed?

Humidity and a sticky fretboard

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lift your fingers rather than slide.  Dr. Duck's Axe Wax, or Lemon Oil to rub on the fretboard.  Also try baby powder on your fingertips.

Humidity and a sticky fretboard

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

As bodily fluids are not exactly the same from person to person you'll sometimes find that a specific remedy will work well for one person but not another person. For me, the following remedy works great. Whenever the fretboard  gets a bit yucky I simply immerse a cloth into very hot water, then squeeze the cloth till it's only damp, then wipe the fretboard whilst the cloth is still very warm. Just wipe it over the top of the strings, back and forth a few times, and then wipe it again straight away with a clean, dry cloth.

There's lots of products that contain all sorts of chemicals, but I've found the warm, damp cloth method works really well for me. Hope that helps.

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Only 1 thing is necessary, an insatiable desire to play your dulcimer again and again and again and again and again. If that's the only extra thing you have, then you'll be living in dulcimer Heaven.

Humidity and a sticky fretboard

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've noticed in the recent humid days we have had here where I live that my fingers don't seem to want to glide across the fretboard as easily. The fingerboard appears to be a little tacky or sticky therefore my fingers kind of drag on it. Any tips on solving this problem?

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I did read your post about Jason, but did not realize that Steve and Dan had a played a role in ED. I know Ron Zuckerman did quite a bit of work with the ED website.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Read my post below about who Jason was.

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I agree with Ken Hulme as I joined ED just after he did. Bruce called me and we did some testing of ED together. I don't remember any Jason involved in the origin of the website.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Greg:

Jason was the guy who started the SweetMusic Index, which was the early and long running  email NEWSGROUP/LISTSERVE for dulcimers. Not to be confused with Bruce Ford's EverythingDulcimer. Jason was not around on his SweetMusic newsgroup very often, and it sort of hummed along by itself until listserves mostly faded from use.

Bruce was quite busy with his military service career, and after many years of running ED he wanted a break. It was Stephen Seifert and Dan Landrum who took over from Bruce on ED for a year or two. But then Dan and Stephen wanted to move on to start Dulcimer School, and Bruce resumed managing the ED forum again for another few years. Bruce finally got too busy in other life activity, and decided to close it down.

updated by @strumelia: 05/16/20 11:07:17AM

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

When I lived aboard full time, as well as living on a small island in the Pacific, keeping strings "good" was the hardest thing, after the first couple days while an instrument stabilized to the higher humidity. 

Do Not store the instrument(s) in cases -- hang them from the bulkheads or lay them on a spare berth or banquet where they can get plenty of air circulation.  Stored cases or tucked away in lockers they will definitely have humidity/mildew issues.  

To store your spare strings and not have them turn black from salt air, store them in a zip-top bag along with a couple of those de-humidifier 'pellets' or 'packets' or whatever they're called. 

For your 'on instrument' strings, light coat of molybdenum lubricant or even wiping them down with WD40 after you play, or at the end of the day, will help keep them corrosion-less.

 

updated by @ken-hulme: 05/16/20 10:30:30AM

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I was on ED the week that the site opened to the public.  There were a couple of 'bots that Bruce used for testing, and two or three humans other than Bruce.  But, I don't recall any Jason or mention of Bruce taking over from anyone.  

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Please remember, Bruce Ford provided a great service for all Appalachian dulcimer players. But he did not create/originate Everything Dulcimer. If I remember correctly ED was created by "Jason (?)" Bruce Ford stepped forward when someone was needed to keep the website up and running, and we should all be thankful that he did.
The new website moderator should be given every opportunity to get ED back up and running.

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I continue to check in to ED every day and make comments there when appropriate. I also tell people to check it out. It is important to have as many resources as possible to promote the mountain dulcimer and encourage people to play it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Definitely it's no competition. But because they assumed Bruce Ford's original site name, comparisons to his site are just unavoidable. ED was special, and beloved by many.  

Is the strumhollow redundant?

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

The strumhollow is certainly not redundant, in fact dozens of thousands of players pick & strum in that area. That area provides a slightly stronger and brighter tone which is precisely what many dulcimer players want. Other players will use both the strumhollow & fretboard area & some players use the fretboard area exclusively in order to get a more mellow tone and for other reasons.

It's important for us to remember there is no correct way and no wrong way. No superior way and no inferior way. If it works for you then 'your' way is what you should use.

A huge majority of dulcimers are built with strumhollows & that is driven by public demand. If nobody wanted strumhollows then builders would not build strumhollows.

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

When I said it was was just like the old ED I was referring to the design & format of the discussion forum.

I think we should all remember it's not a competition. I believe we should all be inclusive of, and supportive of, all dulcimer websites & dulcimer Facebook sites etc.

Let's spread the dulcimer 'love'.

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I hope you have a case for your dulcimer as all that traveling in a car and then on the boat.  If it's an ocean you'll be living on.....stuff gets rusty and Dulcimer might swell a little being the humidity might be higher on the boat.   Where will you be going?   Not Hawaii?   (wishing)  aloha, irene

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, Thanks Ken. And a capo (maybe two in case I drop one overboard LOL!) 

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It takes dedicated effort to keep spammers and unpleasant offenders off a public site. Bruce did a great job running ED for so many years. When he closed down ED, he did in fact explain publicly why he chose not to turn the site over to someone else. I can respect that. 

updated by @strumelia: 05/15/20 08:36:31PM

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Indeed, it is not the old ED site. I was a moderator on that site and know the frustrations Bruce Ford experienced keeping it a safe place to discuss all things dulcimer. While he was at sea, he gave me and another person administration rights. I was overwhelmed by how much time it took to eliminate spurious material and offensive members. After he retired from the Navy and started his own business, he just did not have the time to put into ED anymore. Rather than turn it over to someone else, Bruce decided to retire the site. At least, that is how I understand it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Don't forget your tuner.... and spare batteries for your tuner.  

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I signed up for it but didn't find anything of interest on it. Sad, sad, sad :(

Now I no longer look at it.  After years of following the old ED site, it was quite a disappointment.  Does anyone know who the "administers" are who owns this new site?

updated by @ptl: 05/16/20 01:00:45PM

Tips what do you bring when traveling with your dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi friends, I've traveled a lot - but this time (C-virus permitting!) we'll be driving 1200 miles to spend 4 months on our boat - on the water 95% of the time. I know all the obvious things (don't leave your dulcimer in a hot car, etc.), but I don't want to be gone 4 months, away from stores or shipping, and then find out, "oh, shucks, I should have brought ________ with me" (insert item here). I'm bringing extra strings, extra picks, digital and print tunes to play, and a strap. That's all I can think of! If you were traveling with your dulcimer for an extended period, is there something else you would bring? Thanks! I think that's all I need. I think....

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

No thank you

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Just to be clear... the old ED has not 'returned'.  It's a completely new site run by someone who doesn't identify themselves. They bought the domain name when it went up for grabs online, and they decided to use the same name of Bruce Ford's original site. They mimicked the structure of the old site's forum topics, and copied over the original site's tab collection as well.
It's a whole new and different site, using the same name Bruce Ford created. It is not the original EverythingDulcimer come back again.

updated by @strumelia: 05/14/20 10:51:45PM

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Not exactly the same as the old ED.  But the new, anonymous Admin copied the old discussion structure pretty closely,  Not much traffic yet.  But it took more than a year to get decent discussions rolling on the original ED, so there may be hope.

The EverythingDulcimer website has returned. Whooopie!!!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've just discovered that the ED site is now back up and running again.The discussion forum there is just like the old discussion forum. It's been back on line for several months.

I'm very happy that it's back. It was my favorite dulcimer website for years. Just go to the usual www.everythingdulcimer.com  address.

updated by @corvus: 05/14/20 08:37:17AM

Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 5th Year

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Congratulations! Hearts of the Dulcimer is a GREAT Podcast!

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Folks, please stay on Nate's thread topic and don't take over the thread to introduce other subjects. I have removed a few off topic posts.
Does anyone have more to add to actually answer Nate's questions?  If you have other things to discuss then please start a new thread specific to that subject in the appropriate location. And please be clear and specific about your discussion subject if you start a new thread. Thanks.

updated by @strumelia: 05/10/20 02:45:42PM

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Question posed by the original poster:

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Matt Berg wrote, in part: I may seem pedantic when referring to parts of an instrument, but really, I would like to our instrument take its rightful place as an American treasure.

@matt-berg I share your desire to see our instrument take its rightful place.  And I don't see your approach as pedantic at all.  

Finish

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Great responses. I ended up using a product called Ultra Flo Clear lacquer.  Anyway, I mentioned that my other dulcimer was louder and more vibrant and the other would never sound as good. This is funny because the more I play the duller toned one, the better I like it and the less I like the more vibrant, or I should describe it as twangy. So much so, that I actually don't enjoy playing the vibrant one. The mellow toned dulcimer is 3 inches deep. The twangy one is 2 1/4 inch. I've read that could be the difference.

updated by @gennaro: 05/10/20 08:39:09AM

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Most of us know the story of how Jean Ritchie and the 20th Century revival saved the dulcimer from the dustbin of history.

When starting to build dulcimers, I joined a different online group to share ideas.  Using the word dulcimer was like kryptonite, no responses, no comments.  I get the same reaction bringing my dulcimer to many jams,..., "oh, now we are limited", "can you play our songs".  I have also noted the lack of young people at our festivals.

Soon, we will need a 21st Century Jean Ritchie to save our instrument.

Much of this is self inflicted.  Only a few musicians play music from the last 25 years.  And many dulcimer builders insist on using terms that make them sound like they do not understand acoustic instruments.

I may seem pedantic when referring to parts of an instrument, but really, I would like to our instrument take its rightful place as an American treasure.

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I'm seeing some fingerboards stop slightly south of the last fret and a saddle or bridge like that of a violin actually afixed to the body of the dulcimer. Matter of fact, I have come to believe that only imagination limits the styles and or structure of our beloved instruments ... and that's ok. If we accrue knowledge of the instrument and it's many variations, we will pick up sufficient terminology to understand what most folks are talking about. If we don't understand, I've yet to see a builder or musician that would not take a moment to explain. 

VSL Breakpoint Angles, Radiuses, and Excess String Lengths

Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I guess I'll have to install some braces to my banjo head so I can properly call that little wooden thingie the strings sit on a bridge. Here I've been wrong for almost 60 years! And my violin, too! Oh, drat!