Forum Activity for @ken-hulme

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

OK -- here's a photo of my sono-tube cardboard dulcimer case with the jig for my Holly Leaf dulcimer next to it, for scale.  Just a tub, two 1/2" plywood disks for top & bottom, some duct tape and a piece of nylon strapping for a handle. This carries 2 dulcimers, one of which is 39" from end-to-end.  I roll them up together in small-bubble bubble-wrap until I get a squeeze fit, then tape on the ends.  Have used this technique to ship dulcimers all over the place@

Pardon the messy workshop/garage...

 

Sound posts were used by "Uncle Ed" Thomas and Charles N. Prichard in their dulcimers. Thomas had two sound posts; one about the 3rd fret and one about the 10th fret. Prichard had one sound post in the center of the fretboard. A friend made a reproduction of the Prichard dulcimer and when I asked him if he put in a sound post, he replied that he hadn't. He did on the next one he built and noticed an increase in the volume of the dulcimer. I put one in a dulcimer I recently built. People have commented on how nice it sounds, but I can't say for sure it was because of the addition of the sound post. Matt is correct. If you want more volume from a mountain dulcimer, add a possum board.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

updated by @ken-longfield: 02/21/20 08:50:09AM

Yep -- what Matt said.  You could put in a soundpost (and some of the pre-Revival era builders did) but it wouldn't do any good if you play it in your lap because any added vibration on the back is muted by your lap.  

The easiest way to get more un-amplified sound is a Possum Board.  Basically it's a thin plank the length of your dulcimer, with a couple 1/4" square dowels glued across it near the head and tail end of where the dulcimer will sit.  If you ask over in the Dulcimer Making Group, we'll be happy to help you put one together from a board that you can get at Home Despot or Lowe's.  

BTW -- most of us don't call that a "vaulted" fretboard; we refer to it as an Arched fretboard.

updated by @ken-hulme: 02/21/20 07:15:47AM

The violin sound post transmits vibrations to the bottom of the violin because the string press down on the saddle and the soundboard would collapse without the post.  The fret board/neck of a dulcimer, even one with vaults, is too stiff to have that problem.  To keep the posts in place, the luthier would need to put pressure on the back of the dulcimer.  Any vibrations would be absorbed by your legs.

Try using a Galax bottom, "possum board".

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It's 11 PM and time to hit the sack.  I'll see about getting a pic of my tubular case in the AM.  

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Some banjos are loud and beautiful, others can sound mellow and beautiful.  I have quite a few banjos.  My most mellow sounding banjo is my lovely gourd banjo with nylon strings:

updated by @strumelia: 02/20/20 06:08:47PM

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That's a lot of great information!  After further thought, I'm thinking there's no way they're going to let me take it with me - the dulcimer would not fit in a CRJ200 overhead bin. And putting it under the seats in front of me, would obviously annoy a person sitting next to me if they can't stretch their legs.  I'm 5'1", so no problem for me, but with my luck, I would probably end up with a guy measuring 6'6"! 

 

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, Ken!  After further research, I see I am booked on a CRJ200 which is a ridiculously small jet with overhead bins that won't even take a small suitcase with rollers (from what I am reading in different forums.)  I'm wondering if they would let me put it under my seat, although it would obviously go between my seat and the seat in front of me.  Also, my case is a soft case.  I guess I better invest in or borrow a hard case in case they tell me it has to go in the bagage compartment.  Do you have a picture of your case?  Sounds interesting...

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Here's a link to a similar discussion from about 7 years ago.  In that discussion I link to an article about the law requiring airlines to accommodate instruments in the overhead.

I can't remember if I mentioned this in that discussion, but Aaron O'Rourke shared with me a few years ago that when he travels by air he packs his dulcimers in a soft gig bag surrounded by his clothes and towels and stuffed in one of those hard, oversized containers made for carrying golf clubs, which he checks as luggage.  The dulcimers are safe inside and the airlines are used to handling those things.  Then he also has a light, soft case when he gets to his destination.

Also pay attention to this discussion in which Jan Potts warns us that some airlines don't let economy passengers use the overhead spaces at all. They are closed before you even board.

I have taken small dulcimers as carry-ons. I have an octave dulcimer that can fit under the seat in front and a ginger-sized dulcimer that I put in a hard viola case in the overhead. I've never traveled by air with a full-sized dulcimer, but presumably if it can fit in the overhead, you can take it.

And to put the proper amount of fear in you, here's Bing's song about Northwest Airlines mangling his dulcimer .

updated by @dusty: 02/20/20 03:29:20PM

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

It's not TSA you have to worry about, it's the particular airline.  Last year, flying from Florida to Kentucky for the Berea Traditional Dulcemore Gathering, Allegiant made me check my handmade case because they said "it didn't look like a musical instrument case", and there was no recourse but to put it in the belly of the beast.  On the way home on American, they let me have the same case in the cabin where the crew keep their goodies.  

BTW, the case was a 40" length of 8" diameter, 1/2" thick hard cardboard "sonotube" used as a form for casting concrete pilings.

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you so much, Dusty!  I can't imagine being without my dulcimer for 6 days!

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My understanding is that as of a few years ago, the airlines were required to allow you to carry on any instrument that could fit in the overhead compartment.  So the dimensions of the overhead compartment and how early your board would be the determining factors.

There have been a few discussions on this topic. If I can dig them up I'll post again with the links.

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I play 5-string resonator banjo, Earl Scruggs style. I had a wonderful teacher who first taught me fingerpicking guitar (46 years ago), then I moved on to fingerpicking (aka Earl Scruggs style) banjo. Don't play as much as I should, but it is still fun to pull out now and again.

Airline Travel With a Dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hello, Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience traveling on a commercial flight with a mountain dulcimer.  I'd like to take it with me onboard as a carry-on but if I understand correctly, TSA allows a maximum 45" dimensions.  I've got a McSpadden soft case 36" X 10" (at the widest point) X 3" which would put me 4" above the limit.  I was wondering how strict TSA is about this.  I would hate to "check it in" as I am sure that 800lb gorilla they keep in the back will smash it to pieces, God forbid!

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated, especially from those of you who have experience with it.  Many thanks!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I have a little 3-string banjo built by Michael Fox, called a Dulcijo.  The dulci portion of the name refers to the tunings used-- typical mountain dulcimer tunings-- but it is definitely a little banjo.  Nice & cool little instrument!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I got my banjo playing buddy a new tuner for Christmas --  Acme Wirecutters!!~!

Any banjo players out there?

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I play a bit of banjo.  It is a lot of fun. 

It is also loud and raucous.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. 

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Don you wrote me about this a week ago or so, and I responded, but never heard back from you. Can you tell us an example of a particular group you belong to that you have this issue with?  At least then I can check that you already belong to the group, and start from there in helping you.

Also, as I asked you prior:  when you have this issue of not being able to access a group you are a member of... are you sure you are LOGGED IN on the site when you try to access the group?  I ask this because any person who is online looking at fotmd.com would be able to see the site and many of the site pages... but they would not be able to see the content of groups unless they were logged into the site.  If you see your NAME in the top right hand link bar, then you are logged IN.  You should check that because what you describe sounds like that may be what's going on.  To see the contents of any Group you are a member of, you need to be LOGGED IN to the site.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@Don-Grundy, Ken is correct. You do not have to sign into a Group once you've joined it.  I would also like to point out that we have a Forum specifically for Site Questions . Feel free to peruse the existing conversations there or start another one of your own if you have any questions.  If we all use that Forum for site-related questions it becomes a great resource for others.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Don -- once you're a Group member, you don't "sign on" to that group.  You'll find the Groups you are a member of listed under your name when you hover over it with the cursor.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I actually use my thumb to pick (pluck) as well. Either middle on base forefinger on middle string and thumb on melody or ring on base middle on middle and forefinger on melody. I've been experimenting with tuning the double melody strings in fifths, so I'm currently tuned base C mid G and melody g and c. So I play cgc with my fingers and cgg if I use my thumb.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I belong to several groups and am unable to sign on to any of them. Please help.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well crud and other sayings of a simular nature...looks like I stand corrected, huh?

However, I am a thumb, index, middle finger picker. That leaves out the thumb brace for me. More like resting the ring and pinky next to the fret board.

You know your dulcimer has a hold on you when...

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

But as to pulling up on the strings? I would be afraid there might be a chance of the string 'slapping' the frets if string was pulled hard enough.

From Jean Ritchie's Dulcimer Book: "Brace the thumb of the right hand against the side of the fingerboard near the right hand end. Play, with a slight lifting or plucking motion, the melody string and second string with the forefinger, and the third string with the middle finger." Also The Best Dulcimer Method - Yet, (the only Dulcimer book I've seen in the past 40 years) repeats "Play with a slight lift in plucking motion." As far as string buzzing it hasn't been a problem, but my action is a little high. Not nickel and dime, more like a buck and a half.

Didn't know how to post that original quote.

Also sorry it took two weeks to respond, but, life..

 

updated by @rain-dog: 02/17/20 08:51:12AM

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Hobbyhorse... great job!  I like that you were inspired by my epinette built for me by Michael King. 

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

That looks cool, Hobbyhorse-- if you were my neighbor, I'd be knocking on your door to ask whether I could borrow it.  :) I've never tried to play an epinette yet would really like to.  

Finger picks that don't sound like finger picks!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I find that Alaska Piks work wonderfully and sound just like I'm using my fingernails. You can trim and shape them with nail clippers, and you can even strum in both directions just as you can with a pick. I prefer using my own fingernails, even for strumming, but when I break a nail, an Alaska Piks is a great temporary replacement. (Sounds like a commercial, but I have no financial interest in them!) - Steve Smith

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

The so called Pennsylvania scheitholt isn't really a scheitholt.  It was called by its builders and players a zitter or zither.  The term scheitholt is/was limited to a very small region of the Tyrolean Alps -- a smaller part of the country than the area in America where a dulcimer is called an Indian Walking Stick.  Why Michael Praetorious identified the scheitholt as such in his 1618 book De Organographia we will never know.  But most American dulcimer players who see tha sketch automatically assume that that instrument is the ancestor of the dulcimer.  

Hobbyhorse is right -- his instrument is an Epinette, one of several varieties of epinette.  The distinction has nothing to do with who drew up the plans.  There are structural differences between an epinette and a scheitholt and a fretted zither.  

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I found some information suggesting that the Epinette evolved from the Scheitholt in France about the same time the Fretted (or Mountain) Dulcimer was evolving in the US from similar sources. That would make it a cousin, rather than an ancestor.

There is an interesting discussion of the épinette des Vosges on the web page of a Musical Instrument Museum in Belgium.
http://www.mim.be/epinette-des-vosges?from_i_m=1

There are additional references to FEUILLEE DOROTHEE VAL D'AJOL VOSGES on a French auction website
https://www.musicantic.eu/plucked-strings-instrument/zither/epinette-des-vosges-la-feuillee-dorothee_4022_uk_D.html

Jean Ritchie and her husband successfully tracked down a couple of the instruments in France about 1960.

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Thanks for the comments Ken and Wally.

The plans were drawn by by a Professor Claude Blandet in 1981 and I suspect it was designed as a building project for school children, but certainly it came from the Vosges area of France. The drawing as such is readable but many of the dimensions are too small to be readable and enlarging the drawing actually made it worse .... I also struggled with the French language and words that were too blurred to read. The heading on the drawing reads  Epinette Des Vosges.

updated by @hobbyhorse: 02/14/20 03:03:57PM

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

It is a beautiful instrument. It would be nice to have a sound file posted.

Is there a reason why you call it an EPINETTE rather than a SCHEITHOLT ?  Are the plans from a French source rather than an American-German one?

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Indeed, it is a small world. You did a nice job figuring out what you needed to do. It looks like a very nice instrument.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Epinette

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Herewith an Epinette built from a rather poor quality plan dating from 1981 and as a result, there was a fair amount of guesswork involved. It is built from recycled Kauri and finished in oil and wax. Tuning at the moment is  gggec and I am agreeably surprised at the volume and tonal quality of the instrument.

 

I saw the youtube clip of one built by Michael J King and was attracted to it and I am now awaiting the plan from him, but this will take several weeks to arrive and I built this as practice run. I have since  found that the plan from Michael is in fact the one built for Strumelia ... it is a small world.

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


That's a lovely instrument! I'll shoot you a PM when I get home from work. :-)

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Buckeye67,

You are indeed very fortunate!  The Dayton dulcimer club is probably one of the best clubs in the US.  They have many events during the year.  I have contacts that are leaders of the group and have other information about the club.  If you want to send a PRIVATE MESSAGE to me, I will send information to you.

Since both of you are military,  I am posting some pictures of one instrument that I recently built.  A mother here in Ohio had me build this instrument to honor her son as he retired from the USAF. She was having a hard time deciding on sound holes. She decided on the "stars", since they are a prominent part of the USAF insignia.

Please see attached images.

Jim Phillips

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Hi Jim,

Thank you! We'll be moving to the Dayton area (WPAFB). I agree completely about learning with a group/club. When I started playing ITM I was fortunate to find Cincinnati's Riley School of Irish Music. I've seen that there's a dulcimer club in Dayton that I was going to check out, but would love info on Cincinnati happenings as well.

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

That is absolutely beautiful! Unfortunately technology is only as good as it user. I totality missed the groups under the menu. The last social media I used was AOL in the 80’s if you would call it that. I would love to be able to call upon the experience found on FOTMD how every I’m just starting and don’t have enough knowledge about the process. I did join that group last nite and as suggested started a post. I am trying to find some good books on the subject and what is good and important in them as well as maybe give experienced builders new resources they may have not know. I listed a few that I found through one builders web page. Most are out of print since the 70’s but have all but one on the way. I look forward the discussions and thank you all for point me in the right way!

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@Appalachiandreamer -- We've talked quite a few new builders through their first dulcimer in that Group.  We can get you going with designs, materials, hand-holding help... whatever you want/need.

I see you're from North Carolina.   You might be interested too see  that I build a pretty rare North Carolina dulcimer style called a Holly Leaf shape.  The original was built in Burnsville, NC around the time of the "recent unpleasantness" -- 1860s.  It's a traditional dulcemore  -- that is it's not suited for playing modern three-finger chord-melody style, but rather for traditional noter & drone style playing.  

updated by @ken-hulme: 02/12/20 10:35:09PM

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you very much that’s a big help

Introduce Yourself!

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

At the top of the Home Page click on "Groups".  Then scroll down to the "Dulcimer Making" group and click on that.  You can join that group by clicking the "Join" button.  Once you are a member of the group, you can post your questions to other members of the dulcimer making group for discussion by clicking on the "+ sign" in the upper right-hand corner and creating a topic for discussion.

If you want to discuss deceased dulcimer makers, you can join the "Dulcimer History" group in the same manner and post your questions there.