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That Gracie is a real firecracker !! 
What a terrific photo, Sam!
Forum Activity for @strumelia
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Hearts Of The Dulcimer Podcast In Its 4th Year
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast - Episode 39
The Winter Holiday Dulcimer 2018
With music from all over the globe, celebrate the season with wintry seasonal dulcimer music from Butch Ross, Lorraine Hammond, Jessica Comeau, Don Pedi, Tull Glazener, Madeline MacNeil, Nina Zanetti, Aubrey Atwater, and Christine Shoemaker.
Hearts of the Dulcimer Podcast can be found on most podcast apps.
Here's the link to Hearts of the Dulcimer on iTunes: http://bit.ly/hotdpodcast
Don't use a podcast app or iTunes? You can listen to all the podcast episodes directly on our website: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast
We also have a resource page for every episode, where you can find photos, videos, and song lists. Here's the resource page for this episode: http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/039.html
updated by @patricia-delich: 12/09/18 11:19:33PM
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
1) Yes -- in that part of the world, at that time, caves were often used as stables -- a place to protect horses and mules -- among other things. Cave are nice and cool, and require minimum labor to seal against the elements and dangerous wildlife (animal or human).
2) Yes, short hair and beardless are health issues -- they hide fewer parasites and are much easier to clean. Also, Jesus was Semitic, and did not look like a European with a tan.
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Here are three interesting bits of information I learned this week:
(1) Baby Jesus was, in all likelihood, born in a cave, not a manger in a stable.
(2) Jesus did not look like a hippie and was short, as most men were at the time, unlike today's man. As was the Jewish custom, Jesus had very little facial hair, and short cropped hair. He would probably have been around 5'1".
(3) The KJV of the Bible is inaccurate, as in its use of the word "dulcimer."
It's been a tough week.
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
It may be that the biblical translators were just thinking of this term generically. The two words of which the word "dulcimer" is composed are dulce (sweet) and melos (melody), thus indicating some kind of a musical instrument that makes a sweet sound or melody. Just a suggestion.
About to start my first kit, any advice?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hi Jools;
I've assembled, or helped assemble several of those kits, as have others here. If I remember correctly, the only real "hard" part is assembling the top with the space between the two planks; and that's not difficult.
My one suggestion is to use an appropriate size of Forstner bit, and a rasp, to open up the bottom of the tuning head slot, before starting assembly with it. As it comes, that slot is three sided -- two sides and the bottom. But as a player with many years experience stringing and re-stringing dulcimers, an "open" slot makes it a lot easier to run the string ends through the holes in the tuning pins preparatory to tuning. A few stabbed fingers will convince you too! The head works just fine without a bottom, many people make them that way. There's never enough string pressure to both anything.
About to start my first kit, any advice?
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Hi everyone
I finally get my Folkcraft walnut teardrop dulcimer delivered to me here in the UK on Tuesday.
I intend to start building it soon after Christmas.
I wondered if anyone has any advice to help me build it as best as possible. I'm used to working with wood as I've been making doors, windows, staircases etc for 30yrs, but this is a first.
Thank you
Jools
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Biblical scholars tell us that "dulcimer" is a mis-translation. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible contains this list: "horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum." There is no evidence that the "translators" of the King James Version of the Bible used any ancient manuscripts as a source. Their task was to put the Bible into an understandable English rendition of the scriptures. The NRSV, the NKJV, NIV and other "newer" translations use older and more reliable source manuscripts. There is no archaeological evidence for a mountain dulcimer-like instrument in the time of Daniel (400-100 B.C.E.). There are some depictions of hammered dulcimer type instruments during that time period. I realize that this is a brief and simplistic statement of a complex issue. It would take more time than I have at the moment to go in to the nuances of biblical translation, reliability of manuscripts, and biblical archaeology to do justice to this discussion. My point is that we do a gross injustice to lead people to think that people in the middle East in 400-100 B.C.E. knew of or even played a dulcimer-like instrument.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Yes, perhaps you guys are right. But we don't know for sure. It doesn't read, hammered dulcimer. It doesn't read, bagpipe. It reads, dulcimer. I'm going with 1 or 2 stringed dulcimer.
Interesting, to say the least.
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Well at least we can say that we play an instrument with one of the oldest names for musical instruments.
My understanding, Terry, is that what is referred to as a "dulcimer" in the Book of Daniel was probably closer to a bagpipe than the fretted zither that you and I play, which has much more recent origins, as we know. The KJV was an English translation from Aramaic and Hebrew, so to really investigate specifically what instrument was meant by the term, we'd need to know those languages.
There are a handful of references to something called a "dulcimer" in literature, but again, our lap dulcimer was probably not what the authors had in mind.
One of the most well known is Samuel Tayler Coleridge's "Kubla Khan":
A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssianian maid
And on her dulcimer she played
Singing of Mount Abora.
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
Yes the term "dulcimer" was used in the KJV, it was a very popular instrument when that translation was written. (Hammer dulcimer)
DAN
The Dulcimer
General mountain dulcimer or music discussions
The dulcimer. One of the world's oldest instruments.
I have read or heard several times that the dulcimer is written about in the Bible. But never could find it, as the NKJ only uses the word harp. However, I got my hands on my wife's deceased brother's very old KJV.
Sure enough,in Daniel, chapter 3, tis written 3 times the word dulcimer. It doesn't say mountain or lap dulcimer, just dulcimer.
It tickled me to discover this today. Now, with authority, I can state, "I play one of the world's oldest music instruments known to humankind."
Just thought I would share this very special information.
updated by @terry-wilson: 12/08/18 08:03:14PM
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DulciCat:
Strumelia, - Many, many thanks for the banner on the home page that encourages adoption of rescue animals from local shelters! I’m so pleased to see that and maybe some lucky dog or cat will be adopted because of it!
Awwww, Dulcicat you made my day! 
Show Us Your Pets!
OFF TOPIC discussions
Strumelia, - Many, many thanks for the banner on the home page that encourages adoption of rescue animals from local shelters! I’m so pleased to see that and maybe some lucky dog or cat will be adopted because of it!
How Do I Ditch This Chat Pop-Up?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Thanks Dusty!
I'd just like to add as well that once you have the chat pane open and the four buttons visible, the bottom one minimizes the chat pane a gain... but the other buttons widen/narrow the width and the top button pops the chat out into its own new browser window.
And... don't be afraid to hover your mouse over 'mystery' buttons or icons- often you'll get a little 'help explanation' popup telling what the button will do!
How Do I Ditch This Chat Pop-Up?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Jimmy, when the chat is open, there are four controls on the lower left. The bottom one will minimize the chat.
Once it's minimized it stays on the screen off on the lower right-hand corner.
How Do I Ditch This Chat Pop-Up?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
I clicked on the chat button out of curiousity, and now I can't get rid of it, and it comes up every time I sign on.
I'm not a new guy, but in a way I am. I joined several years ago, but took a long hiatus.
How Do I Quote Someone?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Jimmy Lamar: I might try copy and paste with my phone, because 90% of the time I use my phone for the internet.
Jimmy, you get the same speech bubble icon on your phone or tablet.
updated by @dusty: 12/07/18 02:38:14PM
How Do I Quote Someone?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Ken Hulme:
I just use Copy and Paste.
I might try copy and paste with my phone, because 90% of the time I use my phone for the internet.
Thanks Ken!
Strumelia:
Like Dusty said! :)
Here's a picture in case you need more detail:
Thanks Strummy!
Dusty Turtle:
You use the speech bubble icon that appears in the upper right-hand corner of message you want to copy when you move your cursor over it.
Thanks. Got it. It wasn't working because I was using my phone, and I guess phones don't have that ability.
How Do I Quote Someone?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Like Dusty said! :)
Here's a picture in case you need more detail:
updated by @strumelia: 12/07/18 01:28:35PM
How Do I Quote Someone?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
Jimmy Lamar: I quoted someone a couple weeks ago, but now I forget how I did it.
In other words, how do I copy someone’s post, so that I can comment about it?
You use the speech bubble icon that appears in the upper right-hand corner of message you want to copy when you move your cursor over it.
How Do I Quote Someone?
Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?
I quoted someone a couple weeks ago, but now I forget how I did it.
In other words, how do I copy someone’s post, so that I can comment about it?
updated by @jimmy-lamar: 11/08/22 12:53:29PM
Many dulcimers are made with hardwoods rather than the softwood soundboard in guitars. Hardwoods tend to shrink and expand less with changes in humidity. That is why many people get away with not humidifying their dulcimers.
With a spruce top, well, consider whether how much the air dries in winter. People who live further north here in Michigan get more dry winters and may need humidifiers. Not so much here in Detroit.
I believe Foldcraft used to sell dulcimer humidifiers. Haven't looked for a while.
I have nothing to add that Ken and Ken have not already stated, except to point you to our group here on Dulcimer Care and Maintenance .
A basic rule of thumb is "if you are comfortable, your instrument will be comfortable." I find that my mountain dulcimers are not as sensitive to humidity as my guitars and banjos. I keep the latter in their cases to help maintain humidity. I also use humidifiers in the cases. Only once have I found the need to humidify my mountain dulcimers which was during a particularly cold winter here in Pennsylvania. I notices the fret ends stick out from the fret board. I stuck a wet sponge in soap dish in which I drilled a few holes in dulcimer's case. That solved the problem. What Ken said about the strings.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It does not matter whether your instruments are solid wood, or cheap doorskin plywood... IF it gets dry enough wherever it is that you live, such that you get static shocks when you walk across a carpet sock-footed; then YES you need the house/room humidified. Not just for the instrument but for you! Bowls of water set out with a sponge in them will help -- as long as they are kept replenished. Damp towel(s) over heater vents will help too.
Where I live in South Florida, however, that is never an issue.
Those miniscule (and I do mean miniscule) increases in string diameter will NEVER harm your instrument! You can re-string it as a baritone using much heavier strings and it won't hurt anything.
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship!
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Thanks for the responses! In answer to your question, Ken, it's number 1296. There's no description in the Master List, just the name of the first owner. I got it recently from the third owner. The label just has "1296" and "SPECIAL" written by hand, and the writing is quite faded. I think the scroll is walnut, not cherry. It's definitely fretted for just intonation. I play both DAD and DAA, but my screen name is a rather poor attempt at a pun, as I am the father of a wonderful 16 year old young lady of whom I'm very proud! Anyway, I've attached some pictures of #1296, including a picture of the fuzzy area on the back. To be honest, it looks much worse in the picture than it really is. It definitely is an issue with the finish and does not go down to the wood. I would love to do something about it if it can be done correctly. If not, I could live with it.
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Homer used Sherwin-Williams Sherwood Dull Lacquer.
DAN
www.dulcimore.com
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
Send a PM to John Knopf. He's our Homer replicator. He should know what finish was used.
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
If there was a photo to see the spots you are concerned about it may be easier to give a suggestion.
That being said, however, if it's just a cosmetic rather than a functioning issue, I would lean towards letting it be and keeping it in its current condition.
If you have ever watched "the Antiques Roadshow" you can see what appraisers think of 'cosmetic restoration' done on historic pieces, which is what I think you have.
Steel strings are the norm for mountain dulcimer. Never, ever trim the first set of strings on an instrument until they've been played in for a few days. If adjusting the nut/bridge you don't take the string off, just slack them enough to move the strings off to the side.
Personally, I would tune DAA. That way your scale starts at the 3rd fret and you have a few notes below that "low do".
There seems to be something amiss with the graphics. Every time I try to download them the period before jpg is ignored and it tries to open them as a text file. Just give the files common names, you don't need .jpg or .jpeg....
updated by @ken-hulme: 12/03/18 04:03:58PM
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
What number is your Ledford? Look inside. There is a Master List of the known Ledford builds, which contains a variety of information.
I have to say, if you really are "dedicated (to) DAd", you may not be happy with that classic instrument. Homer didn't build them with DAd or other Mixolydian tunings in mind, and didn't always use a Mean Tone intonation so his dulcimers would "played well with others"...
Question about Homer Ledford dulcimer finish
Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions
I'm fairly new to FOTMD and this is my first discussion post. I recently acquired an older Homer Ledford 3-string dulcimer with staple frets (for all you "Homer heads" out there - 1967, birdseye maple back, butternut top, quilted mahogany sides, cherry scroll, pegs, and tail block). It's in excellent condition and sounds great. My question is about the finish on the birdseye maple back. There are two 2" spots where the finish is a little dull and cloudy looking. It's very minor, but it's the the only real flaw and I wanted to know if there is a way to even out the finish on the back so those two dull spots disappear. I've used lemon oil on furniture with good results, but I'm hesitant to use it on my dulcimer. Any suggestions? Or is it better to leave it as is, to keep it "all original" even with small flaws? Thanks in advance for your input.