Forum Activity for @nate

Nate
@nate
06/22/24 06:45:03PM
402 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, I don't really do anything that special. I like to mix sweet fruits and berries with tart fruits and berries to balance it out to my own taste. I have a friend who collects wild honey so I use that whenever I get the chance, but usually I like brown sugar, and sometimes settle for white sugar. I leave all the pulp and skin in the mixture, then filter it out after fermentation. I use champagne yeast and a specific gravity gauge to measure the alcohol content and usually stop fermentation at 15% abv. I filter it with cheesecloth and allow the fine particulate pulp to remain, because I believe that a small amount of flesh and skin can decrease hangover symptoms.

Wally Venable
@wally-venable
06/21/24 09:42:42AM
109 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

I ordered a set of the tuners on Ali Express for under $15 for a set of 4. I used PayPal to avoid sending a credit card number. They arrived promptly, considering their origin in China.

They ARE 4 to 1 planetary geared units. I wouldn't give them the 1 in 5 rating another buyer gave but more like a 2. They look good but the quality is poor. Two of the four had flash on the castings which should have been removed before plating and needed clearing before the retaining barrels would insert. All four were a bit jerky in turning, and the barrel threads may or may not work to full depth.

Aside from quality, they have a downside in that without making special spacers, they will not fit wood less than 0.4 inches thick, and maybe not under 1/2 inch so they aren't good for side mounting. They are described as "banjo tuners," however.

I haven't tried fitting them to anything. I'll almost certainly put them on a stick before risking any bodied instrument on them.

Research is never free, and $15 isn't a big expense.

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/21/24 02:10:32AM
58 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

So Nate......Care to share your small batch recipe???? I'm "re attempting" my elderberry blossom "cordial".....Last time it ended up like rocket fuel....

Nate
@nate
06/21/24 12:09:37AM
402 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Strumelia:

Ooh, that is exciting Nate, you are a winemaker now!
we have blueberries coming soon on our backyard bushes. We already put the netting over them to keep the birds from eating them. The blue jays and squirrels would eat them all otherwise.

 
Definitely jealous of your blueberry bushes. They are my favorite for jams and pies.
I've actually been making small batch fruit wine for a few years now as a hobby! It's super fun and this area has tons of wild blackberries, grapevines, oregon grapes, and even some wild strawberries if you're lucky. There are also lots of planted japanese plum and fig trees in the area. SOOO much better than the berry and fruit wines from the store.
Strumelia
@strumelia
06/20/24 08:48:59AM
2,343 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Ooh, that is exciting Nate, you are a winemaker now!
we have blueberries coming soon on our backyard bushes. We already put the netting over them to keep the birds from eating them. The blue jays and squirrels would eat them all otherwise. 🤷🏼

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/20/24 08:22:16AM
1,507 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

@nate That's just doggone cool.  

Nate
@nate
06/19/24 10:34:52PM
402 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Very excited to see that the Oregon grape bush in front of my apartment is ripening! Oregon grape is the state flower of Oregon, but a lot of folks here don't know that it's edible and makes a delicious tart wine when fermented. The flavor is like a pomegranate flesh with a plum skin. I am stoked to be starting a gallon of wine today!
original


updated by @nate: 06/19/24 10:37:58PM
Jim Phillips
@jim-at-gcreek
06/19/24 05:21:17PM
13 posts

K&K pickup versus LR Baggs under saddle pickup.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lilley Pad,

I build this dulcimer model that I call the "Peardrop".  The dulcimer pictured is a 6 string that is my own personal instrument.

I also build it as a 4 string.  This model has excellent sustain and resonance has a floating bridge.  I wanted even more sound

when playing in larger rooms , so I equipped the 6 string with the "K & K Twin Spot" pickup that Dusty mentioned.  The two

pickups are mounted right under the ends of the bridge.

The "Twin Spot" delivers a terrific, pure acoustic sound.

Jim Phillips


Pear1.jpg Pear1.jpg - 216KB
Dusty Turtle
@dusty
06/18/24 04:26:18PM
1,815 posts

K&K pickup versus LR Baggs under saddle pickup.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi Lilley-Pad,

My favorite dulcimer is one made by Terry McCafferty. It came with a K & K twin spot pickup.  The twin spot has has two heads, and although I don't know how Terry positioned them, the fact that there are two means that you get a more balanced sound.  I can tell you that the dulcimer sounds great amplified, and I also know that Terry worked with Stephen Seifert for a long time testing different pickup possibilities before they decided on the K & K.  Just plugging directly into an amp or DAW provides a very clean, acoustic sound.  I have some other dulcimers with pickups, none of which seem as clean as the K&K, but in some cases I don't even know what they are, so I can't say for sure any of them have an LR Baggs. 

Lilley Pad
@lilley-pad
06/18/24 03:03:46PM
49 posts

K&K pickup versus LR Baggs under saddle pickup.


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 I hope I'm not repeating a previous post but I could not find anything under search so here goes. It's just a general question about pickups wanted to get feedback. K&K pickup versus LR Baggs under saddle pickup. the little that I've been reading on the internet suggests that the K&K gives you a more realistic Acoustic sound. Do you guys find that to be true or what's your opinion in general? Thanks again, I hope everybody's doing well. A few months ago they operated on my left hand so now I'm doing finger exercises. I was getting what they call Dupuytren’s, contracture. I guess I'm just getting old. The good news is that everybody else is getting old with me. smile 

Ken Hulme
@ken-hulme
06/18/24 08:48:40AM
2,157 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lilley Pad -- Probably best if you start a New discussion rather than tacking this technical question onto the general  Introduce Yourself thread where it won't be seen by others.

Go out to General Dulcimer or Music Question, then click on the + on the top right of the page and give your Question a good name like Pickup Question.  Then put the info you posted here in there.  That way others who have the same question can search and find the answers which you'll get.


updated by @ken-hulme: 06/18/24 08:52:30AM
Lilley Pad
@lilley-pad
06/18/24 06:53:50AM
49 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi kids. I hope I'm not repeating a previous post but I could not find anything under search so here goes. It's just a general question about pickups wanted to get feedback. K&K pickup versus LR baggs under saddle pickup. the little that I've been reading on the internet suggests that the K&K gives you a more realistic Acoustic sound. Do you guys find that to be true or what's your opinion in general? Thanks again, I hope everybody's doing well. A few months ago they operated on my left hand so now I'm doing finger exercises. I was getting what they call dupuytren’s contracture. I guess I'm just getting old. The good news is that everybody else is getting old with me. smile 

John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
06/15/24 05:51:31AM
59 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Thanks for the support, NATE

Nate
@nate
06/15/24 12:21:19AM
402 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Really glad to hear you're recovering, John. I'll keep you in my prayers. Hope you're feeling well soon.

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
06/14/24 01:43:47AM
1,815 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, I'm so glad you're back home and healing. I hope you're feeling stronger every day and I look forward to hearing more of your music.

Gordon Hardy
@gordon-hardy
06/13/24 10:53:34PM
30 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, thank goodness you are back home and on the mend please take good care of yourself and rest well. Pneumonia is nothing to sneeze at!😊

Robin Thompson
@robin-thompson
06/13/24 05:40:55PM
1,507 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, I hope you continue to feel better!  

Jan, that is so nice you got to meet Cynthia!  I always enjoyed her videos and her participation here. 

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
06/13/24 04:45:58PM
1,242 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Jan, that is wonderful that you were able to visit Cynthia. On the way there and back you could have visited many more members of FOTMD who are not far off the route you traveled. I have not seen Cynthia participating here in a long time and must admit that I've been neglectful in contacting her.  Thank you for your report on your visit.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Jan Potts
@jan-potts
06/13/24 01:55:07PM
402 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Hey!  Guess what?!  After 4 1/2 years of talking on the phone nearly every day, Cynthia Wigington and I finally got to meet in person and spend a week together in her Vermont community of West Fairlee.  My husband Craig and I drove up from Kentucky and got to enjoy the sights from Ohio to Mass. and up north from there.  We stayed at a nice Airbnb about a mile from her house and enjoyed many meals at local restaurants (think lobster, clams, scallops...yum!)  We even played a little music together!  We thank FOTMD for introducing us to each other so we could become friends during COVID.  

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
06/13/24 01:07:53PM
1,242 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

I'm happy to hear that you are back home. I pray that you recover fully and heal quickly.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Strumelia
@strumelia
06/13/24 12:39:57PM
2,343 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

John I'm so glad you are on the mend. That sounds like it was no fun at all.
Big hugs to you... comfort

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/13/24 10:13:11AM
58 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Glad to see you on the mend. Try and rest, seek some sunshine, and the opportunity you have to be "in the garden" where you're never alone....

Shalom

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/13/24 10:02:12AM
58 posts

Hammered Dulcimer Forums


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Sorry for the confusion....I have bought one. At an extremely low price, but it is in Rogers Ar, and I'm in Illinois. My quest is to either have some one help me pick/pack it up and ship it to me [all costs/fees paid in advance]. Or... If there is some one who could use/needs one, I would flat out "gift" it to them. I'm sure it needs some TLC, how much or little I do not know at this point. Although I do not play HD [yet], I've always tried to get instruments into the hands of those who strive to, but are "acquisition" challenged through cost or life getting in the way....


share.png share.png - 793KB
John W. McKinstry
@john-w-mckinstry
06/13/24 08:54:19AM
59 posts

The Positive Thread...


OFF TOPIC discussions

Hi Everyone,  A couple of days ago I just got back from a six day stay at the hospital with pneumonia.

I am glad to be in rehabilitation now at home. Thanks for your prayers and support. John McKinstry

Strumelia
@strumelia
06/13/24 07:22:12AM
2,343 posts

Hammered Dulcimer Forums


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

@john-petry , from your wording I'm not quite sure whether you are looking to get a hammered dulcimer, or looking to sell one...?

John Pettreemusic
@john-petry
06/11/24 11:13:03PM
58 posts

Hammered Dulcimer Forums


Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Looking for someone near Rogers Arkansas interested in a VERY inexpensive Hammered dulcimer, or for help in shipping it to me?  anybody.....

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
06/11/24 12:40:05PM
1,815 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

Glad it all worked out for you.  And you probably have the only Roosebeck with a bone bridge!


updated by @dusty: 06/11/24 08:54:11PM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
06/11/24 12:36:14PM
1,242 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

I'm glad to hear that everything worked out for you with your new dulcimer. I'm sure you will enjoy playing it and it will bring you joy for many, many years.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Wally Venable
@wally-venable
06/11/24 08:49:45AM
109 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

I frequently tell people ALL NEW INSTRUMENTS NEED TO BE SET UP AFTER ASSEMBLY. On factory made instruments this is often left to the retailer, or to be done by the buyer or at their expense.

Sounds like you got great service at a reasonable price.

I've bought a number of instruments on Shop Goodwill. The dulcimers have had minor issues which were easily resolved. The violins/fiddles frequently never had the bows properly rosined. When you "buy cheap," expect that an hour's work, or more, will be needed to make a string instrument play properly.

AG Murton
@ag-murton
06/11/24 04:03:45AM
9 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

Hi everyone. 

I have picked up my Roosebeck from the luthier, and as promised, here's an update: 

The luthier fashioned a new bone bridge that fits more snugly in its slot. He also glued the nut in place. More importantly, he addressed the tuning peg issues. It seems that Roosebeck used standard guitar machine tuners, which have a lot of washers and nuts to stop the pins from bending, as they would not be supported otherwise on a guitar. However, on the dulcimer, they pass through the peg head, and the end of the pin is supported because it fits neatly into a hole on the other side, so there is no need for the nuts and washers. The luthier removed these so that the strings can now be wound closer to the edges of the peg head. I just have to leave a bit of extra length on the string when I restring. This reduces the angle the string takes from the nut to the tuner. You can see the before and after pictures attached. 

I also asked him to cut slots for three string arrangements: 

- 4 string double melody: I asked him to bring the melody strings closer together, as I found my finger was slipping between them. He reduced the distance between them by 1 mm, and it has made a huge difference. The middle string is now actually centred over the fret board, and is equidistant between the outer melody string and the bass string, which is great because it has made strumming easier.

4 string equidistant: the slots he cut are shallow enough that I don't have to detune much to slip the strings across. 

3 string equidistant: I can now remove the inner melody string so I have three equidistant strings. 

I can now use any tuning I like without the nut and bridge moving at all. 

Finally, I asked for the following string action: 1.5 mm at the first fret; 2.5 mm at the seventh fret; 3 mm at the 17th fret. He achieved this perfectly, and I love the action now. (Apologies for using mm - I'm not familiar with inches.)

Thank you all very much for your contributions, without which I would have struggled to explain what I needed from the luthier. (He works primarily on violins and cellos, and he'd never worked on a dulcimer before, but he did an excellent job, and I'm happy to say that the Roosebeck sounds and plays great and the intonation is perfect.)

Although it cost me an extra R1700 ($90), I still don't regret buying the Roosebeck because it was basically my only option, and without it, I wouldn't be playing dulcimer right now.


New bridge.jpg New bridge.jpg - 112KB

updated by @ag-murton: 06/11/24 04:07:31AM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
06/06/24 12:54:05PM
1,242 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

Wally Venable:

The listing says "Banjo Tuner Tuning Key Head String Machine Peg Pegs Geared Tuners Parts Accessories Knobs Friction Set Keys Button 5String"

 

Thanks for pointing this out Wally. I guess I skimmed over the Geared Tuners part without it registering in my brain. The word "Friction" jumped out at me. 

Yes, it would be nice to see the installation instructions.

I agree, it is a puzzlement.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Nate
@nate
06/06/24 01:39:28AM
402 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

John C. Knopf:

Wow! People who wrote on that page use English in some mysterious ways!

 

" Its is made of sturdy metal, which is very. 

Strumelia
@strumelia
06/05/24 08:22:10PM
2,343 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

I think you should just take the strings off, put 1 tiny drop of superglue at the bottom of the bridge and nut and hold them down a couple of minutes. Leave it to set for several hours before putting the strings back on. --> Try using a bass string one size thinner/lighter gauge- it won't pull with as much tension. A change of one size shouldn't make much difference in playing.

By the way I think those tuners are common enclosed-gear guitar machine head tuners. Not planetary or "planet" geared tuners. Either type are fine to use, but machine head guitar tuners are usually cheaper. Aliexpress is based in China and usually ships from China. Inconsistencies in their ad descriptions and grammar are typical.


updated by @strumelia: 06/05/24 08:24:55PM
Wally Venable
@wally-venable
06/05/24 02:36:31PM
109 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

The listing says "Banjo Tuner Tuning Key Head String Machine Peg Pegs Geared Tuners Parts Accessories Knobs Friction Set Keys Button 5String"

If there are gears in the package configuration, they almost certainly have to be planetary. Planetary gears have internal friction due to rubbing of the teeth. If the gear friction isn't large enough, the string tension will cause the gear set to unwind.

(Before I retired I taught about two weeks worth of gear design to Mechanical Engineering seniors.)

Perhaps additional friction is adjustable, just as on traditional friction pegs. It would be nice if we could access the installation instructions, but they might not be in usable English.

IS A PUZZLEMENT !

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
06/05/24 01:17:53PM
1,242 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

The one thing I noticed in the description of the tunes from aliexpress is that they are described as "friction" tuners rather than planetary. Could these be friction tuners disguised as a planetary tuner? Or is it an AI generated description? It has been interesting reading all these responses.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Dusty Turtle
@dusty
06/05/24 11:31:02AM
1,815 posts

Shifting bridge and nut


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

AG, it is clear that you have an instrument that needs some adjustment to be playable.  That is not surprising. I've seen some Roosebeck dulcimers that were perfectly fine and others with serious design flaws.  I think they move their factories around eastern Europe and Asia, so quality varies tremendously.

This discussion settled on the "glue it down" solution, which is the correct one, I think.   Gluing the bridge and nut in their slots will stop this movement.

HOWEVER, you have now raised the issue of string spacing, and you may want to have a new nut and a new bridge made with the string spacing you prefer.  First, be aware that many traditional dulcimers had string spacing in which the melody strings were set apart from the drone strings.  And the spacing of the melody strings from each other can also be wider than you might think if the intent was for the instrument to be played with a noter rather than fingers.

So there is not necessarily anything "wrong" with the string spacing on your instrument. But if you want--at least some of the time--to play across all the strings and want to use your fingers to fret strings, you might want to ensure that the melody strings are close together and the middle string is equidistant between the base and melody.  If you are happy with the action, you might be able to just put new grooves in the existing nut and bridge.

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