Forum Activity for @strumelia

Patty, try checking the following setting in Chrome (because saving passwords and saving login info are two different things):

Go to your "Settings" in Chrome. then click the "Advanced" link at bottom to show more settings.
Under "Passwords and Forms", click the "AutoFill Settings"... and make sure you have that slider button set to "ON" to allow autofill logins.  Is yours set to "ON"?

In that same section, you may also want to 'add'  
https://fotmd.com/  to the list of allowed site addresses. (not sure if that's needed, it's not needed additionally for me in Chrome, but it can't hurt).

Also, I just checked the other site where login is saved. It works just fine. I don't understand why that one works and the one for FOTMD doesn't. You would think if one is not working the other would not work either. Go figure. They both are saved on my Google settings. 

I'm on a desktop and I use Google Chrome. I've not changed any settings except this morning to see if that made a difference and it didn't. I know on my settings it has my password saved for this site but when I come on this site my login is not saved here. Can not figure that out at all. It's okay I don't mind typing it but when it was working it sure was convenient.

Joe, what is your definition of a "properly constructed instrument" with a scalloped fretboard such that it doesn't warp?  I'm curious as to the construction differences that differentiate it from those instruments whose scalloped fretboards do warp.

Patty, the checkbox is working correctly on the site.  However it is being overridden by a preference setting you have somewhere in your web browser- a setting that controls how your browser handles site cookies, auto-login settings, or passwords.  

You can change your browser setting so it will work as you prefer and save your login info automatically, ...but you'll have to find that setting first in your browser preferences.  Maybe I can help pinpoint it if I know your browser.  I assume you're on Windows, but what online browser do you use?  And.. are you on a desktop or tablet when this is occurring for you on fotmd?

I checked the box to remember my log in and password but it no longer works even though the box is checked. I now have to type in my id and password each time I log on to this site. Why is this happening?

It's actually all day--wherever you are around the globe on Aug. 26, 2017!

4 am ???   I can't even.        lolol

Google just told me this:

Play Music on the Porch Day 2017 will be at 4:00 AM on
Saturday, August 26
All times are in Central Time.
4 am !?  The neighbors will kill me!  Better make lots of coffee.  

My monthly dulcimer group will be meeting on August 26, so I'll definitely be playing, though we'll be in a music shop, not a porch.

I am planning to have a line-up of people on my porch the 26th.  I hope scheduling fills up and makes for a FUN day!  ~my poor neighbors~

Yes, Uke and Dulcimer.

Great story.      hmmm people go asleep when I play also..... 

We have a new puppy. She is an English Shepherd and her name is Piper Lou. As you can imagine, chaos has reigned in the house since her arrival Sunday afternoon. Our other dogs are kindly tolerating her and also getting annoyed with her fuzzy self. 

This morning, I sat down and began playing Larry Conger's original tune, September on the Mississippi. It was like peace itself fell upon the room.

The lab layed down, the puppy layed down, and best of all and most important of all.....the other english shepherd who has been most annoyed...layed down directly in front of the pup, arms to arms, face to face, totally relaxed with an all-accepting posture and a 'I'm ready to play with you while we lie down face'.

Then they all fell asleep.

This isn't the first time I have seen the enchanting, mesmerizing song of the dulcimer totally change the atmosphere. Such a peaceful, restful tune. 

 PIPER LOU.jpg - 115KB

Wood has a mind of its own.  :)

yes floating bridges are the way to go

what ken said.  properly constructed instruments will not warp.  

The short answer, yes.  The long answer, for most players it is one additional feature they need to worry about, will only modestly improve their play and generally makes them more frustrated.

If you plan to play many different styles of music, perhaps.  It really comes down to how much time you want to spend messing with your instrument for a modest improvement in sound.  Some people obsess over the tiniest improvement, some people say, close enough for rock and roll.

I'm going to to disagree with Ken here.  I haven't owned scalloped-fretboard instruments long enough to notice any issues, but I can think of three people I know, very well respected in the dulcimer world, who have been playing instruments with and without scalloped fretboards longer than I've been alive, and it is their opinion that over time, those scalloped fretboards do (and in the case of some builders, WILL) warp. And they each told me that independently, over the years I've known them. In fact, it's not even an opinion; two of them have shown me examples.

I am wondering now if it would be better to have floating bridges rather than fixed bridges?

(re-glue the fretboard back on the cardboard )

thanks patty but it's not the fretboard, it's the seems on the sides glue to the top & glue to the bottom. 

Maybe it could be fixed but I'm wanting to know if I can take the fretboard and put it on a flat board, like a possum board

Depending on the glue, you may be able to warm it up to soften it. Then you can re-glue the fretboard back on the cardboard without the gaps. Here is the link to Backyard Music. I've sent emails to them and they've been good about answering back. Sometimes you have to give them a couple of days in case they are busy. 

http://www.backyardmusic.com/Welcome.html

The seems are not sealed, there are gaps all alone the seems. I painted it & it looks interesting but I was wondering since there are so many of the seems open, if I should see if I could put the fretboard on something else. The fretboard is fine, it's the seems.

Hi Marg, I have a cardboard dulcimer that I put together myself. I'm not sure what you mean when you say the sides do not match up. Are you saying it's out of alignment? Not sure if the fret board could have been glued on properly if that's the case. If you can provide a picture that would help. I think if it sets in a warm environment the glue may soften but I would try to reposition the fretboard on the cardboard to keep it on the cardboard. I like my cardboard. It's unique. I acquired mine from Backyard Music. You can send them an email of your intentions and they can tell you what will work. 

Friends, get your Public Domain or original tune or song ready!  August 26 is the day.  And if you don't have a porch, just go outside someplace.  :)

I have a cardboard dulcimer given to me, lots of places that the sides do not match up. I was thinking of trying something and looking for your help or ideas or even if it would work.

Can I cut the fretboard away from the cardboard and place on something like a possum board? Maybe stick on a pick up to amp it - if sitting on a board there isn't enough sound?

I was able to make contact with some folks that knew Robert, they were kind enough to respond. Dulcimer people are great.

Below is what I found out:

" I knew Bob (Robert) LaFever on a casual basis. He had a shop at the Folk Center in the 1990s. I worked next door. He made some high quality dulcimers when he could. Although a lot were budget models, in order to make and sell quickly  to tourists at the park." 

One of the kind dulcimer folks I was able to speak with is Robert or Bob Momich, who was at the Folk Center in the 80's. He hasn't made any dulcimers in years but is hoping to get back to it, he says he has enough parts to make maybe 200. He was so interesting speaking with him, I hope he does start making dulcimers again. He moved away from Mt. View, ARK & is on the East coast now.

Uh, yea, the article on frets.net is confusing.  Try going to Stewmac.com (a site everyone who builds instruments visits from time to time) and type in saddle.  A much more authoritative source.

Maybe the play Flop-eared Mule and other songs that use the 9 & 11 fret?

It determines where McSpadden glues the bridge. Read this page:  https://www.mcspaddendulcimers.com/kb_results.asp?ID=6

As a practical matter, compensation is more of a concern when:

1.  You have a short-scaled instrument (like a 23" Ginger)

2.  You are playing higher up the fretboard (in the second octave)

3.  You are fretting more than one string (noter/drone don't care unless the intonation is way off)

4.  You have a sensitive ear and notice when strings aren't quite in tune with each other

FWIW, my Ginger was compensated for GDG.  When I string her DAD the intonation's OK for me in the first octave but I notice it's off in the 2nd octave.  I know someone who tunes his Ginger DAA but had her compensated for that.

If you're ordering a standard 28" McSpadden and you retune between DAD and DAA often, I wouldn't worry about it.  If you tend to play drones in DAA and chords in DAD, then compensate for DAD.

I've heard enough arguments about "bridge" vs "saddle" to leave me totally confused.  According to Frets.com, no wonder: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/Saddle/saddle01.html

No, I am sorry except to say he liked me sending your info. on the hammered dulcimer to him.

So why would they be at 9 & 11, that doesn't make sense OR would that be for something in a higher scale?

 fret markings.jpg - 43KB

(the saddle is angled so that the distance from nut to saddle (bridge) is greater for the thicker strings.)

Is that what this angled is?

 Compensation.jpg - 103KB

Thanks joe, 

Interesting using only hand tools, I hope the one I am looking at is this Bob

Thanks ken

they were well made however they were made the old way using hand tools.  his main job was demonstrating how it was.

Ken, just because YOU can't hear the difference doesn't mean the rest of us can't.   Your responses to too many questions are that no one will hear the difference.    The idea is to continue improving the dulcimer.  If you have given up on improving the instrument, I am sorry for you.

Before responding, try stringing a compensated instrument DAA with the same gauge strings.

EVER is such a very long time...  For all intents and purposes no, you do not have to worry about warping; and if the luthier is at all competent you should have no worries about "how they are placed on".

IMHO most people can't hear the difference between compensated and un-compensated dulcimers, making MacSpadden's claim more marketing hype than functional difference.  If you have perfect pitch or are anal retentive, then perhaps compensation matters.