Forum Activity for @jan-potts

Fair value of an instrument like this is very difficult to determine...sorry!  Condition is always a consideration--but that doesn't mean the dulcimer needs to be in pristine condition! Some people like the little nicks and gouges because it makes them look loved and "gives them character".  There are other features that are desired by some buyers that are not desired by others...wooden tuners or geared tuners?  added frets or no added frets?  Artistically, some prefer absolutely plain, letting the pure beauty of the wood draw the attention.  Others are looking for an instrument with hand carvings and beautiful inlays.  Then, of course, there's the matter of intonation--and how it was intended to be played: noter/drone or chording and fingerpicking?  How many dulcimers were built by a particular luthier--are they easy or difficult to obtain? Is it a style, design, etc., that's in demand?  These are just some of the considerations that go into determining the value of an instrument. 

Mascis, you got a deal!  Homer Ledford dulcimers are collector items.  That was the case even before he passed away.  Check out this discussion from a few years back on Everything Dulcimer .

Depending on the condition of the dulcimer, I would think a reasonable price would be $500 to $800.  But that's just a guess; others might know better.  It's possible it's worth more than that.

Oh thankyou. Still learning here. I think it is the "DLO" that I have. I was assuming that a fixed bridge equaled dodgy intonation. I will check out your dulcimers too; of course I did not know that you were a builder as well. Why would you build an instrument that had a tuning system that did not work?! After I have taken my DLO to pieces and messed with it I will be in a better position to buy a better one! thanks again for the reply...

(Jack Whitworth of Capote Hills, Leesville Texas )

Does anyone know about Jack Whitworth dulcimers or if he is still around? 

Yes Robert, I totally get it. In fact the appeal of this instrument to me is the variety and interest it arouses. I was born in London way back!! but have an avid interest in music going all the way back to the Egyptians!!  the great thing about music is that it truly is an international language regardless of skill level.  I had a friend who was a brilliant pianist who coined this phrase which I never forgot.  "Hey mate, wouldn't it be great if we played the triangle; then we could put everything in ONE NOTE"  food for thought.  thanks again for the thoughts. 

MOST dulcimers, I would say, have a moveable bridge -- at least somewhat moveable and somewhat loose enough to move (although many builder put a drop of glue to hold thing during the initial string up).  Remember, too, that this is a folk instrument in transition, not a concert instrument with 500 years of development.  Also understand that there are a couple of "offshore" makers of dulcimers who haven't any real understanding of fret-spacing, intonation, etc.  and who seem to be building from unscaled photographs.  Like Robert, below, I think you unfortunately ran into a DSO.  

When that "Apple" company started, a number of years ago, they were horrendous  - 7 out of 10 instruments were mostly unplayable.  The instruments were dirt cheap, looked decent (unless you had a good eye) and sold like hotcakes.  They've gotten somewhat better (or at least a couple of employees have) over the years, but obviously not 100%.

Hi Robert.. lol I agree. I spend as much on a set of violin Strings as I paid for that dulcimer BUT the learning experience is awesome. My expectations for that instrument have already been met so now I am going to heat up the bridge with a heat gun and try and get the bridge out.  the intonation is passable fret wise but I HAVE to move the bridge. I had no preconceived expectations for that instrument but I knew I was in trouble when I noticed that the strings had been screwed into the block!!  I am learning and experimenting and will not lose any sleep if I loosing all the glue joints and I end up with some nice kindling! I still do not understand why more dulcimers do not have a movable bridge...  btw  thanks to everyone for chatting..made my day..  Richard aka abritabroad

LOL. Rob, I'm not over thinking this. I just mean fun. Sometimes the fun comes from working out a complex tune and the good feel in in the fingers that induces. Sometimes it's just a tune that makes me smile or laugh any time I play it. Fun for you can mean anything you want it to.

As I always told my daughter when she was a kid, "It's all fun until somebody loses a finger. Just ask Jerry Garcia."

Hi all, this fun ongoing thread will be better located in our GigTalk! group, so I've transferred it to the following location, where everyone can continue participating in it:

https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/2080/where-you-playing-next

Thanks!  

Gail, you are whatever level is higher than a rock star!  

I played at the Mt. Airy Fiddler's Convention last weekend.  I played my arrangement of Wayfaring Stranger and was very surprised to win 1st place!  I'm still in shock that I placed at all with so many good players.  I'm planning to play at the Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Va. in August.  I'm working on Clinch Mountain Backstep and may play that, or may work something out on my Galax dulcimer - haven't really decided.  This time of year is so much fun with a lot of local festivals!

Rob, it would have been nice to see you!  Adam Schlenker is a lights-out flatpicker.  This photo was put online by the venue.  After Adam's set, we all played Black Mountain Rag to close-out the evening.  By the look of things, Mark is taking his break here. :)

Yes those Viols and their frets! I love all stringed instruments and try and play my violin and / or viola an hour a day after work. At my vintage of 68 I have become familiar with the alto clef, which was a challenge. What I am loving about the Dulcimer is, well, two things really. One..it is an instrument that you can tinker with without doing any lasting damage it seems LOL plus, it forces you to get to grips with modes.... and btw..I have a wooden alto Recorder but I could NEVER get it to not block up with the er....spit or mouth moisture. Not a cheap one and sadly not played too much. thanks for chatting!!

"No Body Knows the Trouble I've Seen", but I have retitled it to: "No Body Knows the Trouble I'm In". 

Boy, that's a loaded question and it can depend on when you mean.  When (I think it was) John Keane set up the "Cluck Ole Hen" variants I had a blast working it out as a waltz kind of in the style of Carruli or Carcassi and playing it in other ways.  But for long time instrumental fun on the dulcimer it would have to be "Soldier's Joy."  Vocal fun, maybe "Me and Bobbie McGee" or (here's one for morbidity when talking fun) "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train."

Right now I love playing "Silver Dagger" with my girls singin' with me.  That's kinda morbid, huh?  LOL

Wish I'd hit mapquest before now.  Maybe I could have been there.  

YES, I love music of all ages, just about, but not HARD ROCK...I took a class at U of H playing all the sizes of recorders, but loved the sounds of viole de gamba and other early instruments. These have moveable frets. and wow, that's some tuner.  aloha, irene

Thanks Ken!  Just the info I needed. What a great forum.....!

Generally we use a small triangular file to cut string notches -- much better than a saw; notches only need to be string diameter deep.  Try using a heat gun or hair dryer on the bridge/fretboard junction for a few minutes to soften glue, then use a small hammer and a punch (small length of wood or dowel) and a sharp tap to loosen the bridge.  If all else fails, you can (carefully) sand the bridge flat and make a floating bridge from a small split of chopstick or very hard wood with string notches.  Set it on top of the flattened bridge and angle the bass string end a few millimeters towards the tail as you begin tightening strings.

Here's one example of an Alpine region 'zither/dulcimer ancestor type' instrument from sometime around the turn of the century:

Awesome Irene...I would love to see an example of the bridges that you make. I am at a loss as to why any manufacturer would make a fixed bridge anyway. In writing that however, most acoustic guitars have a fixed bridge but they have a compensated bridge...  As an aside, I just purchased a Pono Octave Mandolin that has a fixed bridge but that is perfectly in tune. speaking on tune' ness that is a whole new thread. as a lover of early muisc and playing the violin and viola those instruments are tuned in perfect 5ths but do not have frets so you compensate with ones ear but with my Mandolins I use a "sweetended " tuning with is a kind of best of all worlds tempered tuning. I attached a picture of my tuner..MUCH more versatile than a tuner that tunes every thing to A440.  sorry to ramble but I noticed that you had an interest in other instruments as well as the dulcimer and early music as well! cheers!

 Peterson tuner.jpg - 14KB

I have found that some dulcimers just have to have a FLOATING BRIDGE.   Either take off the strings or loose them up and then get that bridge out or sand it flat.  Then make another bridge and move it and you'll be able to get all the strings in tune by that method.  your strings might be high too....so check that problem.  I make all my dulcimers with a floating bridge.  When I repair dulcimers and loan 'em out to others, I get rid of glued in or fixed bridges and ahhhhhhhhhhh, IN TUNE.   aloha, irene

Hello all, I am very new to the dulcimer but a lifelong musician. I just bought an Apple Valley dulcimer and the bass d string is very sharp at the octave. The dulcimer is virtually unplayable at this point. I have seen posts of people lengthening the string by cutting into the bridge so that the string sits on the back of the bridge, closer to the tailpiece. Among my questions are: Exactly what tool / size saw / file do you chaps use to cut the notches in the bridge? I was also considering changing the bridge but it appears to be glued in or it is a very tight fit?? Any advice here?...Ideally a floating bridge would be great so that I can make the compensations there. I play the violin, mandolin and earlier in life I played Pedal Steel as well so I could usually fix the intonation problem by moving the bridge a little. I searched for a compensated bridge but I think I will need to work with the bridge I have; however it does seem immovable at present. If I mess up I want to be able to replace it. so sorry for my long post....very happy to be a member of this community :)

Tomorrow evening, Mark & I are to open for flatpicking guitar player Adam Schlenker at the Appalachian Listening Room in Logan OH.  It's been a few years since we've played 'out' anyplace.  Due to life circumstances, I have to meet Mark at the ALR, and return here to my folks' when the evening's done. 

Happy strumming, y'all! 

Last gig was last Sat. at Pattyfest here in Fairmont.  Opened the stage performances with "Ballad of Spider John" and went up and down from there.  Now I'm looking for the next gig.   Got some possibilities in Morgantown, so if they pan out, I'll post the data.

Lately I've been having fun playing Lay The Bend To The Bonnie Broom, a 19th century forerunner of The Riddle Song.

Memorial Day I played at the Altapass Orchard Memorial Day Picnic, on the Blueridge Parkway up in North Carolina.  Except for an Pen Mic or three, I'll next be at the Americana Community Music Association Listening Room on August 5th, opening for Nate Currin.

BTW, this would be a great  ongoing thread to post in our Gig Talk! Group . 

For a while now, I've really enjoyed playing the "Tavern Song" from the Israeli movie "Sallah Shabati"...it's quite a workout playing it noter/drone.

Steven

I have been asked to play "Down in the River to Pray" with a group at church, but I've not gotten full details yet.  I hope it pans out!

So, folks on the FOTMD, where you playin' at next?

I'll be kicking it up with my band, The Mound City Slickers on the porch of the Peers Store near Marthasville, MO tomorrow from noon until 3 in the afternoon. Come on by if you're in the neighborhood.

Now tell me about you!  

Just throwing this out for the crowd. 

What's the tune you've had the most fun playing? 

For me, of course, and I'm sure for you, it changes all the time. Right now, I'd have to say that I'm having a ton of fun playing Charlie Poole's "If The River Was Whiskey", a sort of old-time country version of "Hesitation Blues". I hadn't played if for years and years, but heard someone playing it on the excellent AMERICAN EPIC series on PBS. Now I can't get it out of my head or my fingers.

It's not that uncommon to see that kind of mixed diatonic/chromatic fret arrangement on folk traditional or older dulcimer ancestor instruments- Swedish hummels, French epinettes... The practice goes far back.  There are quite a few early mtn dulcimers with the arrangement, and J.J. Niles experimented with making such dulcimers as well.  Lots of musicians like having the option for those odd extra notes, without having a completely chromatic fretboard.

It helps to be fretting with the fingers rather than a noter if you want to be more nimble in getting the 'far' non-diatonic frets.  You can play tunes with any kind of accidentals in them, and you can play tunes that switch keys midstream without retuning... quite useful.

Hi George, there are lots of cool photos, videos, etc, about limberjacks here on FOTMD:

https://fotmd.com/search/results/all/1/25?search_string=limberjack

Interesting.  I don't have a stone pick, but I use a malachite pestle, from a Mexican mortar & pestle set, as a noter.  I do have a pick made from "vegetable ivory" from the Ivory Nut Palms on Pohnpei Island in the Federates States of Micronesia, and another made from polished turtle shell (found an empty shell in the woods years ago). 

George, you sit on one end of a long thin plywood paddle, put a dowel in the hole to hold the puppet, and hold it so that the feet just touch the paddle.  Now you go to thumping the paddle, and the feet of the puppet go flying, and the arms flip back and forth.  Talented folks can beat a rhythm to the song being played by another, and the puppet will appear to dance along with it in a comical way.  It's a lot of fun, especially for young kids.