Forum Activity for @jenniferc

Jennifer, she's a beaut!  Looks like a Mike Clemmer ("Wood 'N' Strings", Townsend, TN) from here.  If so, snap it up!

Bill Davis from Gatlinburg, TN and Jean Schilling from Cosby, TN popularized that particular style, with its violin shape, its 5 strings and its large size.

Hi all! This is my first post here, but I've been lurking awhile. I came across a used dulcimer for sale and wondering if anyone might recognize its builder? The seller could only tell me "it's vintage", but the price is great and I'm considering getting it. Only the one picture so far, but waiting on more. Thanks for any help!

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Glad to hear it!!  I'll send you those savory breakfast muffins if you want!    

Tony, if it indeed looks like that pic, I'd grab it.  I mean, I'd have to dig up the money since I haven't been working,  but I'm sure it would leave with me.

Back in the mid-1970s while visiting International Violin Company in Baltimore, the owner talked me in to trying some "marine" grade plywood he had on hand for a dulcimer. It was mahogany on the outer layers. It worked well for a teardrop dulcimer. I did not to try doing an hourglass bend with it. I did not weigh it, but I thought it was a little heavier than my solid rosewood dulcimers of the same pattern. I also made a courting dulcimer using the plywood for the back and sides. It seemed to work well.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Tried 2 of Tom's picks.  The skinny little grey one is perfect.  Can strum back and forth and it also helps for a bit more volume.  Sorry I don't know who makes it.

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Baltic birch plywood is of very high quality, and I've used it a couple of times with great results.  It's relatively expensive.  I got mine at my local Woodcraft store.

It was a good time and Ken and Sally are very gracious.  We did have fun on the topic of 'dulcimers' and Ken is no slouch when it comes to building and playing them; and he has a great singing voice!  :)

It's in the 60's here now and the plumbing freeze problem happened a day or two after we left when it was 3 and 4 degrees overnight.  Luckily the split, in the copper pipe in our guest cabin, is accessible and it appears not a lot of damage done.  

rob,

you would probably make it, I do think a bit about things not knowing enough yet. But  then, I know it would be going someplace good

My Capritaurus is all mahogany ply, I think.  That one would probably sound really good by now.  In fact, if I were close I'd probably try to get it ahead of you.  ROFL

It's always great to meet other members in person. Glad the two of you found some time to play together. Thanks for sharing the photo. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The Capritaurus/Folk Roots dulcimers definitely hold an important place in 20th-century dulcimer history. The dulcimer boom in 1970s Santa Cruz centered around the Ruggs's shop, and many of the players from that period who are still kicking around and making music rave about what a phenomenal player Michael Rugg was and what a fine luthier Howard was.  And the dulcimers were innovative, using bigger boxes and perhaps some more bracing to get more volume.  At some point business was so busy that they split in two, with Michael Rugg taking over Capritaurus and handling the custom market and Howard Rugg & Steve Jackel running Folk Roots geared to mass production.

Folk Roots dulcimers show up on Craig's List fairly often, at least out here in California.  I have one that has been on semi-permanent loan to one of the members of my local dulcimer group (who hasn't show up recently, so maybe she took off with my dulcimer!).  That dulcimer sounds very good, but you have to get it off you lap.  If you strum a chord on your lap and lift it up, you can hear a huge difference in volume and tone.  I point this out because if you check out the sound you will want to make sure you can hear it when it's at its best. 

As I said, Howard Rugg's big innovation in instrument design was mainly using big boxes for a lot of volume.  However, since then (that was 40 years ago!) other luthiers have picked up on those principles and also make really loud dulcimers.  If you have heard a Modern Mountain Dulcimer or a Blue Lion or a Gallier or a Beede dulcimer, I don't think your jaw will drop when you hear an old Capritaurus or Folk Roots.  The industry has caught up to that old design.  However, Howard Rugg is back in business now, having revived Capritaurus  a few years ago and is now making really fine looking instruments one-at-a-time.  I would agree with Rob that you can find Folk Roots dulcimers for $100 so you shouldn't spend more than that.

Howard is a member here, so if you have questions about what a model number means or what kind of wood was involved, he can probably tell you.

I'd grab it!  

I'm glad you guys got to get together, Ken.  Sounds like fun.

rob,

    You are probably right (D40-S I'd bet it's mahogany ply with a spruce top)  Sounds like in the mid 80's they were making them faster so there is a difference between your (Capritaurus dulcimer) and this one.

    Thank you for finding the videos. Below is photo taken off the site & he is asking a bit under $100

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Harry "Kusani" Smith and his wife came down from Tennessee to Florida to avoid that cold white stuff, and spent a few days visiting our Poolside Cabana AirBnb rental.  In between their sightseeing excusions we got to spend a few hours of real "dulcimer quality time".  Unfortunately they had to head back North early -- something about a cracked water pipe and flooding in nearly 0° F temperatures!  

It was great to meet Kusani and spend some time together talking dulcimers and playing them  That Burl Maple dulcimer of his is even better looking in person than the pix he posted here.  SO is that wonderful TMB he made from re-purposed materials!  

Here's a picture of the two of us doing a little jamming.  This is my kinda jam -- a couple people making music together, not a herd of folks with music stands and books of tab.

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Marg,

My Bob Lazenby is a 28.5" VSL. The FolkRoots is a 27" VSL. I don't have any problem going from one to the other, but I have large hands too (for a girl). The FolkRoots/Folkcraft dulcimers can be ordered with whatever VSL you want (within a range). Very easy to do with Folkcraft's website and ordering process. They are very accomodating. You can even give them a call. Hope this helps.

Welcome back, Folkfan!

Sheryl, a pick made from a vinyl record sounds like it wouldn't be very flexible and I like a really flexible pick for the kind of playing I do.

There are 2 videos I made with the Capritaurus.  It's not here right now, so I can't measure it.  I sent it on a vacation to Oklahoma.  LOL

I believe John's right and the 4 inches would include the height of the fingerboard.  As you can hear, tuned to CGcc it's a boomer.

howard rugg visits here often.  maybe he will chime in 

 I would guess the 4" deep measurement includes the fretboard. That seems awfully deep to me, too.

rob,

is your ( early Capritaurus ) deep, this one says 4" that sounds much deeper than anyting I've seen. Does that create a really strong sound?

You cannot tell the type of wood by the mass of the instrument.  Only a visual examination of the edges of both the side strips and the top & bottom boards can give you a definitive answer.  

Folkroots seemed to have a variety of models but one of the most common were mahogany or walnut ply with a spruce top.  Being a D40-S I'd bet it's mahogany ply with a spruce top.  If it had no cracks or no case, I'd like to give between $50 & $100, but I may be living in the past a little. In fact if it was under $100, I'd probably buy it regardless.  LOL.  

History:     1976 - Rugg, Rugg & Jackel broke up the partnership. Steve Jackel and Howard Rugg formed a new partnership, called Rugg & Jackel.

The Rugg & Jackel company kept the FolkRoots line, and Michael Rugg retained control of the CapriTaurus name and line of solid wood dulcimers.

So, if i am looking at one from the mid 80's, the FolkRoots line - does that mean they didn't do solid wood dulcimers if the CapriTaurus line did solid wood?

rob,

What type of price would have you going to check it our or not going?

I read someone found one at goodwill for $29 plus shipping, this isn't that low but not $300 either.

That's some of my thoughts ken, I can make a 2-3-4 chord on the 28 but can't do anywhere near 1-0-4. I would need to just play the melody where I can't reach a chord, which is what I do now - part chord, part melody, part flat picking. 

What would be a fair price for a Folk Roots, mid 80's?     No fancy woods, just good plain simple look but hoping a great sound.

Just trying to decide if I should drive over to see it. i don't want to get the buyers hopes up if it's just not the right fit, but then I guess I wont know till I do go check it out. 

Price would be the factor for me in checking it out.  I have an early Capritaurus and would like to get a Folk Roots with no "Extra" frets, too.  I am trying to use my little finger more instead of the thumb.  I find it works out pretty good that way.

If you play a lot of chord/melody style playing this might not be the best dulcimer for you. Think of how you would play a 1-0-4 chord or even a 1-0-3 chord. How easy is it to make a 2-3-4 or 2-3-5 chord on the 28 inch scale. You could use a fret scale calculator and print out a 29 inch template, cut it out, lay it on a table and try chording. On the other hand, if you do some noter player, this will be an excellent dulcimer. One other consideration is that it will look very nice hanging on your wall.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I was wondering if I should go see a Folk Roots dulcimer by Rugg & Jackel, D40-s 1119842. It has the 291/4 VSL & that is what was stopping me. I play mostly dulcimer with a 27.5 & 28 VSL. I do have thumb problems now & was worried it would just be worst stretching just a bit more. I do like the history of the Folk Roots and that alone would be a reason to go check it out. 

Any thoughts on this?

(If you can see the edge, )

Edge as inside the sound hole or on the side where top meets sides

Solid wood and plywood can weigh about the same.  If you can see the edge, you can see the plys in plywood.

Plywood in a dulcimer is not always a bad thing, except in cases of the use of inferior pieces of cheap plywood.

One would need to see the wood to determine; weight along won't do it. 2 lbs is not an unusual weight. 

Can you tell if a dulcimer is wood or ply by it's weight?

If a dulcimer is 36" x 8" x 3 or 4" & weights about 2 lbs, can we tell by that if it's wood or only partly?

I have quite a few dulcimers, everything from 27", to my old Bill Davis at a 29 1/2" VSL ! I think it would be difficult switching up to that longer VSL if all you've played is the shorter, but or me, at this point I switch between them with no issues whatsoever.

susie,

( all walnut Bob Lazenby dulcimer )

I notice in your photo, the dulcimer looks like it takes up the whole table, how long is the VSL? I saw on your page, you have a Folks Roots, is it one with the 29" VSL? Is it hard on the hand & thumb going that short distance from a 27.5 or 28 to a 29'ish?

(I love fixing them up! Makes it more personal)

I feel the same way, ha if I got a new dulcimer I would probably work on it anyway.

Congrats George. As I said in my earlier post, I'm quite impressed with my Bob Lazenby dulcimer. It really has a beautiful voice. Enjoy your new dulcimer!

Lois, fingerpicks like these would protect your skin. I use metal ones like them for the autoharp. You might not be able to strum in both directions with them, though.

The new skin stuff Ken speaks of is the liquid bandage that you can find in any pharmacy.   It's a good product to keep around anyway, should you ever get a cut or nick on a part of your body that moves a lot.  You can continuously apply more and more as it wears off. My cousin's cello teacher told him to put it on his fingertips when his fingers were worn out from playing so that he could play some more. I use it regularly, but for medical, not musical reasons.