alan,
( keep it hydrated and cased)
What happen to your fretboard & is your dulciborn one with the scallop fretboard (like in the videos below) or one that fits flat to the body, a newer model?
I think Alan touches on a couple of critical issues here. The first is that nearly all of these instruments need some kind of work on the fretboard to make them playable. Why is that? A weissenborn guitar does not have frets. You don't play it like a guitar. You play it like a dobro, meaning the strings are lifted up above the fretboard and you use a slide--or tone bar--in the left hand to create the notes on the strings. So when modifying this design for a dulcimer, we have a big problem, don't we? We have to add frets to be able to fret the strings with a finger or noter, which mandates carefully plotting the frets on the fretboard and also getting the action right so that it will both be comfortable and also have correct intonation. This makes a hybrid weissenborn/dulcimer different than those banjo/dulcimer or ukulele/dulcimer hybrids since those other instruments also have frets and are therefore build with appropriate action.
I personally love the sound of the dulciborn, but I think that's because I grew up on guitars rather than dulcimers, so I am still attracted to that deep, rich, round tone rather than the traditional high silvery tone of dulcimers. And people like FOTMD's own Christine Shoemaker demonstrate clearly what this instrument has to offer. However, I think Gold Tone dropped the ball by launching the sale of these instruments before fixing the action/intonation problem. I would encourage anyone buying one (even used) to contact Gold Tone and have them fix the instrument rather than paying someone at your local guitar shop.
In terms of organology, we have always been taught that instruments in the zither family are strung across the box, whereas instruments in the lute family are strung along a neck. That is what Matt Berg refers to below. But the weissenborn itself is already a hybrid between the two because the neck is hollow, and therefore a continuation of the box, allowing the sound to vibrate within. So it is already a hybrid zither/lute. Removing some of the frets for a diatonic fretboard is a minor change to what is already a mutt of an instrument.
Of course, I use the term "mutt" in an endearing way, as my own little furry guy knows. 
WOAH, this was some hard news. I FINALLY have one of my 14 kids that works for the airlines.....and I'm going next month down to Palistine, Texas in March for the music festival there with my banjo playing brother....he lives only 1/2 hour away and I'm soooooooooo excited. I'm going to be taking my new TMB. I can see that I better check that...BUT.....I'll be on standby. ooooooooooops, I wish I had a better car, I'd drive there. A few years back I took some flights to Hawaii and it was cheaper to send my things in the USA mail then to check 'em at the airport. When I had little kids and wanted to show them off to my parents in the Mainland, I used to fly United for free while DHL would attach 10 huge bundles of stuffs to my ticket. ahhhhhh days of old have all passed away where customers were treated kindly and all hoped to "see you again". I've taken harps, banjos, ukuleles, dulcimers autoharps....all just getting on and mostly with a happy smile. All to and from Hawaii when I raised our big family there. aloha, irene
Thanks for the warning, Jan. I guess we're going to have to be careful to assure the ability to board early.
I travel Southwest a lot for work and have priority boarding for at least another year. Southwest has open seating but gives people a boarding number. I am usually between 25 and 30. I would encourage everyone to try to stick to a single airline and join their mileage plan. They just seem to treat you better when they think of you as a repeat customer instead of someone they'll never see again.
And it might not help specifically with getting an instrument in the overhead bin, but if you fly more than a couple of times a year it might be worth it to get a known traveler number from the TSA. It costs $85 for five years, but you get to go through the TSA pre-check lines and don't have to take off your shoes or your jacket or take out your laptop or your shampoo or any of that stuff. You fly (hee hee) through an alternate security line and get right to the gate. I also think the airline personnel treat you better when they see that TSA pre-check indication on your boarding pass.
I think I'll hitch-hike 
...but, seriously, I stopped using flying as a means of transportation about 20 years ago due to overcrowding, restrictions, and general discomfort. And things haven't changed much with the airlines except now there is (are) MORE overcrowding, restrictions, and general discomfort!
Steven
Eye opening for sure. I think that with the increased security check-ins and all the red tape that goes with that has been cause for my preference to travel by car to my destination.
This is terrible!!!! Thank you SO MUCH for letting me know!
hi - i also play a dulciborn because i enjoy it's richer tones and sustain. bought it from john hawk 3 years ago and play it every day. before it was a year old it needed to have the fretboard re-engineered by the goldtone factory; there are several different editions w/attempts to fix this nearly-universal problem; all w/limited success. if you can find a good used dulciborn, keep it hydrated and cased, once you get used to its larger body i think you'll come to appreciate this sweet instrument, whatever people want to call it.
alan
The main thing is to know what you're getting for the price you're paying. But I can imagine people getting "caught" at the gate not realizing what this means for their "stuff"--including instruments. I generally get the lowest price ticket that's going where I want to go, but now I'm going to be extra careful not to caught in one of these messes.
Christine Shoemaker dulciborn: : &
Frank Ledgerwood or flwoods1 playing his dulciborn: &
John Hawk dulciborn: :
There are many more videos of the dulciborn, each piece played sounds so different. The players above are or were members here on FOTMD. The range of sounds you can get with the dulciborn is what let me to getting one. I usually just play mine at home on my patio over looking a small lake, it is heavy to carry but have taken it out. One of the players in the group I play with will use hers to lead us into a song.
Best would be if you could play one before buying to check it out and see if it's what you want. I got mine from Gold Tone & told them I wanted a low action but still it came high, so I needed to set it up before I could play. I sometimes wonder if they were set up more for a guy's hands, ones having more strength. The bridge is bone so sanding it down took some time but it is easy to play now & I enjoy having it.
Good luck
Your Brit friends probably haven't bought one of these economy fares, but in case it comes into question, ALL musicians should be aware that the new Economy Fares do not allow use of the overhead bins. See my newly posted discussion on this: http://fotmd.com/forums/forum/general-mountain-dulcimer-or-music-discussions/26492/new-airlines-rules-affect-those-traveling-with-instruments
New Economy Fares Do Not Provide the Use of Overhead Bins! Some of you may have missed changes made by several airlines this winter for their lowest fare classes. With Delta, you'll board last and may find there's no room for your instrument. But with both American and United, you'll need to read up and see how purchase of a low economy fare ticket will impact your carry on decisions. With American Airlines, you can buy an online ticket, but you can't select a seat or do an advance check in. You have to check in when you arrive at the airport and you will be instructed to check ALL your luggage , since the economy fare does not provide for use of the overhead bins ; you may only carry on a small purse or jacket that fits under the seat in front of you. If you take a carryon bag (or an instrument or a bag of gifts from one of the airport shops) to the Gate, you will be required to gate check (valet check) your items at a cost of $25 for each, plus a $25 penalty for each. Since the people who paid this Economy fare board LAST, they will see upon boarding that ALL THE OVERHEAD BINS WILL BE LATCHED SHUT BEFORE THEY BOARD THE PLANE...so don't look for help from sympathetic passengers! Since the rules changed awhile back and allowed instruments to be carried on board-- if there is room in the overhead bin when you board the plane--some musicians will no doubt buy one of these NEW Low Economy fares and not realize this now means they cannot bring their instrument on board. Please do not overlook the implications of traveling with an instrument if you buy the new low fares. Check with your airline or Read more here: http://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-united-basic-economy-carry-on-bag-ban-2017-1
Ken
If I was gonna play this tune I'd play it something like this. No tab but you can see the frets?
Tuned EBe. Key of E right? I use octave high bass string.
Sorry I'm not centered in the picture...I'm a pretty piss poor videographer
One additional note to Gale is to purchase one you can see and play... or buy it from someone who sets them up right before selling them... The strings are usually a little high on the original set up and they lower the action if that is the case... I don't know John Hawk who sold one to Jan in the note below, but he may be a possibility for you if you decide to purchase. You get a lot for your money in this instrument. Including a nice hard case, a pickup, etc.
Paula, yes, I'm playing with just one melody string, having removed one of the 2 it came with. That's the way I usually play (thanks to Don Pedi who first encouraged me 5 years ago to take one off!). Mine does have a pick up, but I didn't want to go looking for cords and amp, etc., so I just recorded the audio clip using the Voice Recorder on my laptop.
I purchased my Dulciborn from John Hawk, who works really hard at getting the set up just as perfect as possible before bringing them to a venue for sale. Mine didn't need any extra work when I bought it 3 1/2 years ago. But I hadn't played it in awhile when I got it out yesterday, and the action did seem higher than what my Gallier has. When I made the recording I had been noodling around on it for several hours and had gotten "used to it" again. I know when I bought it back in 2013, I sat and played it for 2 or 3 hrs before deciding to purchase it. Mine also has a 1.5 fret--which is something I like to have on ALL my dulcimers!
I am going to remove my one melody string. I can hear when you play the melody string ring out crisp which I like. Mine also has the 1.5 fret as well, and I like that too. Paula
Paula, yes, I'm playing with just one melody string, having removed one of the 2 it came with. That's the way I usually play (thanks to Don Pedi who first encouraged me 5 years ago to take one off!). Mine does have a pick up, but I didn't want to go looking for cords and amp, etc., so I just recorded the audio clip using the Voice Recorder on my laptop.
I purchased my Dulciborn from John Hawk, who works really hard at getting the set up just as perfect as possible before bringing them to a venue for sale. Mine didn't need any extra work when I bought it 3 1/2 years ago. But I hadn't played it in awhile when I got it out yesterday, and the action did seem higher than what my Gallier has. When I made the recording I had been noodling around on it for several hours and had gotten "used to it" again. I know when I bought it back in 2013, I sat and played it for 2 or 3 hrs before deciding to purchase it. Mine also has a 1.5 fret--which is something I like to have on ALL my dulcimers!
My cousin built one in the early 70's. I tried it but I wasn't crazy about it. I went back to it about 10 or 12 years ago after a car accident & I could't play the guitar anymore. I was able to take a workshop with Aubrey Atwater. I am a singer first & use my instrument as a bsck-up to my voice. During her workshop I found out I can play chords on the dulcimer! I was off & running! I'm now with a Cavil War Living History group and I sing and play period correct songs.
There have been more than one discussion about the dulciborn here on FOTMD. The instrument has a deep and rich sound, more similar to guitar than a dulcimer. But several people bought the instrument and found the action too high to be played comfortably. Many of those people who have found success with it had to have serious work done on the fretboard to make it playable. If I can find those older conversations I'll edit this post and provide links.
Edit:
I have one, love it, but find I don't take it many places because it is so much larger and heavier (in its special case) than the small Gallier A-frame I usually use. Because you lay it on your lap like a dulcimer and play it from above, you avoid the need to wrap your hand around the head of the instrument, as you would do with a guitar. When you have arthritis, this may be a movement your hand can no longer do--such was the case for me. I like that it sounds like a guitar, and I like that I can do fingerpicking on it so easily and I could never do fingerpicking on a guitar! Yes, it's a hybrid--but so's my Prius! As far as I'm concerned, it combines good things from both instruments. Here's a rough recording of Loch Lomond showing how it sounds.
https://soundcloud.com/willowgreen-1/loch-lomond
sounds fabulous!!! Did you have it hooked up to an amp? Second question, did you take one of the melody strings off? I can only hear one...I am debating on taking one of mine off as I usually only have one melody string! Nice job playing this song!!
My family took vacations in the North Carolina mountains when I was young, and we'd sometimes see them in shops in places like Black Mountain and Maggie Valley, as well as at places like the Folk Art Center outside of Asheville. I don't recall ever seeing anyone playing the instruments; they'd just be there -- mysterious and inviting. In the summer of 1989, my folks moved to Asheville and I stayed the summer with them before leaving for college. I spent a lot of time that summer investigating dulcimers and I purchased a Folkcraft teardrop from a store near Pigeon Forge, TN. At my school, NC State, I got involved with the annual "Madrigal Dinner" production, playing that dulcimer as a roving musician.
I'm not absolutely sure how gifts are viewed by customs officials, but view it as something that should be checked before an unexpected expense crops up. I think we had a discussion about this a few years ago here on fotmd but haven't been able to find it yet.
I'm not absslutely sure how gifts are viewed by customs officials, but view it as something that should be checked before an unexpected expense crops up. I think we had a discussion about this a few years ago here on fotmd but haven't been able to find it yet.
Dan, I haven't. Since she didn't buy it, and would be carrying it on as carry on luggage, would that be a thing? They usually have a few gifts they bring back and they have never had an issue before.
I hate to throw cold water on this wonderfully thoughtful idea, but, have you given any thought to the inport/export duties to be paid upon your friends return to the UK?
Soon, hopefully in March, we have two London friends coming to visit. Last year, Lianne, picked up my dulcimer and just started playing...as in chords and intermediate songs. I was shocked and loved hearing her 'go to town' on my celtic songs, having had no lessons and no prior experience.
I have purchased her a Little Mule soprano dulcimer so it will be easy to take back on the plane.
I'm wanting to put together some things for her to get her started. I'll get her a capo, some picks, some strings, but what else? Trying to find a Larkins book. Any particular accessories I'm not thinking of? She's going to be so excited!
A tuner! Forgot about that!
Anything else?
I have one, love it, but find I don't take it many places because it is so much larger and heavier (in its special case) than the small Gallier A-frame I usually use. Because you lay it on your lap like a dulcimer and play it from above, you avoid the need to wrap your hand around the head of the instrument, as you would do with a guitar. When you have arthritis, this may be a movement your hand can no longer do--such was the case for me. I like that it sounds like a guitar, and I like that I can do fingerpicking on it so easily and I could never do fingerpicking on a guitar! Yes, it's a hybrid--but so's my Prius! As far as I'm concerned, it combines good things from both instruments. Here's a rough recording of Loch Lomond showing how it sounds.
https://soundcloud.com/willowgreen-1/loch-lomond
I have one. I love it... It does have the 1 1/2 fret added, and was set up by a luthier to make the action at the right height. They have a very full sound. They also have a pickup (at least mine does) and so you can plug it into an amp as well. They are much larger on your lap than a regular dulcimer. OVerall, fun to play. I nice addition to your collection, (if you don't have one, you probably will have a collection!)
Gale, you may want to check fellow member, Christine Shoemaker's page. She has posted numerous videos with her Gold Tone. In fact, it may have been Chris that you saw at Evert.
Gale,
Please keep in mind that, just because an instrument has a diatonic fretboard, it does not automatically become a dulcimer. The dulciborn is really an instrument called a Weissenborn to which a diatonic fretboard has been added and two strings removed. The Weissenborn and dulciborn are very solidly in the guitar family. The main difference is that, being in the zither family, the dulcimer has its strings all the way across the soundbox. A Weissenborn/Dulciborn, being in the guitar family, has the string attached to the soundboard and does not stretch across the entire soundbox.
Musicians who can play the dulcimer will find the transition to a dulciborn easier. However, as with those who play the Gallier "dulcimer" (actually a three course lap guitar), you will find that your instrument sounds like a guitar, even when playing dulcimer songs.
As most of our ear are very used to hearing a guitar, this instrument may sound more familiar to your ears. Instrument sound is a choice a musician makes. If you like the sound, play it.
Matt
Hi -
Just looking for some reviews, thoughts, etc of the Gold Tone Dulciborn. I heard a women at the Evart Funfest last year play one and thought it was pretty neat. She did say she purchased it used and had to have some adjustments done due to some warping of the fretboard( I believe). Volume was impressive. Any Dulciborn owners out there that could share their experience with this instrument? Thanks!
Also, does it look like walnut wood? Thanks
How about violin tuning pegs? IMHO, they would look real nice on that dulcimer. StewMac has them for $2.99 each.
Steven
"Playing Dulcimer With A Ukelele"
Really, a proper noter is what you should be using.
Very nice. I had one with full width staples. Made in PA by Keith ???. Played & sounded great. Sold it to another member here who loves it as much or maybe more than I did.
Loch Lomond.m4a - 2.7MB
