Forum Activity for @marg

New Bill Berg dulcimer

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

Seems like someone else just got a Bill Berg dulcimer.

Hope you enjoy it 

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I'm reading 'Depression Fallout'  and 'Bloody Mary' - about Henry VIII's eldest daughter.

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Seed catalogs !!!

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Irene, I'm glad you're introducing more people to SACRED HARP.  I enjoy singing and playing these songs, although it's a bit more challenging than some people think!  I liken it to learning the Cyrillic alphabet so you can sing in Russian and when you've got that down well, then you (finally) get to sing the English "poetry" with the tune (and the poetry is often on a different page from the music notation, making all this even harder).

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Yes, Dusty, that's the article. There are a number of other interesting articles in the book including one on Barbara Allen, folk music in schools in an highly industrialized society, and professionalism and amateurism in the study of folk music to name a few. The book (ex-library) cost me 99 cents, but with shipping and tax I wound up paying 5 dollars.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

How did you first discover the mountain dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I saw and heard the mountain dulcimer in the fall of 1991 at Epcot Center in front of the America Pavilion. They were being shown and sold by a young man from a cart-like vendor space. He was from the Walnut Valley Dulcimer company in Burns, KS. I took a brochure home with me and after debating with myself and studying about it a bit I ordered the Wildwood Mountain model custom made for me in Feb 1993. I now have others but this is the one I play the most. It has been a great joy.

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

SACRED HARP and other books related to this kind of music as I'll be presenting how to read shape notes and then have as many that will sit in a square and sing this great music of Early America that came to us via English, Scot, Irish, German.  I love this music.  Many of our Appalachian tunes we play on the dulcimer come from this age.  and when I'm done with that next week, gonna look into some of your books that you're reading. aloha, irene

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

Ken, is the attached article by Charles Seeger the one you refer to?  Either way, I think a lot of people will find it interesting.

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I just started Silent Prey by John Sandford. It is one of his Lucas Davenport novels. I just finished James Patterson's Cross the Line which was a Christmas present from my son and daughter-in-law. Yesterday I received Studies in Musicology 1935 -1975 which is compilation of articles written by Charles Seeger. I ordered it mostly for the article on the Appalachian dulcimer, but several of the other articles look interesting. I probably won't read the entire book.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

A trio of books by Kate Thompson, known as the New Policeman trilogy, about the happenings of a small Irish village and their interactions with the "Faeries" on the other side of The Veil.  Lots of fun and fabulous fiddle tune music at the end of each chapter.

Anxiously awaiting the Anne Grimes book.

updated by @ken-hulme: 01/26/17 07:09:00PM

What are you reading right now?

OFF TOPIC discussions

I have been reading _Younger Next Year_, and it is changing my life!!!  ~and trickling down to my husband~

How did you first discover the mountain dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

At Merlefest in 2004, heard an old fella playing what he referred to as his "Hog Fiddle". Fell in love with the sound and spent six months looking for a "Hog Fiddle". Finally rescued an old (number 3) Folkways from 1973 that someone had hanging on their wall. Used to belong to their Dad but it'd hung there for ten years, no one played it and would I like it. We negotiated a good price and I am still playing that instrument today. It needs refinishing, and lately I've gotten the idea that I'd like to build them as well. I also love to hand the instrument to kids too and watch their faces light up when they can make "music" without having to learn complicated chord forms.

Stringing a 5 string?

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

That five string should give you a rich mellow tone. Enjoy

Stringing a 5 string?

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

Thank y'all both! The rest of my strings come in tomorrow, lol, I'm itching with excitement. The one string sounds great, ha, really nice tone.

I don't know what the heck I'm going to do with five strings, but it'll be fun, I'm sure!

Stringing a 5 string?

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

That's correct all the strings go over the top of the "tuner shafts".  Bob's diagram if which string goes to which peg is spot on!

Clicking straight to the newest post on Forums

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Ok Glenda, the new group has been created- go ahead and join it.  Have fun!

Stringing a 5 string?

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

I wind all of the strings over the top of the pegs.

Clicking straight to the newest post on Forums

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Yes, that would be great! I'm looking forward to getting Indiana going again. I know there lots of dulcimer players here. 

Stringing a 5 string?

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

Thank you very much, Bob. Now, in the photo, the way he strung that one string under the previous peg...is that correct? It doesn't seem right to me? I thought they should go over the other pegs? I hope I'm making sense.

Stringing a 5 string?

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

If you are right handed the lightest (thinnest) strings go on the left side pegs starting with the one closest to the nut.  Like this:

 

Top of Peghead

3

        4

2

        5

1

______ (NUT)

| | | | | 

Clicking straight to the newest post on Forums

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Ok, Glenda, I'm back-  

We have about +/- 60 different Groups here on FOTMD.  We do have Groups for 'some' US states, but not for others. For some subjects or areas there may not be enough interest to maintain a separate space for their activity.  Every couple of years, I go through the site's Group section and delete any Groups that have been completely inactive for over a year and that have none (or almost none) discussions, few members, and few comments.  Doing this keeps the Groups area of the site fresh.  I'm afraid the Indiana Group had been very long completely inactive and was thus deleted.

However, if you are interested in being active in, or overseeing the activity of a new Indiana Group, then I will be happy to create a new group and although i can't make you an actual site moderator, I can adjust it so that only you can create special sticky 'pages' in that group for any Indiana subject you might feel is helpful to the group members.  You could keep an eye on that group, start topics of interest perhaps, and let me or another FOTMD moderators know if there's ever a problem in the group that needs attention.

Shall I go ahead and create a new Indiana Group for you to help 'shepherd', Glenda?

Stringing a 5 string?

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

My new baby arrived today, and she's lovely! Unfortunately, the helpful man at the music store who helped pack it to ship to me, removed all of the old strings, put one new string on (he only had the one loop end available). He was also "kind" enough to glue down the floating bridge! Grrr.

Now I have no idea how to string this thing. Which string goes to what peg? Can anyone help me?

The glue on the floating peg was easy to unstick, fortunately.

Thanks for any help!

I was able to find a name and date inside. Unfortunately, I can't quite make out the name, but the date is 4-8-72.

updated by @jenniferc: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

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Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

Hi Glenda!- @glenda-hubbard - I have to go out the door right now for some doctor visits for several hours, but I'll be sure to come back and respond to your Indiana group question when I return home! 

updated by @strumelia: 01/25/17 09:44:04AM

Clicking straight to the newest post on Forums

Site QUESTIONS ? How do I...?

I used to be the moderator for the Indiana group but. I can no longer find it has it been deleted ?  Will I have to create a new one or is it in the files somewhere and I just  cant find it? I've not been on for a while and check in occasionally but would like to activate the Indians group. Not sure I'm in the right category Glenda  

 

I've Just Bought a BANJO !!!!

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

Bill- most oldtime fiddle tune banjo players I know, when playing for key of D, will either tune up to aDADE

which is referred to as 'double D tuning'. (the first lower case letter is the short fifth string)

OR, if they don't want to tune up that high they will tune to 'double C tuning' which is:  g, C, G, C, D

and then you can hook your fifth string up to 'a' and put a capo on the second fret for the other 4 strings.  That would bring you back up to double d tuning but with less cranking of the strings if starting from standard G tuning of gDGBD.

I usually just tune up to aDADE to play in D.

I've Just Bought a BANJO !!!!

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I tune my banjo F#, D, F#, A, D (from 5th to 1st string). You can play melody on the first string just like on the dulcimer. I use a clawhammer or a two-finger style strum.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I've Just Bought a BANJO !!!!

Adventures with 'other' instruments...

I just got a Deering Goodtime 5 string banjo, how do I tune or capo to play along with dulcimers in DAD?

It has spikes for capo on 5th string.

Any help would be appreciated

Protecting skin

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Ouch !  Perhaps, when you heal a bit, you can try some fingerpicking. No picks needed.

I hope you heal quick and painlessly.

Protecting skin

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

At the end of last week I broke my wrist -- the right, dominant, strumming hand.  Can tell that, once the pain eases up, the switch to thumb picks will let me play.  Turns out to be a good idea for more than just the original reason

New Bill Berg dulcimer

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

Thanks, Ken!

 

 

Steven

New Bill Berg dulcimer

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

Steven, enjoy your new dulcimer which I am sure you will.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

New Bill Berg dulcimer

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

Received my new Bill Berg dulcimer the other day! It's an all sycamore 5-string long scale elliptical. It sounds wonderful, and looks great! Real nice people to deal with. Well, back to playing it!

 

Steven

updated by @steven-berger: 10/27/19 12:02:25PM

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Thany you every one. I will keep you informed,

. Any body ever use thr techniqe of whacking the butt end to determine moisture content?

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

The paraffin on the ends will keep the wood from drying too quickly. I dried some walnut in my unheated attic for several years. I just stacked and stickered it and left it there until I needed it for a project. Sounds like you are on the right track.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Yea, i won't put it near the fire place, just in the same room which geet warm enough. Also we use a small fan which generally keeps the air smoothly gently circulating.

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Be careful, if it drys too fast it will be prone to checking and cracking.

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Thanks Kusani,

pretty much what I figured too. We have a wood stove insert in the fireplace in our livingroom. Puts out nice dry heat. I think I may put the wood slabs in proximity and help speed up thr dryng process. Fresh cut wood smells the best no matter what kind it is!

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Nice looking pieces of wood!  I would dry them 'as is' and then work them down to dimensions using whatever tools/machines you have available.  Here is a slab of burl maple I air dried for 3+ years in a barn and then worked it down for making the dulcimer I have posted in another thread: 

updated by @kusani: 01/20/17 07:27:48PM

Drying freshly harvested wood...

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

Hi, according to my past experiences I feel quite competent in building my first dulcimer. However, I know I will have several if not many questions and clarifications along my jouney. Here are the first.

In our woods a tree which I believe to be in the cherry or birch family came crashing down, broken off about 8 feet above the ground. A closer inspection revealed that downy woodpeckers and flickers were the culprits. My good fortune is in the remaining tree on the ground with about 10" diameter.

Using my chain saw I cut 2 slabs about 1.5x10x48 inches (+ or -) for top and bottom. At this time there are pretty rough and need band saw and planer attention. My question are about seasoning and drying the slabs. 

1. Should I leave the slabs rough and let dry-out before doing any cutting ?

or

2. Should I band saw and plane to a rough size, then dry out?

In either case I will seal ends with parafin and bees wax.

I also cut a 3x3x48 inch maple plank from which the side will be band sawed from. I ask the same questions about drying out. No 1. Or No.2 ?

I also have a slab of black walnut which was shed off on one of our trees as a large branch came down in the wind. This has been in my barn for five years and completely dry. This will become the fret board and head.

I am extremely grateful to have such nice wood made available from my own land in such a natural way. 

Any suggestion about drying are very welcome.

Lastly, can anyone recomend plans or a book for building the tear drop appalachian mountain dulcimer. I am pretty comfortable about the box. Need some good detail on head stock and stringing.

thanks all, will post pictures as I progress!

Tim Good Man

How did you first discover the mountain dulcimer?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I'm not really sure what my first meeting with a Mountain Dulcimer was ... I was probably researching some of the old "Child" ballads and found either a video or recording that I liked the sound of, then spent some little while both convincing myself I really wanted one and then finding one at a price I wanted to pay ... they're a bit thin on the ground on the east side of the Atlantic, and, as everywhere, what might be considered a novelty item often commands a high price!

With instrument found and purchased I ended up with a "no-name" 4-string that needed a drop of glue and a new string ... the glue glued and the string got knotted (I didn't have a spare string long enough) and it gives me a great deal of pleasure :)