I just ordered the large hard case from high spirits with the 25 Percent off and free shipping on orders over 100 it was worth it. (I ordered three of his spiral bound music books/cd to make the 100) and I'm so exited for it to come. They say depending on the flutes it could hold about 6 flutes
take care and enjoy playing
Sng4prt, The tall leg is 29" long.
You can also just string it as a standard dulcimer, and it will have a really deep, mellow tone. The first couple hundred dulcimers I built to my own design had 3" deep bodies and with 28" VSLs, ran 40" or more overall length.
Being a wood worker, I thought that I'd cut a LITTLE CIRCLE from my sticky sandpaper. Then I take off the thin paper, fold that little circle of sandpaper on one edge of the pick and that pick NEVER flys away. aloha, irene
Hey John! If I were you, I would cut 2 triangles of sandpaper and connect with a dot of superglue right through the hole!
I'm discovering I have a pick problem as I get older. My skin is dryer than it used to be. I thought a hole in my big triangle pick would help, but it doesn't do the job for me. I'll try some of the other suggestions.
Sng4prt, I bought the stand online. I forget where, but it was one of the main suppliers... Then I removed the cloth that came with it and used it as a pattern and sewed up some leftover material I had made curtains from. It's nice and thick. I hope this helps
A bass dulcimer is tuned exactly one ocatve below a standard dulcimer. So the bass string of a standard dulcimer and the melody string of a bass dulcimer will be exactly the same tone.
It's a big one, 44 inches long, 12 inches at it's widest, 3 inch deep body, 6 string, touted as a Bass dulcimer made by Milford Blevins, South Fork Dulcimers,Number 277. Looks to be very well made, no idea on wood, but all I've owned up to now are "standard" dulcimers, looking for tips on tuning this up, Will try and do a sound clip of it at some point, but I need to bring someone in to help with that, otr to be more precise, to do it for me because I haven't a clue!! Thanks all!
There are (or were) a couple of books of tab of Randy Wilkinson's arrangments. They are really hard to find. I've been looking for a while.
There are a couple of older Forum threads on this topic:
http://fotmd.com/forums/forum/dulcimer-resourcestabs-books-websites-dvds/18835/looking-for-elizabethan-renaissance-arrangements
http://fotmd.com/forums/forum/general-mountain-dulcimer-or-music-discussions/8582/elizabethan-music-for-dulcimer-randy-wilkinson
Yah.. I'm 68 and with 40 years of playing have never needed an "additive" either. Just call me gecko-fingers!
Thanks for the info, Ken. I've never needed to use that or and other grip gimmicks. Even at 70 (as of 8:36 a.m. tomorrow) I have never suffered any sort of hand problems.
i know a guy that puts a little silicon sealant on his picks
My father thought bathtub caulk was the solution for most anything, much in the way some folks think of duct tape. But then, he worked for a company that made the stuff, so I guess it's understandable. I think I have a case of it in my basement somewhere.....
It appears that Gorilla Snot is still available, at least on-line. Check your local guitar store.
I seem to remember a similar thread about 7 yrs ago when I first started playing. A product called "Gorilla Snot" was highly recommended as a remedy for slippery picks. Is that product still on the market?
I haven't tried it but 'sticky putty' may work.
I also have been finding dulcimers and fixing them up and loaning them out so I can get a dulcimer club going here. SUCH a beautiful dulcimer. cone on, give us a tune!! aloha, irene
Haha, Steven, it's like the Incredible Mr. Limpet had a dulcimer baby. 
Nice find, Dana! Funny, I thought I heard some dulcimer playing in the distance...
Steven
Lisa, Lexie, and Jan
Thank y'all so much for your feedback. I do absorb all you write.
Lisa, I'll be practicing with him this afternoon on using the mic. And again this weekend. Good tips you offered.
Jan, I really love the quote at the bottom of your posts. So very true. I suspect there are thousands upon thousands of performers out there, not good enough to be paid with cash, but adequate enough to earn a plate of cookies or a boy howdy. Love it!😊☺
Haha, Brian, I actually played Nut Factory Shuffle yesterday and it was so loud, I'm pretty certain the birds flew off the trees. He gets such good volume with that deep body!
Haha, wouldn't that be the bees' knees! The problem is though....I got this dulcimer to give to a young friend who visits once a year from the UK. She sat and played my dulcimers for two weeks last year (having never played before) and I wanted to surprise her with her very own, in a hard case for the travel back.
I wasn't expecting this one to be...Koa. And so amazing, haha! Folk Roots have the richest, buttery smooth and yet loud voice of all my dulcimers so I might need to keep looking for Lianne. :)
Very nice Dana! Now let's hear a tune. ;)
That's great news, Terry!
Actually, the song to which I referred has verses about bringing us some figgy pudding and not leaving 'til we get some, but Feliz Navidad is a great song, too!
Last night I went to the taping of the Red Barn Radio Show and heard lovely performances of many old favorites and some new-to-me, like Two-steppin' 'round the Christmas Tree. Sarah Morgan wowed us with several, including the Cherry Tree Carol and Star of the East (aka Brightest and Best).
If you sing the ones you like best, your enthusiasm will come through in your performance!
I do hope you can post a video!
Wow! Lucky you. What a great find! Capritaurus and FolkRoots dulcimers pop up every so often, especially here in California, but I've never seen one made of koa. I know Neal Hellman and Michael Rugg used to work the Ren Fairs on a regular basis. They would play all day hoping to entice people to buy a dulcimer. Neal repeatedly mentions how good his playing got when you played all day. Kind of makes sense, huh? Maybe that's the secret. I just need to find a job that pays me to play the dulcimer.
The instrument sure has a cool vibe-- I like it!
Kevin, I know. I did remind my cousin that if he finds one while doing any renovation work in the Huntington area to let us know. I also said not to toss it if it's in bad shape. I hope we find one soon for you.
How exciting! Thank you for finding that out. I found Howard's response on E.D. and I'm very excited to know this!
Yep just like always day late and a dollar short. I wish I had seen that add first, it would be with me now. Oh well maybe some day...
Well, I was wrong about the back and sides. Howard tells us that it is koa. What a great find.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's lovely, Jim. Thanks for sharing this, and hugs again to Sharon and to Oliver's friends and family.
Got a thank you card from Sharon. Wanted to share it with all of you.
I'm looking forward to hearing from Howard in this. I also posted in Everything Dulcimer and sent an email. I changed out the strings just now, played a tune and woke up every single solitary person taking an afternoon nap between here and the Mississippi. This thing has a VOICE, Lord help mercy! I love it, ha!!
Howard can give you the full details on your instrument, but since the label says "Rugg & Jackel" that would mean it was made during or after 1976. Before then it would have been "Rugg, Rugg and Jackel." The D200 is the model number with the "S" signifying a spruce top. The back and sides appear to be mahogany. I can't tell if they were still using a laminated wood at this point. I'm sure if Howard see this, he will offer the definitive answer. Hope this helps.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sounds like you are beginning a new family Christmas tradition Terry! It is fabulous you and your boys will be doing this together, I am sure the folks will enjoy your singing.
I am looking forward to the video.
Blow_the_Candles_Out_DAD.pdf - 53KB
