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.
How delightful! If your little vocalist doesn't have experience using a microphone (don't you love kids today?) be sure to spend a minute or two beforehand testing where he should hold it and work out a couple of hand signals for you or Dad to give him during the songs: closer and farther away. Just a few inches can make the difference between hearing him, not hearing him, and summoning banshees :-)
Have a great time. I'm looking forward to the video!
So I bought a brand new (yet old) FolkRoots dulcimer from a fellow in CA. He bought it at a renaissance fair..he thinks back in the 80s. The gal he bought it for never played it. So basically it's brand spankin new. I got it today and it's gorgeous. The case is mint and it looks like Howard just handed it over this morning.
With that said, I want to learn a bit more. The inside label says Rugg & Jackel Folk Roots dulcimers D200 S 170 Nothing is kerfed on the inside. The top is light and the back darker and the fretboard looks to be walnut or mahogany with the little pick marks both woods have. Any info would be appreciated!
I got a nice surprise yesterday. I recently learned a new to me song, "Feliz Navidad". I think this is the same one Jan suggested, but as "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas".
The surprise was: I picked my 6 year old grandson up from school yesterday, and while driving home, I began to quietly sing this song. All of a sudden I hear him singing along with me. He could sing the Spanish part better than I, as he had learned this song in his music class.
The surprise is: He has agreed to sing this song with me at an assisted living home on Tues Dec. 20th. He is very excited about it, especially about holding the mic. His little voice is in tune and sounds so sweet. "His" plan is for him to do the Spanish part solo, and then we sing the English part together.
His dad, my son, plans to video it on a stationary video, and play bass acoustic guitar and sing along too.
We have also agreed to do "Jingle Bells", and "Christmas is Coming". He is not bashful at all about getting in front of people and this brings huge smiles all around.
If all of this really happens, and I believe it will, my son will edit the video and I'll post it in the video section.
Thanks to all for your most helpful suggestions.
Bring a Torch is my very, very favorite! Was "I Wonder as I Wander" mentioned? OH I have enjoyed reading this and what you are doing!!!!
Cat, I hope you find some relief from your finger pain. Splints really help me to play, and I am creative in that I don't grip tightly the pick or noter, my spoon noter cups in the palm of my hand and my thumb rests on top. With my hand splint, the splint itself holds my bamboo noter, works well.
You can get used to the splints, anything to play I say!! 
I've seen plenty, but haven't heard one. I guess you need to let us hear a sound clip? We have several pieces at the Museum of Appalachia displayed and it is said he was a war hero and his people settled here during the Daniel Boone era?
this is SUCH a beautiful well made dulcimer. I love the carvings, the shape and the lovely top. I wish I could hear it played. You have a jewel of an instrument there. aloha, irene
The photos really don't do justice to the size of this thing! 44 inches long, 12 inches at it's widest, 3 inch deep body, 6 string. It is touted as a bass dulcimer, to what should I be tuning this too??
Going to try and do a sound clip after I figure it out a little more, but have to bring someone in to help me do that, technologically challenged here!!
Thanks all!!
I live everyday with pain in my fingers and hands. Due some to arthritis and a lot to injuries suffered in two motorcycle accidents. Like sliding down the highway.
Steroids and prescription pain medicine helps a lot. I still play dulcimer and ukulele most every day, This is the problem.
I took my doctor's advice and Strumelia's advice, and cut my practice time I half. This helps more than anything. To fill this time , I practice harmonica.
I hope that you are able to get some relief for your trigger finger. The trigger finger on both my hands gives me the most pain.
In my opinion, the trigger finger and thumb on the left hand are your two most used fingers while playing dulcimer.
A great big GOOD LUCK to you. Some relief would be a wonderful Christmas present to you.
Ken, I agree. It is fun to see the different finishes. I imagine CN Prichard was quite a character (in the good sense) and probably loved variety.
It is fun to see some of the different finishes on Prichard dulcimers. I like this one and may try it on the next one I make.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks! I will give that a try!
Yes, Paula, what Phil is explaining is that you should not screw the capo on to full tightness. Screw it only tight enough so that when you push the lever down it is really tight. Then it is set and you never have to set it again (unless you switch dulcimers). If you try to push the leverdown and you can't, then loosen the screw a little bit and try again. Keep trying that until the capo is snug when you push the lever all the way down.
