Forum Activity for @lexie-r-oakley

Thank you for remembering Phil, he was a very fun Dulci buddy and is missed.

I can relate to having a dulci in my tiny car and my dog singing to Ole' Joe Clark. 

I have a Keith Young dulcimer, too.  As Ken L wrote, a KYoung instrument is worth repairing. 

definetly need pics.  are u talking about a scroll head? or a guitar type flat head?

I'm about three hours from you in central Pennsylvania. I have repaired a few dulcimers over the years, but I would need to see some photos of the damaged dulcimer before deciding if I could do the job. A Keith Young dulcimer is definitely worth repairing.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

……when Junior counts to ten, 6 1/2 comes before 7

How to tell if you're a dulcimer fanatic

 Lisa  Lisa, Lisa.  that was wonderful.  Wow.  Speechless . 

Back at you later, that's for sure.

It's now I think about my two month mark at learning to play...I just recorded another short tune today on my penny whistle... Pretty Saro . 

*WELCOME SHERRI!*

James is right, Paula.  Sweetwater markets Seagull guitars and the questionable Merlin "stick instrument".  There have been a number of complaints about the Merlin concerning less than accurate fret placement and other playability issues.   

Sweetwoods Instruments is Harpmaker Dave Lynch, a member here, who makes a wide variety of hourglass and teardrop dulcimers from his highly praised Student Model to his cherry and maple Performance model, as well as pretty much anything you can dream of as a custom dulcimer.

Yes, a lot less. The two were beautiful together. I have a mid-tone G, as well as my sister. I think for the price. I'll just have to get one. 

Paula, what you should be searching for is Sweet Woods dulcimers.  Sweetwater is an online music store that carries guitars, amps, and a whole lot of other stuff.   http://www.sweetwoodsinstruments.com/

Does anyone have an hourglass type dulcimer with a sweetwater label?   I googled to find info but only found the strumstick style.

I thought that and Indiana group made them?    I wondered about the quality and sound quality?    Just wondered what you can tell me.   

I played my sister's HS pocket flute (G, in aromatic cedar). It was a really cool little flute with a nice voice. It sounded great with the G mid-tone. Now I want one.   

Excellent!

Jennifer, very cute! How does it sound?

Oh, very good!  That's reassuring.  Yes, you should give a few additional details there on ED ...though no need to give publish your email address or personal info publicly. Helps to give a little background tho- if I were a potential buyer I'd be leery of an ad with zero info about the seller, espec with them being brand new to joining. 

Good luck with your sale Sheryl!  

 Lisa, It's me. I just haven't figured out ED completely yet. I've been an ED stalker for awhile now, but just joined. I'll go complete my profile. Thanks for looking out for me!

 I have no way to make a copy of the 45 record; but if you will message me your mailing address I will gladly send you copies of the materials on him I have; many are very faint copies but provide interesting information. 

Sheryl, are you now reselling the Presnell right away over on the EverythingDulcimer site?  

I'm just curious....  I wouldn't want some scammer over there on ED trying to rip people off while using your photos and info...that actually happens on instrument sites.  The seller there just now joined ED with no other posts and does not give any info about themselves in their profile.  It raises a red flag for me, so I just wanted to check if that's you reselling the Presnell.

I can't help you with more info regarding your particular instrument, but I do nave more info on John Maxwell; plus an original 45 recording of him and his people playing. If you wish I will be glad to copy and send you the info.  Is there a notch in the nut/bridge for a 4th string?

Robin, I doubt you will find a capo with shorter legs than a standard Ron Ewing. That is more or less the model these days.

And even though I was the one who proposed the hacksaw idea, I think Skip's suggestion is the less violent option. If you put a piece of hard rubber or soft wood or something, roughly the width of the fretboard, underneath the capo, you can get the same result without destroying the capo.  I would try that.  Some experimentation should reveal very quickly whether the legs of the capo will still have enough force to hold it down.

I'm surprised we've not had: Water the fretboard and rub in some compost to see if it will grow a little

I was actually asked the question by a player who has a Sobel dulcimer - and, although the hacksaw idea had already come to mind I did wonder if one the current commercial ones may fit?

The pic in kusani's photo certain looks like the frets are set in just intonation (flattened 3rds and flattened 6ths).  It should play beautifully in DAA (or DAAA for 4 string equidistant).  I'm sure that around the time (60s and 70s) a few observant makers would have copied Jean Ritchie's 4 string equidistant set-up where she played a single melody string with a noter and had 3 x drones - usually DAA - as no doubt customers would ask for it.  A number of makers around that time were using a just intonated fret placement as it is the natural fret position for DAA playing.  However, in areas where unison tuning had a long tradition the fret pattern would have been slightly different.

Cut a dowel or wood pencil just short of the fretboard width and tape it between the legs of a standard capo. Run the tape parallel and between the strings.

LOL~y'all are awesome!  We have a plenty of builders though...  Maybe it's a request someone could fill?

1 regular capo + 1 hacksaw = 1 shallow legged capo

That's all I got.

No, I don't know of any - but the old 'chopstick and strong rubber band' technique should work!

Does anyone know of a capo that would fit a low fretboard: Height 10mm, width 32mm

Thanks,

Robin

My Maxwell, see pic. in signature on left, was built in 1976.  Maxwell, from Cookeville, Tn. around 2300 dulcimers between the mid-60's and late 70s.  My instrument has 4 strings (equal distant), and does not have the 6 1/2 fret.  My guess yours would be mid-60's to early 70's, but can't be sure. 

Thanks, Ken, for the ideas. Not a woodworker, me. Think I'll trace the outline of the dulcimer and have a look in second hand stores for some of those instrument cases you suggested...BTW, what is a 4/4 fiddle?

Possibly.  But we'll need clear close up and overall photos., and inside, of the sticker and the area around it.  Most Maxwell's have a number associated with them  that is not a date, but a model number.  One "caution" is that Maxwell dulcimers may not have the frets set for the modern "plays well with everything" intonation.  There are numerous reports of Maxwell dulcimers being in Just Intonation or some other system.

 Gun case.  Archer's bow case. Musical instrument cases - trombone, 4/4 fiddle, etc.   Some electric keyboards have hard cases.  There are hardsided golf transport cases too.  It all depends on how mych you want to spend.  If you are, or know a reasonable woodworker, making a simple box case is pretty easy and pretty inexpensive.

Needing a hard case so I can humidify my 37" dulcimer Any ideas? 

OH that's a purty little thing!!!!  

I've always wanted to learn to play harmonica, Bob, and your sharing may just be the kick I need...  Thank you so very much!

That's great to hear Ken, thanks! :-)

george no i am not still building.  health and old age are to blame.  i never wanted to quit.  recently sold most of my wood stash 

i'm happy u enjoy the dulcimer.  

i believe the back and sides are indeed birds eye maple.  the scroll is walnut and the fretboard is too with an over lay of possibly bulbinga

Hi Joe, Thanks for the reply, here are a few more pics. Just have to say how much I'm enjoying playing this. Don't suppose you're still building??

 Great work.. Has moved up in the standings to the top 5 in the playing rotation.

 Also so the group can see the craftsmanship a little closer. Thanks is all I can say.

"Dulcimer is the voice of Angels"

 IMG_1889.jpg - 156KB

Thanks for continuing to produce these podcasts. I've been enjoying them.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."