Forum Activity for @robert-schuler

I got a sewing machine to make bags for my dulcimers. Found that pant legs from old blue jeans make great gig bags. Robert...

"Cactus picks" have little prickles built into the mold that they make the picks in.  Those work well, too.

It'll let you know if your grip on the pick is too hard, too!  Drip...drip...drip.... 

I love your enthusiasm ("But oh my gosh, I bet it would be fun.") and it sounds like you've got a lot of great ideas and ways to be really creative with this--plus a really nice machine!

I started sewing at a very early age (made my first dress at age 6) and have found sewing projects to be more frustrating than fun.  I love the creativity and the planning stages--and buying the supplies--but things fail in the execution. 

I love the idea of culling materials from thrift shops, Goodwill, etc.  There are things I have kept because I could use the material from it to make something...but it seems like those projects never get done.  You can also get upholstery scraps from places that remake furniture as well as places that make upholstered seats, etc., for RV's and boats.

You may also want to think about making music stands.

I know some people like pick bags to be small, but I like one that is about 5 x 8 so I can also have room for tuners and capos and extra strings--and the string winder!

This is awesome!  ~I cannot sew a lick~  Love that this was about sewing and not where human waste goes....  

Very cool solution!!!

I second the sticky pads from http://guitarmoose.com/products  - I put one on each side of the pick.

Joe- what an awesome solution.  Big win all around!!  

ken  is right.  don't change the tuners.  replacing the wound bass string with a plain one might help.

a few years ago a lady brought me a very low number vintage mc spadden asking that i install geared tuners.  instead i called a friend

who worked at the mc spadden shop.  i proposed a trade which they jumped on.  they have a 50 year old instrument hanging in the shop and

she has a beautiful new mc spadden with geared tuners.  it was a win/win

I do the same.  That stuff is like gold...works so well.

The problem is that with most geared tuners you have to drill holes for the screws that hold them in place, and that can reduce the value of a collectible instrument.

When???  I guess for me when after building my first dulcimer, a few weeks ago, I found myself prepping wood for 3 more. 

...then there was that other stuff...

Actually, a few years  ago we here at FOTMD started our own " You Might be a Dulcimer Redneck " list.  Some of it is pretty funny.  Some of it . . .

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!