Forum Activity for @strumelia

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Not sure exactly what time period we are talking here- during or before before Jean's time (b.1922)?  Remember that the earliest mtn dulcimer so far that has been accurately dated was from the 1830s- actual mtn dulcimers may not even have been 'invented' before 1800.
I've always been doubtful about the conjecture that mountain dulcimers were commonly played for social dances or in church. I've never read any verified references of it, and it seems unlikely to me. On the other hand, many churches and most grange halls had a piano. And guitars, fiddles, and (to a lesser extent) banjos... were pretty widespread among the communities.

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 
I know only a little about dulcimer history, and even less about the history of southern churches, but with smaller churches it makes a lot of sense to me that musicians would be invited to play small intimate performances in front of their congregation. Most church people that I've met love musicians bringing their instruments and performing a piece of worship music, since church is fundamentally about community. I guess i had assumed that any instruments which weren't considered "of the devil" would end up getting played in churches. I really hope it wasn't that different in 'puritanical' times in Appalachia...
updated by @nate: 08/30/24 06:31:24AM

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for your insight Wally.

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yes, old dulcimers were quiet instruments, almost always played in the home.  No big concerts back then.  They were just meant to accompany singing, like Jean Ritchie demonstrated. 

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I watched Robin Clark's video. He does a great job of covering dulcimer types and construction, and he plays with great skill.

On the other hand, I don't think he really understands the place(s) of the dulcimer within Appalachian culture. He proposes that the dulcimer was commonly used for dances and church services. I have seen no evidence that dulcimers from our area were ever used in dances or church. 

Both from reading Jean Ritchie's Singing Family of the Cumberlands book (Eastern Kentucky) and from studying local sources (North Central West Virginia) I am aware that in many communities dancing to instrumental music was considered sinful. This was particularly true among rural Methodist and Baptist congregations. In those communities "children" of all ages attended PLAYS or PLAY-PARTIES where dance-like activities took place while the participants SANG the music. 

There are many scholarly and semi-scholarly books which discuss play-parties in detail. In many cases the tunes and dance figures were nearly identical to fiddle tunes and square or line dances. 

Dulcimers were not more affordable than fiddles and banjos. Both box and gourd homemade fiddles and banjos were used by others (Presbyterians and Anglicans ??) within the same areas for dancing.

As to dulcimer playing in church, I'd guess that it occurred on occasions, but it was unnecessary. The Ritchies, and probably most other Methodists and Baptists, learned highly structured unaccompanied singing in shape-note schools and from the Sacred Harp schools. It is quite possible that many of the small churches had foot-pumped organs, there was one in the Ritchie home. 

If anyone has primary source material describing dulcimer playing at dances or in church, I'd like to see it.

Play Music On The Porch Day 2019

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

We have internet disruptions frequently due to, I think, extreme heat/demand on the power grid.  Our plan is loose:  make music, record it some way on whatever day works, and put it on the internet.  

Happy strumming, friends! 

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Robin has been a member here for years, although he hasn't participated much recently.  He's a great dulcimer player and innovative builder.

Play Music On The Porch Day 2019

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 
Glad you brought it up! This year is slipping by far too fast I almost let it blow past me!

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for posting this, sir!

History of mountain dulcimer

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Just thought someone may find this interesting.  History and tradition of the mountain dulcimer.  By Robin Clark

Play Music On The Porch Day 2019

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Unfortunately, I'll be traveling this year, but I'll come up with some way to mark the day and share some music.

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

https://issuu.com/dulcimerplayersnewsinc/docs/120823165315-a345f3453f974f1190310a94462246b7

Go to page 25 or run a search on the issue that comes up, enter Magic Mountain

updated by @salt-springs: 08/24/24 09:23:00PM

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

 

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/general-mountain-dulcimer-or-music-discussions/20342/does-anyone-know-when-my-mountain-dulcimer-was-built

I heard from JC years ago when checking one out......if I remember there might be a number stamped in the wood somewhere that could give you an idea as to when it was made.  I just don't remember.  People that have owned them, some on this site swear by them.

updated by @salt-springs: 08/24/24 09:00:18PM

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

Here are the photos.  It's not mine,  one I might be interested in. 

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

Pictures would help.  Especially a close up of the Maker's label inside the instrument.

Play Music On The Porch Day 2019

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

The 2024 edition of worldwide Play Music On The Porch Day is Saturday 31 August!  Make music where you can when you can, friends!  (Not everyone can go outdoors to play nor is everyone available on the actual stated date.) 

Magic Mountain 469-H Dulcimer

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

Hello all.  Does anyone know any information about this model, made by the Shellnut Company, as Magic Mountain, in the San Francisco area, probably in the late 1970's or early 80's?

I'd appreciate any details, information, guidance or informed opinions.

Thanks all!

updated by @comixchik: 08/24/24 08:49:55PM

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have to admit that I'm the opposite: I love changing strings.  New strings look, feel, and sound better than old ones.  On the dulcimer and guitar I use regularly, I change strings about every 3 months.  The other ones might go a year without new strings, but once I pick one up to play and realize how dull-sounding and stiff-feeling they are, I put new strings on right away.  Sometimes I have a little string-changing party and change strings on several instruments at once.

Make sure you have the right equipment: a string winder, a wire cutter, a capo, a tuner.  (If you have one of those scroll heads with the closed back, you might also need some needle-nose plyers.)  It takes 5 minutes to change 3 strings, and then for several months you get to enjoy the bright tone and soft feeling of the new strings.

Strings last longer if you keep your instruments in cases. If you hang them on the wall or on stands, as I tend to do, the oxidization process speeds up. 

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Strumelia, I had to laugh at what you said about changing strings.  I absolutely HATE changing strings!  I don't know why find it so tedious to do, especially when one has so many instruments. So, like you, I do it only when it can't be avoided any longer - like when I can see the rust on the strings and they sound totally dead.  I think with guitars, because it takes so long before the strings settle down and stop going out of tune right away. Annoying!  Dulcimers hold tuning so much longer!

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Maddie and NateBuilds Toys,

it’s taken years to find the strings that I like best and suits my playing, but when I did I shopped around and bought them five and ten sets at a time.  Strumelia, I also found trying to change the strings on a large number of instruments at once is overwhelming. So I do one or two instruments a week until they are all done.  Guitar strings wear way quicker than dulcimer strings due to the high tension.  For me that could take a year.  

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 
Right? One thing I've been meaning to try per the advice of some folks on here is getting a spool of string, which seems to be WAY cheaper.

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Susie,

haha, yes, I have owned so many instruments in my lifetime but what fun it has been.  

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

 

I don't feel so bad about my "collection " any more.

That sounds like a dangerous thing, to have a family owned music store. But, oh so much fun!

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My Keith Young is a great player too!  I also have five Ukuleles that are a lot of fun.  My banjos are a five string and a four string that I’ve strung up with nylgut strings.  I play it the most in Chicago tuning, just like a big ukulele.

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

For the past 25 years I have had two mtn dulcimers that are good players- my Keith Young maple teardrop, and my cherry Galax by Ben Seymour. I have a finicky old kit dulcimer someone gave me from their closet yrs ago, but I don't play that one. So I consider I have two mountain dulcimers.
But I also have two epinettes, a langspil, and a hummel, which are all dulcimer-like instruments. It feels pretty well rounded. My wallet has kept me in line a little over the years. I have 8 banjos last i counted. Each one is very different from the other, for example my gourd banjo.

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@steve-c so cool.... but all I can say is  

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

@maddie-myers , one day years ago, i got it into my head to change the strings on seven of my banjos at once. 35 strings, took hours. I don't know why i did such a crazy thing, but i vowed Never Again.   I'm normally pretty cheap about strings and only change them once in a while, not 'regularly'. The only strings I actually notice that 'die' over time are wound strings. The great Margaret Barry once said that in hard times she stripped wire from window screens to string her banjo with.

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I’ve always had too many dulcimers, it’s now a lifestyle! I’m living the dulcimer life.  Besides owning 35+ historical dulcimers, I own 3 Blue Lions, a McCafferty, John Stockard, Bella Dulcimer, 3 Folkcraft, Clemmer Banjammer, Keith Young, Ron Gibson, 2 Ron Ewings and a host of guitars, harps, grandpa’s Sax, psaltry, plus many more. It can’t be helped my father owned a music store when I was growing up.

updated by @steve-c: 08/22/24 08:28:58AM

amps and dulcimers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks, Dusty.  Yeah, I didn't expect it to sound great but I'll be traveling in the US and won't have access to my regular amps at home in Oz.  I'll be dying to try out my new baritone - as better than nothing

amps and dulcimers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Maddie, you will not harm either your baritone dulcimer or your bass amp.  The sound would likely be OK but not great.  Remember that the low string on a standard guitar is lower than the low string on your baritone, so normal guitar amps can handle a baritone dulcimer with no problem.

updated by @dusty: 08/22/24 12:34:52AM

How Many Dulcimers Do You Own?

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Yeah, I'm a little out of control with dulcimers and a few other things with strings: I have a standard McSpadden, McCafferty, Keith Young, 5-string Homer Ledford, a Clemmer Banjammer, and a huge standard I made from a kit (I call it The Boat). It doesn't yet know if it's a boat, standard, baritone or a bass. I have a McCafferty baritone on order to collect next month in the States.  My other noisemakers are 3 banjos, 3 guitars, waaay too many harmonicas, a panflute, and an electric bass I'm giving to my grandson who wants to play in the school jazz band. I gave my Native American flute to my son who cast covetous glances at it.  Just a final thought:  How come nobody ever comments on how much money it costs to keep all these babies in fresh strings !?!  

amps and dulcimers

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Can I plug my baritone dulcimer into a bass amp with no ill effects and will the sound be ok?

Thanks, Maddie

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks everybody I think you're right I should just leave well enough alone if the instrument plays fine, I have no issues with the way it sounds at all, And it sounds really good. I think I'm just getting caught up in all this technical stuff, one of the drawbacks to YouTube I guess. Thanks Nate and Ken

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I am not sure about the "one size" anecdote, but dramatically changing string size will dramatically change intonation. In the past, when I have already installed a fixed bridge, and it is only off by a couple cents, I will sometimes file a slot or two slightly deeper to adjust it. Not my favorite solution, but it shouldn't affect playability very much. For that reason, I recommend taking a tuner and fretting each note to see if the instrument is well intonated. If all the notes are in tune, I'd say leave it alone. If they're not, then it may be fair to assume that the strings are at different heights due to imprecision.
Nate

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I've never heard that about not going up/down one string size once you set the action.    I suppose it's possible to adjust intonation by having the strings at different heights, but certainly is not a common technique.  Normally, folks who worry about intonation (not all of us by any stretch) adjust the angle at which the bridge sets to the strings -- usually the bass end of the bridge is something like 1/16" to 1/8" farther down the fretboard than the melody end  rather than exactly 90 degrees to the line of the strings.

Gotta remember that the dulcimer is still a folk instrument.  People keep trying to apply fancy orchestral instrument "tweaks" to an instrument never intended for such things.

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hey thanks Nate. It does have a fixed bridge. Is that why I have heard that one should only go up or down one size string size

once you sent the action?

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I would recommend checking the frets with a tuner before making any alterations. It may be the case that the strings are set at different heights to accommodate their location on an installed bridge. There may be very small variations in the bridge that are actually adjustments made for intonation.
Nate

updated by @nate: 08/20/24 05:54:33AM

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for getting back to me I was just curious.  About a year ago well not quite a year ago I bought a folk roots instrument from Folkcraft. My friend just loaned me his StewMac digital string gauge that he had and I decided to check the action on the instrument that I got from  folkcraft Just out of curiosity not knowing any difference whether it was right or wrong looks like the melody string was set at .028, The middle string was set at 0.31, And the base string was set at .016. Since they Folkcraft are professionals I was curious was that a correct setting or should they all be set at one uniformed distance. so I'm guessing they're setting was way off thanks for all the feedback. Guess I'll try the Nickel Dime trick 

String Action

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

In all my 50+ years of playing dulcimer, I've never seen anyone set the action at different heights from melody to bass.  I always set my action height as Nickel & Dime -- a nickel thickness above the fretboard at the first fret, and a dime thickness above the 7th fret.  

updated by @ken-hulme: 08/18/24 02:59:18PM