Forum Activity for @sleepingangel

Here's a pic of the stand my 91 year old dad made me!! It holds 10 (and as you can see they are all being used!!!!) It's worse than DAD!!

Maria

 Not crocheted or thin but FREE, I use the straps from my suitcases or laptop cases and pin buttons or pins on them

D -- a simple wooden box can be made pretty inexpensively with Poplar -- see my "possum box" in Sandi's thread talking about bags and cases.

When you get the instrument, take exact width/length/height measurements, and I'll make you a box for it -- at cost.

~take me with you~

Oh gosh, I didn't know there was a name for it but I know I got it!  Big grin  

Never mind! I just found an earlier discussion and now I have my answer! Thanks for the article link Dusty!

We have dear friends who visit each year from London. Last year, the gal, Lianne, a gifted artist, sat down with my dulcimer and basically taught herself to play. They are coming back soon and I would love to find a reasonably priced dulcimer and gift her with that and some books and a capo. 

The problem is (besides finding a great deal)...how will she manage to get it back to London in one piece? A hard case runs around $185 and that's going to be out of my price range. I had heard the air lines have had to accommodate musicians because of some recent damages.

If she can carry it on, that would really help. Thoughts? Ideas?  

thanks Susie!!

Monica and Strumelia....yeah, you're probably right.  

We'll see where this goes. But with all my other instruments, I have plenty of other music to be made. The primary reason I wanted a stand, is so after playing, it can sit out and dry out. I can always store "dry" flutes in their bags/cases. So, the 3 place stand should work for now. I'll post a pic when it's done. Actually, he has built it already (just finished it). Now I have to do the staining and polying.

I suggest you have him just cut to the chase and build four of these 3-flute stands.  

Definitely more than 2, I started off with 1 flute I now have 8. You need one in every key and as you play you will discover there are many flute makers and different woods. I suggest a flute stand that holds 10

I recently bought a Butch Hall Dm but had to return because the holes were so large that my fingers sunk in, The stretch to the last hole was a challenge, but sometimes doable. I know that the Condor bass D walnut comes in the 1" bore, Curious to know how the Regular condor bass D is. I particularly like the spanish cedar. Would the holes be too big?

Thanks

Very nice, Maria!

Got my HS walnut White Tail Hawk in the key of B. Beautiful! This FAD (flute acquisition disease) is real.

My husband offered to build me a flute stand, so I said sure. He asked, how many should it hold? I have 2. I said I should be all set with 2. He's building it to hold 3. Maybe as I learn more, I'll have to fill that 3rd spot.

Thanks Charles. Yes, the travel dulcimers are fun. They are also good festival dulcimers. The Folkcraft galax are wonderful.

Susie, That is a wonderful family portrait! (hmmm..A travel dulcimer..yes, I want one... a galax back I need one).

Your way behind, Steven.  I've got 17.  LOL

I hate this thread!!!...Makes me want to go and buy another dulcimer...and I just got my 5th last week!

Steven

thanks HELEN!!

MARIA

AND YES YOU GUYS ARE FUNNY!!

well here's the cool part...they do but because there's so many places to attach it to the knob it doesn't matter that some hangs over? know what I mean?

take care

Maria

How many dulcimers is enough? Just one more.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I've only got 5, but each has its own purpose.

Folkcraft Custom - galax back

Doug Berch - electronics

Lazenby - festivals

FolkRoots - baritone

Clemmer Sweetie - travel

 IMG_20160811_094124306.jpg - 173KB

It's incurable ... the only thing that stops me is no money and kids.... 

Thank you everybody for your responses! I have come to the conclusion that I need MORE!! I received  my Ron Gibson a few days ago and I'm in love. I did have one anxious moment... I wanted to introduce the new member of my pack slowly...I brought her in with the case closed so the others could get a sniff first...when I opened it up my walnut McSpadden growled a bit and raised his hackles... my Bill Berg just wagged his tail(piece) like a little pup, and my McSpadden six string baritone tried to do something nasty...my Applecreek ran away and hid and my Yocky feigned indifference . Everyone has now settled down to one happy pack! I am thinking of joining DAA (Dulcimer Addicts Anonymous).   

thanks Jim! your's is cool too!! In fact I think that I remember seeing it way in the beginning of my time here and thought "that's the thinness I want!!" so you "inspired me "to re-create it in a way!!

take care

Maria

Jim -- I've got a strap just like that which I bought in Mexico about 20 years ago.  I don't use any for of dulcimer strap.  But if I did, that's what I would adapt.

I love Maria's strap.

Mine was a South American cotton belt that I bought at a festival.  Very colourful.

 strap4.jpg - 14KB

Awesome photo of both dad and flutes.  I had no idea that there was so much variation in the Native American flute world.  Fortunately (or rather, unfortunately), I have asthma and am not tempted to fall down that particular rabbit hole.  I keep getting tempted by the ukulele, however I keep reminding myself that I need to focus on getting better on the instrument that I have before adding another one to the mix.

On the other hand, multiple ukuleles would take up much less wall space...

Thanks for the replies. I think I like his idea that I saw posted about his leather strap that goes around the leg area instead of the normal strap around the back. His idea looked pretty good. I'll have to look up some leather worker I guess in my area. Haven't seen one for awhile though.

Bobby Ratliff does business as Highnoonhunter  He's not been doing much lately as he's been having some health issues.  Are you looking for leatherwork or something else?

I've had really good results with my "Myer's Pick up" The owner asked to put me on his web site. I figure it couldn't hurt so here's the blurb. I bought it from amazon for about 130 dollars. I took off the "suction" cup because it just doesn't stay on the dulcimer. Once it was removed It lays flat. I've successfully used "command Strips" and they have not hurt my dulcimers. Although once I'm done recording with the pickup I immediately remove it. Don't want to take any chances!!

Here's the link if you want to hear it in action. By the way I'm not "promoting" him I just use it and think it's a good product. The owner is also very helpful and when I struggled to remove the suction cup he actually called me on the phone to walk me through it. It was a little tricky with the screws and eventually my husband had to use a special tool but off it came!

Take care and good luck!

Maria

Myer's Pickup Website

You will get no sympathy here!!! I started the dulcimer only 9 months ago and I own 6 as well!!! then I developed "tendonitis" or something (which I'm having checked in two weeks) and I had to slow down on the dulcimer...well guess what I got into???? The Native American Flute...You think DAD is bad well NAFD is SO MUCH WORSE>....the reason? the flutes all come in different keys, then there's the drones and there are the ones in different "htz" oh man it's BAD. How many do I own??? well a picture is worth a thousand words. Here's a flute holder that my 91 year old dad made me!!!!

Maria

So I crocheted a strap for all my dulcimers. It's funny because my mom was an avid wonderful crocheter and I just never was able to finish anything more than a scarf here or there. Well now she's gone and all of a sudden I had the urge to do this because no strap felt "thin" enough. They work out GREAT.

Here's a picture

Take care

Maria

Strumelia gave EXCELLENT instructions on a DIY strap years ago....

Anybody know if Bobby Ratliff has a web site or how's the best way to get in touch with him? I tried a Google search and couldn't find anything and a search on the FOTMD Members under his name did not turn up anything.

I know I'm not alone...I suffer from MIAS (Multiple Instrument Acquisition Syndrome)...this is especially heartbreaking and embarrassing since I don't play any of them particularly well...

It's getting to the point of too many instruments, not enough house...some of us are going to have to part ways...guess I'll pitch a tent outside for me and my dog...well, maybe just for me...

Steven

Yeah I've been applying some of that there Coordinate Cream on my face every evening, but not sure if it's helping.

I think  blowing Aunt Rhodie on my thumb and patting my belly at the same time would be a piece of cake compared to this tabor pipe/drum stuff.  It's tough!       But I'm still making progress and practicing almost every day.  I never thought that in my 60s I could take up a woodwind instrument at ALL...so I'm pretty pleased that it seems like a do-able thing with enough work if I keep at it. The main thing is that i'm really enjoying the learning process, struggle and all.  

I have no idea why they say that recorders and penny whistles are easy instruments to learn.   Nuts , I say!

I have a friend who is a jeweler/metalsmith who is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism as well...he goes to their medieval events with the 14th century pendulum clocks he made completely by hand.  Very cool.

Hey Lexie, we are also waiting for some of that "Coordinate".  Please, if you know where I can buy some, please let me know.  Try blowing Aunt Rhodie on your thumb and patting your belly at the same time.   

Terry

PS:  Please let me know how you do.  

2nd PS:  I hope you know I am funnin you...........

I built both of these for others.  The Gusli is for Lady Sally's daughter who has gotten involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism.  She has a Novgarod Russian persona and the Gusli is modeled after one from about 1250, which  was discovered in an archeological dig in that city. 

The Rabel is intended to be finger fretted.  Right now it has very short temporary strings on it that came from a violin, I think.   The instrument is only 24" from tip to tip.   I'm giving it to a woman who lives at the marina, who is a violinist/cellist and folk instrument aficionado (she also plays at dulcimer).  I'm not sure what will happen to the ends when it gets 'real' strings....