Thank you for all of the guidance you've given me, Stumelia. My growth has been fast and furious, just as I like it. And mainly that has been because of this--or the old one?--site and all of the support I've received from its members! I cannot believe it has been only two years since I started playing with the dulcimer. Really big smiles and lots of hugs to all y'all!
Go to your profile page and look for the Gear icon for SETTINGS.
If you cannot find your porfile page:
See along the very top of the site, the bar with all the main links? See you name as the right most link? Hover your mouse over your name and you will see the drop-down menu in which is "account settings". There you will be able to type in a NEW password of your choice and SAVE tting. Keep your password is a safe place! Hope this helps.
Thanks for that, Paul! I bet your new dulicmer is awesome- looking forward to a simple tune recording from you!
Hi! I realize this post is older, but I haven't been on the site for quite some time, and haven't been doing anything on the dulcimer for quite some time, but thought it would be nice to get tab for this song, as I really like at, and it might just get me started up again...do you still have it available? I would very much appreciate it if you do! Thanks, Vivian
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Not all luthiers are luthiers, most are wood workers who build dulcimers but dont actually play them or even have any knowledge of music. Pretty to look at but impossible to play. Old time noter drone style instruments were built with very high action, but were meant to be played with a noter stick not fingers. With the many varied styles of playing today a dulcimer should be easy to play in every style... Robert.
Nancy, that does seem a bit high but it all depends. I say that because I do believe you should talk to your luthier and ask him/her about it. I know that dulcimers that are set up for noter drone playing will be higher than those set up for chord melody style. Give your luthier a call and talk with him/her about it. I know if I made a product and the customer wasn't happy I would prefer they would call me to talk about it. Buzzing could be from not depressing the strings correctly. Buzzing can also be from strings hitting a fret that it shouldn't.
Hmmm. Wonder if I should get some type of cart to haul my dulcimers, autoharp and fiddle around at KMW? Is that easier than checking them in and out, Jan?
I love this image, Dusty! And I've really always wanted a red wagon for myself, so I totally get that!
Dusty Turtle said:
And I've also used it to play for my daughter's class in school, when I cart in a whole bunch of instruments: a ukulele, a mandolin, an autoharp, a six- and twelve-string guitar, a couple of limberjacks, and, of course, a dulcimer. I have to admit I get a kick out of walking around the school with my cart of instruments like a modern troubadour.
I use a box type cart with an extendable handle which I bought at Office Depot for about $15 or $20, depending if they are on sale or not. It folds up flat for storage and holds a lot of stuff. It also comes with a cover for the box, but I do not use this at all. Several people in my dulcimer group use this same type cart. We love it.
Jan, I can see why the upright cart might take up less floor space, but it also limits the kind of items you can carry. Smaller items in the bottom would be a hassle to grab, I would think. My cart becomes a kind of catch-all, where I can toss a bottle of water, my keys, someone's business card, a string winder, a jacket or hat or whatever. The festivals I've attended apparently don't have the same space issues yous peak of. But I tend to find a little spot to make my own where I park my cart and then take whatever instrument and other supplies I need to any given workshop. At the Berkeley Dulcimer Gathering about a week ago, we emptied out a couple of classrooms to gather the chairs and music stands for larger groups. I just put my cart in one of the empty classrooms, and that became my little spot, not only to store my stuff but to get away for a quiet moment here and there. It was right next to the room I used for the workshop I taught so it was really convenient. But you are right; if I had to take the cart with me everywhere I went, it would be a hassle.
When I played at a small arts fair with a few other folks some time ago I had to bring two dulcimers and a guitar as well as some mics and cords and other stuff. When I arrived I heard the other musicians wondering if I needed help carrying all my stuff and wondering if they should try to call me to find out where I was. They got a kick out of my cart of instruments when they saw me. And I've also used it to play for my daughter's class in school, when I cart in a whole bunch of instruments: a ukulele, a mandolin, an autoharp, a six- and twelve-string guitar, a couple of limberjacks, and, of course, a dulcimer. I have to admit I get a kick out of walking around the school with my cart of instruments like a modern troubadour.
I've seen a few people with these wagons and they are certainly handy and haul a lot. The issue with an event like Kentucky Music Week is that there are hundreds of people all changing classes at the same time, trying to navigate through the halls, needing a place to put instruments while they use the restroom, and needing a place to park their "haulers" while they're in class! So more and more, the bigger carts, wagons, etc. have to be stowed in the lock-up room during class and people only carry what they need for the next class or two. That's why the "footprint" becomes an important issue...which makes a tall-ish cart with a footprint that's 18" x 18" about as big as what's practical when you're in a crowded hallway changing classes. Also, you seem to have more control over what you're pushing ahead of you than what you're pulling behind you. Hammered dulcimers present a whole different set of problems with dimensions roughly 24" x 44". Thankfully, most of the HD classes are usually allon one hallway. 
I used to use what I called every boy's dream red wagon. It was a Radio Flyer all-terrain wagon, with big nobby tires, wooden panels for the sides, and so forth. But I had to take it apart to get it to fit in my car, so I had to carry tools with me wherever I went.
Then my daughter started playing in the fancy soccer leagues where teams travel to weekend tournaments, and we saw all the seasoned soccer families with these collapsible wagons. We got one. It's great. I've taken it to my last two dulcimer festivals, hauling around two dulcimer cases, a file box of tablature, a thermos, a music stand, a chair, and more. It's light, it folds up easily, holds lot of odd-sized stuff, and it helps you create that "home base" wherever you are.
It's on sale now at Dick's Sporting Goods , but I don't get a percentage, so I don't care if you buy one there or not.
I also just checked some of the consumer reviews. Lots of complaints about the smell. I don't remember it being that bad, but we keep ours in the garage, so it probably aired out before we ever had to use it.
Jan, Great ideas for those who get the opportunity to attend dulcimer festivals.
I was wondering what ideas folks have come up with for hauling multiple instruments, heavy or unwieldy instruments, or instruments that might need special care.
I've heard of instrument carts made from old baby strollers and golf bag carts. Any photos? Anyone used a drywall/door mover, for instance,to move a hammered dulcimer?
One of my favorites over the years has been a Gator drum bag cart. It has a small footprint, stands upright on its own, the top unzips AND there's a zipper down the front, making it easy to load and unload, and there are pockets on the top, front, and both sides, which can hold folding stands for music andinstruments, and most of the stuff you'd carry in a daypack or purse. Interior straps hold your instruments securely. And if it's raining you can wheel it right out to your car and load it. It will carry 100 lbs, so it is very sturdy--and those nice big wheels go easily over curbs and up steps. Cons: it is heavy (steel frame), but until my shoulder problems got so bad, I could load it in the back of my van without having to take anything out--a real time-saver! Another con is that it works better being pulled than pushed. Also, it's quite expensive--around $200--the price has nearly doubled in the past 3 years. I've never seen a used one for sale.
That works fine for a couple dulcimers, a ukulele, a harmonica and a penny whistle. This summer at Kentucky Music Week, however, I'll need at least 3 standard-sized dulcimers (standard, baritone, and chromatic) plus music, a sweater, etc. etc. I know I could use my big Wonder Wheelie, but I'm thinking of going with the Versa Folding Utility Cart with a contractor size trash bag fora cover in case it rains. The advantage is not just the size, but also that (once the dulcimers are put in the car) I can fold it like an umbrella stroller and put it in the car with one hand.It weighs 9 lbs. And all the dulcimers and the cart, folded, will fit in either the back seat or the cargo space of my vehicle.
This cart also has steel frame, and holds 3.72 cubic feet of stuff up to 127 lbs. The front wheels swivel and if your load is light, you could probably push it with one hand. The dimensions of the bag are: 21"H x 17"W x 18"D, so the footprint is larger than the Gator cart, but less than a Wonder Wheelie.It's not really a good design for something like a hammered dulcimer.A big plus with this is the price in the $40--$50 range.
Letus know what you're using to haul stuff around--and the pros and cons!
Most of us just use a word processor and create our own tab notation for melody line tab. There are several programs which let you add tab numbers to standard music 'frames' if you are creating chord-melody tabs -- TableEdit is the most popular, and if I remember right there is a free version to experiment with which lets you do everything except print.
Eli, Ken Longfield is knowledgeable of the Folkcraft instrument and can probably give you more detail about the woods on it by looking at the model/serial number. He is a member here. You can also contact Folkcraft.
I think you got a great deal. It surely appears you did. I agree with Jan. You should probably take your friend out to lunch
Great find, Eli!!! It's a keeper! Maybe take that 'friend' that found it to lunch... $40 - wow! It looks to be walnut...seems too dark for cherry. You will get hours and hours of enjoyment out of it as you can tune it many ways as you learn different styles of playing. It is a great treasure find and a treasure for you, I'm sure.
Actually, I believe this is a 30 to 40 year old instrument which was made in Korea. The DC-23 label is the giveaway. I've played a couple of them and they can be very nice instruments. With the soundholes it has, I'm thinking earlier than later, probably from the mid to late 70s. Tune it up and play it!
Looks like a great price for this!
It looks more like about 15-20 years old to me. -based on the very modern/current tuning machines, the zero and 6.5 frets and the heavy fret material, the wide chording fingerboard, the commercial inlay strip along back, the rounded 'shop' edged peghead shaping, the mixing of wood types, the soundhole shaping, and other little style touches. This is not a forty year old dulcimer.
Fairly well made, and in great shape as far as one can see.
What is the VSL/scale length, from zero fret to bridge?
No marks or labels inside at all? Is a label perhaps unglued and rattling around inside?
Lucky buy!
Yes Babs, its an 'extra' step, but help prevent the softer metal of say, a chromium plated screw, letting you down ! And for what its worth, IMO the pozidrive offers a tad more protection against the screwdriver slipping and thus inflicting a scratch/dig into your pristine instrument !
JohnH
We shall have to stop meeting like this , folks will talk ! I'll get me bike out next time and come up and do it for you, lol!
Good on ya Gal ! I forgot to mention that I always run a standard screw of similar size to the fancy ones that come with the button in first, sorta 'belt n braces' and helps prevent any possible shearing And if you are following Dusty Turtle's advice and using soap, go for the most expensive, sweetest smelling stuff you can find. It does not help the process at all, but does show that you have good taste.
best wishes
JohnH
