Forum Activity for @skip

I use a small 6" fairly fine file. A fine triangular may work also. Put tape on the fretboard on each side of the fret to protect the wood and file carefully, a half dozen strokes then test. Be sure that you remove material evenly across the fret. You will have to angle or rock the file to round over the top of the fret as you go. If the frets are stainless they will be harder to work with. When you're done, use a small strip of 400 grit and polish. You can use the side of a nail to knock a half-round groove in a piece of wood to help form the paper to a curve. An eraser may work also. It won't take much to polish the fret.

Folkfan, maybe if we make skirts out of shelf liner... lol!

My possum board has shelf liner glued to the back of it. The lifts that hold the dulcimer up off the board are shaped like shallow L's and the part that touches the dulcimer back are felt lined. No scratches, no slides, no sticking to the board. And I can angle my legs comfortably. Plus in case of extreme need, one of my possum boards has strap buttons. How's that for covering all bases.

I second that Jan! Dusty, that's funny. I'll have to remember that one

I too have had the marks on the back of my dulcimer. I clean it up and then used Johnson Paste Wax. I know some of the old dulcimers had feet on them for playing on a table. I'm just wondering if that will make a come back and the use of a possum board to solve the sliding problems. As Frank said you would need to keep the possum board from sliding. I should use a strap because I do have the buttons. Now that warmer weather is here bare skin seems to keep my dulcimer from sliding around.

Dusty, thank you for the best chuckle I've had all day. So far.

If I were a dulcimer, I would say, "Strap me down and tickle my strings!"

Seriously, I had so much trouble getting my dulcimer to stay in one place until I installed a strap. I know it's not for everyone, but with a strap you don't have to worry about sitting at the exact same height to create a flat lap or anything like that. You can adjust the dulcimer anyway you like it, even tilting it up ever so slightly to allow the back to vibrate more (thus obviating the need for a false back or possum board). And tilting the dulcimer also solved the tennis elbow (strummer's elbow?) I was developing early on.

By the way, how do you make a possum bored? Just read him War and Peace !

The shelf liner stuff only damages the finish of instruments if you leave it attached or stuck on the instrument or store it in your case with the instrument or lean the instrument on the shelf liner on a stand. It's never a problem if you only lay it on your lap while playing. Always store the shelf liner separately from the instrument.

I second trying DR. Duck Ax Wax. To keep the dulcimer from sliding you could use a possum board (a board that lifts the dulcimer off your lap and gives a increase in volume) and put the shelf liner on the possum board.

Other options include putting something under your left foot (or both feet) to keep your lap level (there are lots of suggestions on this site, everything from Thistledew Acres folding footrest to footrests made from recycled plastic bags full of bags. My dulcimer doesn't slide off my lap because it's usually pushed up against the knee brace velcroed onto my left leg. I would think that any strip of material velcroed above your knee would accomplish the same thing...if you need something for the dulcimer to "push against" as you play, just fold over the top edge of the material like a cuff and your "dulcimer dam" will now be twice as high. Something adjustable like a belt or short strap might also work. you could put the strap/belt through a tube of material that would be soft and not harm your instrument and you could have different colors of tubes for whatever you were wearing. I'm thinking about something like a tube made from an old pair of jeans or a hand towel, etc. Be creative! I have never used either a strap or the shelf liner squares and haven't found them necessary so far. There may, however, be something out there that works like the shelf liner but doesn't affect the finish on your instrument...I'll let others address that. And, by the way , folks may have better luck with removing the marks with a product like Dr. Duck's Ax Wax which is good for cleaning and lubricating instruments and can be purchased online from music supply stores.

if your satisfied with how the back looks now...apply a little paste wax perhaps. strap buttons are very easy to

install. I prefer one at the tail piecewith a rawhide loop that slips over the scroll.

kiwi clear paste wax shoe polish is a really high quality product. I wouldn't leave home without it

Ron Ewing makes an awesome one (various sizes too).

David Lynch and Warren May make nice ones.

Slow down Brian, you will get there. I think we all mess up on that first build, we get excited and rush things. but then it could just be me

Brian, it's okay. You're doing fine. I made a couple of boo boos when putting together my cardboard dulcimer. The biggest boo boo (poor decision) was using decoupage to affix the hummingbird cutouts. It became a sloppy mess and made the paint finish not look as shiny. If I ever make another one I am not going to decoupage cutouts. I would rather just have the paint. Although some have told me the color scheme looks too much like a certain canned meat product It's supposed to be WV colors Hang in there. Post pictures when you can

They are a great company. Looking forward to seeing your project all done.

Great news Brian. If you need any help as you work on your kit, let us know. I, too, have built a couple of their kits.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I have built two Folkcraft kits, they are very nice kits.

Have fun!

I'm excited for you Brian!!! I can't wait to see your progress pictures

I know that you have to be excited!

So happy for you, Brian! I am anxious to see how this one turns out--and, yes, we will be wanting a sound clip or video!

I bought the Sweetie that was just posted for sale here. It arrives Monday. I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival.

When I was considering the same thing, I called and talked to Mike Clemmer. Hereallyrecommended theChurch style, because he saidI'd be happier with the sound, volume and sustain. He doesn't make very many of the non-Church, because most people order the Church model.So, the decision is yours, but that's what I was told and why I ended up going with theChurch. If you can swing it financially, I'd go with theChurch.

Maryann Lang said:

Hi Susie, very pretty wood grain, I will have to decide between the regular and churxh model - money is a factor but I also want a nice sound.

This is exactly what I have....sassafras top, walnut sides. I went with the church style, which is a deeper body for more volume and better sound. It still isn't as loud as a full-sized dulcimer, but the sustain is really good for a small dulcimer. I really like my Clemmer Sweetie for travel and when I want a smaller dulcimer, sitting on the couch. IMHO, I think you would like it.

Here's a pictureof mine with the sassafras top:

Just wanted to bump this to the top and remind people of my Christmas In July video idea, of people posting Holiday music in the month of July.

Even if we wind up doing the same songs, we all have our own ways of playing and tuning. I'm for sure going to start working up Silent Night, and the US version of Away In A Manger.

I think this is a great idea - Christmas music o too good to be confined to December - or is that November, October, September ...

I look forward to hearing the contributions.

I think this is a great idea, James. I might even be inspired to sort of sing/hum along as I play...not as a "performance", as such, but much like you would hear if I thought you were busy in the next room and not listening to me as I noodled around on some Christmas tunes. I'm already making a list and checking it twice.....

lol John Henry

Dang me James, I have only just managed to find time toput the Christmas 'stuff' back up in the loft, do I have to get it all down again !!!

John

I had an idea, and I wanted to get this out early, so we could all maybe work up something to do. I had this idea that maybe we could do a Christmas in July group of videos to post. Christmas in July is something I remember doing years ago at the church I used to go to, as it was to remind us of the Holiday spirit year round, and I thought it could be something we as a site could do video wise. Anyone else game for this idea?

I'm a Blue Lion fan.

I'm coming in to this discussion a little late, but if you want to buy a great quality instrument you can't go wrong with a Folkcraft or Folkroots (made the same people). They are consistently good instrument. Blue Lion is top of the line and worth every dollar you pay for it. After that Robert's list above is pretty good. I'd add David Lynch's Sweet Woods Dulcimers.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Some eBay transactions work out; some don't...you have to know that going in. But when it does work out, you can meet some great people and get a really special instrument. The best folks, of course, are honest to a fault and will allow a return if the instrument is a disappointment when it arrives. I'm very thankful for eBay and Craigslist and other sites like them for making it possible for us to connect with sellers across the miles. I do agree, though, that it's probably best to work with folks on this site and Everything Dulcimer as much as possible. It's not a guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but it's a great place to start!

If you want to hear a dulcimer made by the fine luthier, David Lynch, check out my video. This is an all-cherry teardrop with an extra deep soundbox and a VSL of about 26", which means my fingers can stretch and find the chords better than one witha 28" VSL.

Just put "Jan Potts Oh Susannah" in the search box and at least one of the videos that come up should be mine! I'll post the link here in a second, if I can get it.

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/video/oh-susannah

one other note. I started with Cripple Creek...decade ago which was wonderful. Had another made for me 3 yrs ago which was terrible in craftspersonship, had to be sent back, and still has problems. Hopefully they have found another luthier to replace the temporary one who was there. Bud at the time wasn't building much due to health. I'd stick with McSpadden, Folkcraft, Modern Mountain or IF you can afford....Blue Lion.

Wow....everyone has an opinion on this one, McSpadden is great for consistency and affordability in the mid price range.

Personally....I LOVE Blue Lion. They are expensive but worth saving up for.

Good point, Jan! David is a remarkably innovative luthier. Check out this video where he demonstrates the warm, mellow sound he gets with a "decoupled" tailpiece and how sticking something as simple as a credit card underneath the tailpiece results in a more traditional dulcimer sound.

I would also add David Beede to that list. Has a great reputation with performers.

For dulcimers with a rich full tone, I'd also add Gary Gallier to Ken's list above. I recently received mine, and it is fantastic.

Also David McKinney (Modern Mountain Dulcimers). Wonderful instruments.

And MMD has humor:

At Modern Mountain Dulcimer, we understand that the mountain dulcimer is the center of the Folk Music Universe and that all other folk instruments were created to enhance and accompany the mountain dulcimer.

Armsmere, a few years ago I tried to get people at Everything Dulcimer to start rating luthiers. I wanted to buy a really nice dulcimer and needed some guidance. But there was great resistance. The dulcimer community is very close-knit, and no one wanted to hurt anyone's feelings by stating formally in a discussion somewhere that one person's dulcimers were better than another.

It was suggested to me that I simply watch videos by people whose playing I enjoyed and whose dulcimers sounded good and ask them what they were playing and why. Eventually, I ordered a dulcimer from Ron Ewing and bought used dulcimers by Blue Lion and Modern Mountain Dulcimer. I also acquired but had to part with a Laurel Mountain dulcimer and a John Stockard dulcimer. All--though especially the Blue Lion and MMD--fall into the modern loud, mellow guitar sound category rather than the traditional high silvery sound, but all are great instruments. There are others, too. My suggestion is just to pay attention to what is being played in videos and if you are lucky enough to attend a dulcimer festival, just ask people if you can play their dulcimers for a moment. There are lots of great instruments out there and I'm sure you'll fin more than several that will please you.

By the way, I would add Laurel Mountain to Ken's list. Mary used to work for Folkcraft when they were in Connecticut but decided to stay behind when the company relocated to Indiana. Her standard models resemble Folkcraft in size and basic design with only minor differences. But she does really nice work. I miss the beautiful Laurel Mountain I was obliged to sell in order to partially pay for my Modern Mountain Dulcimer.