Forum Activity for @cindy-stammich

Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi Frank,

Do you still have the dulcimer? Just wondering if we could compare photos.

Thank you!

Frank Ross said:

back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.

Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?

Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?

I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!

On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?

I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?

one of the other 'Johns'

Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Cindy, it could be a Folkcraft teardrop dulcimer kit.

Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.

Dulcimer kits from mid 1970's to early 1980's

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have a dulcimer that my dad built from a kit sometime between the mid-1970's and early 1980's. I don't know where the kit came from and I am not sure we could ever really figure out just when he built it, but I would love tofigure out where it came from. If anyone has any ideas about who may have sold kits I would really appreciate it. My dad passed away in 1991, so this dulcimer is truly a treasure.

Thank you

updated by @cindy-stammich: 06/11/15 07:40:16AM

Glad to hear that things are working out with the dulcimer Dean.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

their newer model catalog has this quote in it "The basic setup is D-A-AA. From that setup you can use any of the common tunings. If you expect to play only in D-A-dd, we recommend ordering the bridge compensation option to optimize playability in that tuning." you should give them a call

DAAA was what how McSpadden's came tuned. However, they always said you could tune them up to DAdd with no problem. If it's a 3 string disregard the 4th string.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

It's a beauty. Please post a video so we can hear you playit! I agree that those sound holes may be sending a message.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Phil, it sure is pretty!!! I hope you can post a sound clip soon

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

That's so beautiful Phil! Congratulations!

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Phil that is so wonderful, makes the heart all fuzzy thinking about it.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

It is beautiful Phil and your right know one like dulcimer player as friends. I love baritones and can't wait to hear a vid to see how it sings.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

This really is pretty, Phil (can I say that about a guy's dulcimer?)...and I hope the sound is just as lovely. I like the combination of the wood used. And, yes, the soundholes say, "Give Florida a try!".

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Nice looking instrument, Phil. Congrats.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Wow that is beautiful!

Keep strumming and smiling!!!

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

I don't think I can take another winter here in Indiana. Ken all I have to do now is get my wife to load up the car and I am there.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Phil, what great mail! Some of the nicest people in the world play mountain dulcimers. :)

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

That's a nice looking instrument Phil. I am sure it sounds just like it looks. Thanks for sharing it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

There are a couple nice liveaboard boats availble just down the dock from me, guys...

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

Wow, that is a real beauty, Phil. Who made it? Yeah, I'm thinking of moving to FL myself.

This is what came in the mail.

OFF TOPIC discussions

I know some of you have been waiting to see what I got in the mail. Been having trouble with my SD card taking to my lap top or I would have had this up sooner. I tell I still can't believe it even though I have been playing on it everyday. One Baritone Dulcimer. I love the way she sings. she made of maple and walnut. think the two sound holes are trying to tell me its time to move south. I know there are a few dulcimer players in FL. hope these didn't come out to big..I am not promising anything. But I might try and post a video later so ya'll can hear it, I have been working on a song of my own. It just seemed to come out of this dulcimer. Just remember I tend not to do well in front of video camreas.

updated by @phil: 08/03/23 02:08:35PM

There are two versions of tab for "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" in DAd at the Everything Dulcimer Tab Archive .

But you can also do it in DAA. I just found it plucking around. Start 0-1-3-3 for "will the circle" and 5-4-3-5 for "be unbroken." The entire melody is found between the open A string and the 7th fret.

Can't help you with the tabs, but have you thought of looking for guitar tabs and just playing chords? I was looking for "I saw the light" also and did that. It's G, D and C.
updated by @ruth-lawrence: 02/15/16 08:59:36AM

Like Ken, I don't understand "a slot of neck." Are you asking about whether you should use friction tuners or geared tuners?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

"tuners placed in a slot of neck"... ????? Are you taking about on a scroll head or a flat guitar-style head? Can you post a picture of an example?

Truly, most of the geared guitar-type tuners will fit "a slot in neck", and are available from Folkcraft, Stew Mac and most string instrument parts dealers.

updated by @ken-hulme: 02/13/16 12:19:33AM

Installing Question~Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs Set For Violin, 4/4

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I start with a quarter inch hole when using a violin peg reamer. The bent sides look very good.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Installing Question~Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs Set For Violin, 4/4

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Before I bought a reamer I filed a screwdriver blade to match the taper. If you only want to make one dulcimer it should work, especially since pegheds are primarily held by glue not friction. The tricky part is getting the hole sized to allow the treaded portion to self tap itself. Another is making sure you check for tread direction. Two will be left handed, two will be right handed. As tuners go they are worth every penny and have that oldtimey look... Bob

Installing Question~Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs Set For Violin, 4/4

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for the suggestion- I will look at their page. The pegs I plan to use are for violins size 4/4 (see the pic attached), so they should be the correct size. I also will buy the reamer, that thing isn't cheep though!

Installing Question~Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs Set For Violin, 4/4

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I have installed them in banjos. They are really nice. I haven't installed the fiddle type. Which style are you using ?. You will need a tapered reamer just like you would use with wood pegs. Check out Pohaku ukelele company, their tech page has a great tutorial on installing peghed tuners.... Bob

Installing Question~Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs Set For Violin, 4/4

General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Well, things are moving along with my project- the dulcimer rib sections have been bent to shape and the fretboard has been made, with some relief carving on the sides. I have ordered a set of four Perfection Planetary Violin Pegs (size 4/4) for the dulcimer tuning head that I just started to work on.

These geared tuning pegs are highly rated and I do like the traditional/classical appearance over other geared tuning pegs.

I have not installed these before, (and actually the pegs have not arrived yet) so I am looking at various tutorials on YouTube and such.

My first question is what size to drill the peg holes in the peg box before they are reamed ? I have not found any info on that! (I am ready to start carving the tuning head & scroll and want the holes bored first.)

My guess is 3/8 " but don's want to make any errors.

Does anyone have some advice as to the hole size?

Thanks!!

updated by @bob: 02/19/19 07:00:15AM

Hi, Jim! If the email address you shared is your private email address, I recommend removing it from public forum for the sake of your privacy. Private information can be shared through private messages here at FOTMD.Please pardon my interruption!All good wishes,Robin (one of the moderators)

Jim; iff you go to this discussion, there is an attachment of the Wfret file that you can click and download:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/group/dulcimermaking/forum/topics/fret-layout-2?commentId=3745489%3AComment%3A573798&groupId=3745489%3AGroup%3A2913

Ken Hulme said:

There are, here in the Building sections, several posts which list the fret spacings for some of the common VSLs. There is also the free downloadable "old" version of Wfret which some od us can send you that allows you to set any VSL and print out a template. Other fret calculator don't, IIRC allow print outs of templates.

Hi Ken,

I had the old version of WFRET on a desktop that died a few years ago. I am ready to build a few more dulcimers and discovered the "new" version doesn't support the mountain dulcimer diatonic option. Could you email it to me?

Thanks in advance, John

There are, here in the Building sections, several posts which list the fret spacings for some of the common VSLs. There is also the free downloadable "old" version of Wfret which some od us can send you that allows you to set any VSL and print out a template. Other fret calculator don't, IIRC allow print outs of templates.

updated by @ken-hulme: 02/16/16 03:18:57PM

I need to re-learn the tunes from the CD over the next week as Nick and I are going to Gainsborough Old Time Festival next weekend. So its a good excuse to sit down with my dulcimers and get some serious playing time in

Wow, I'm sure glad Robin C jumped in here-- I neglected to mention how the false nut is for noter/drone play!Robin, I just had The Cadair Idris Sessions playing on my car stereo the other day. :)

I go up to E with a 0.022w on my McSpadden. And like Robin T I've used a false nut for some applications. In fact all the tunes in the key of G on The Cadair Idris Sessions were played in Ddd with a false nut under the bass string at fret 3 to give Gdd (a nice bright tuning). Note though that a false nut only works for noter drone playing as it raises and throws out the intonation of the string for fretting - this is why 95% of players have not heard about a false nut as they would be unable to use one for chord melody playing styles.

Helen, if you wish to go higher than E with your bass string, you may wish to try using a "false nut" (also known as a reverse capo). A false nut is nothing more than a small piece of wood or hard plastic that can be slipped under a string/strings against a fret to create a temporary nut at that fret.
My false nut is nothing more than a piece of a bamboo chopstick cut then whittled so it can be slid under one (or two) strings.
Like Rob, I can go to E on most of mine with no trouble. I have also just used a false nut to make a change from D to E when the mood struck. :)
Hope this helps!PS-Quite some time ago I made a video about using a false nut. The video quality is poor-- we had bad, slow internet at the time -- and it's not, by any means, exhaustive on the topic. It can be found in my videos.

Helen, What's the vsl? I can go to E on most all of mine I've tried with no problem. EAd is a great tuning (IF that's what you're trying to get to) for several good old tunes.