Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I was hopeful that she would attend, Lisa, being new and not knowing anyone here was a leap of faith for her. But she did come and had a great time.
Forum Activity for @jim-fawcett
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Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I was just thinking about that when I was looking at the new Wartz n' All group photo yesterday! It's just so great that the internet can bring like-minded people together this way. 
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Just yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting a brand new member of FOTMD Jeanne White, at our Wartz 'n' All Spring Gathering. She just lives about 20 minutes over the hill from me in good ole PA. Chalk up another one.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I didn't realize it until Rob said something to me this morning. Jerry Rockwell is a member of FOTMD and I didn't remember that.
Sorry Jerry!
So he's another one that I've met from here.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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At Wartz'an'All I met John Wood for the 1st time. [Close your ears, John!] I hope we'll be together again some time; he's a good player and a nice guy.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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That should be John Wood. Must have had Jim on my mind. Didn't catch that in time to edit it. I have met around 65 members of FOTMD give or take one or two. Looking forward to meeting more at festivals this year.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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And I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his wife Bev as well as Jim Wood and Kevin Messenger at the same event.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Had the pleasure of meeting Ken Longfield and his wife Betty at the Wartz 'n' All Spring Fling in Clarksburg, WV. Yesterday. So 13 members so far.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Just remembered that I met Macy Jane (Wendy) and Jennifer Schaffer at Perkasie this past May.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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And my bowed dulcimer friend Roseanne Denchy is also a FOTMD!
It really is something of a surprise to me how many music friends I've met over the past several years, especially because I've never attended any of the big dulcimer fests. (When I joined Everything Dulcimer in '05, I'd not yet met any of the dulcimer friends I have now.) I feel rich, indeed.
Thanks, Dana!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I forgive you...this time!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Oh my goodness, Dana, how did I do that? 
Seems like I've known you forever, my friend. 
I probably should've made a paper-and-pencil list 
and not responded to this thread
for about a month.
Am I losing my mind
or what
? 
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Yes Robin you are forgetting someone MEEEEEE!!!!
Robin Thompson said:
Like Rob, I've not met a FOTMD member I didn't like!
PS-Oh, I must be forgetting someone!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Hey Robin. Thanks for jogging my memory. I think one of the very first people from FOTMD I met was Randall. Sorry, Randall, it's that sometimers kickin' in again.
Robin Thompson said:
Oh, Kim, I was so focused on mountain dulcimer events. . .
)
I also have met Don Pedi, Paul Tantillo, Maurice Solis, ReVonda Crow, Teri Sato, Marge Diamond and Randall McKinnon.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Now, let's see. . . a few other bowed dulcimer friends who are also FOTMD friends are Ken Bloom, Ruth Randle, Marsha Harris. . . Oh, I'm coming to realize that I'm not sure who-all I've met in person in the dulcimer world who is also on FOTMD and am realizing I've actually met quite a few FOTMD folks in-person. There's Heidi Mueller, Jerry Rockwell and Mary Lautzenheiser to mention a few more wonderful folks. I met some of the friends before there was an FOTMD and since I confuse easily
. . . Love my music friends!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Oh, Kim, I was so focused on mountain dulcimer events. . . ! What a pleasure it was to meet you in Pilot Mountain and to see you take to the bowed dulcimer so quickly. (I wasn't surprised to see you catch-on so quickly! )
I also have met Don Pedi, Paul Tantillo, Maurice Solis, ReVonda Crow, Teri Sato, Marge Diamond and Randall McKinnon. There are some FOTMD members I've listed that I met before there was an FOTMD; I knew of them from Everything Dulcimer and then we met in-person.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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To start off I met Robin T. and Tom McDonald at the first Noter and Drone Camp out. Wayne A. and Gail at Perkasie. Rob, Kevin M., Patty from VA., Scott Allen at the Wartz 'n All gathering, and this past Noter and Drone Camp Out John Wood, and Pat Boardman. By the way she sold me the dulcimer and is pictured between me and John in our group photo. So ten friends I have met from FOTMD and still counting. Hope to meet more this year.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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There are a lot of wonderful folks that I know that are on fomd -- but I met them all first somewhere else :)I did meet a total stranger on fb and we ended up loaning him our mountain cabin, then my husband and I stayed with him in his home for 2 weeks in Quimper , France and he stayed with us again thIs year for 2 weeks in Tallahassee, and now he is getting ready to retire to Martinique in a year or two -- and of course, we are invited for an extended stay :) I've also met some great folks on banjohangout, and have stayed with them in their homes and become good friends. :)We are so lucky to meet so many wonderful folks wherever we go and have had the double fortune to remain friends for many years :)Happy Holidays :)
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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My goodness, how could I have neglected to mention meeting Paul Tantillo, Maurice (Mo) Soulis, and Don Pedi at Don's wonderful Tao of Dulcimer Retreat back in May? What a pleasure it was to become acquainted with these fellows!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Last spring I went to a dulcimer festival/workshop at Shenandoah University and met Ken Longfield and Susan. We had a blast. I met Maddie MacNeil, Ralph Lee Smith, Ann Lough and Rob Brereton. I hope this festival continues. I also had the opportunity to meet Jim and Bev Fawcett when they took vacation to visit Virginia. They are wonderful people. We spent time together touring Front Royal and we took pictures. I was the thorn between two roses, LOL. I was able to make it to the Wartz and All Gathering. I had the best time. I got to meet Rob Lackey, Liz, Scott Allen, Jim and Bev, Kevin Messenger and their families. They truly are the Friends of FOTMD. I got treated to a meal. Thanks Rob!!! We shared music, food and laughs. We had a great time. I'm looking forward to doing this again. I'm so glad I found this web site. Thank you Lisa for putting this all together!!!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Karen and I have met more FOTMD folks than we can count. Great folks one and all (even Rob Lackey lol), but there are two that I only got to say "hi" and "bye" to that I would love to visit with: Pop Miller and Leonard Griffin (both from Texas). Everyone else we've been able to visit with, go eat, take a class, or SOMETHING, but there was only time for introductions with those guys and I'd love to chat and get to know them a little better. Our FOTMD family is a treasure to us and we wouldn't trade these friendships for anything. Y'all are just some awesome rockin' people!
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Like Rob, I've not met a FOTMD member I didn't like! I'm trying to think of them all. . . and they kind of come in the 'order' in which I met them. Gary Sager, Laura Elder, Butch Ross, Julie Elman, Ken Longfield, Hunter Walker, Kendra Ward, Tish Westman, Bing Futch, Doug Berch, Ken Bloom, Jim Fawcett, Rob Lackey, Sam (Oh, gee, I just think of Sam as Sam and can't recall his last name! )Tom McDonald, John Wood, Barbara (nice lady who sold a dulcimer to Jim F). . . I'm likely missing someone. My world has been made richer for having made the acquaintance of each of the friends of the mountain dulcimer!
PS-Oh, I must be forgetting someone!
updated by @robin-thompson: 08/10/15 06:17:02PM
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I sure have! Sam's already mentioned our meeting/hanging out in Charleston last Memorial Day weekend. I had met Robin & Mark Thompson up in Ohio November of last year and March(?) of this year. Very short (like my memory) visits but enjoyable nonetheless. Then at Palestine, TX; there they were: The Keanes (John and Karen before they became celebrities.) We talked and talked. Then the next day had the pleasure of meeting Carrie Barnes. Later came Jim Fawcett, Kevin Messinger, Scott Allen, Patty from Virginia and I'm sure I'm leaving someone out. The first tho', since my coming back to the dulcimer after many a year, was Bing Futch. For one of the top professionals in this land, one of the nicest guys anyone would want to meet and one I'm proud to call "friend and brother." Indeed my 1st blog entry was about the Portage PA Dulcimer Day and meeting him. Ah, Portage, Ken Longfield was there too. Later came Butch Ross at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV.
I look forward to meeting more and more of the wonderful members here! I've not met a FOTMD member I didn't like, to paraphrase Will Rogers.
Rob
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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Wayne, I will be attending the Pocono Dulcimer Festival in Stroudsburg in January. It will not only be my first dulcimer festival but my first time with other players. I look forward to meeting you there as I have enjoyed your posts for the last 9 months that I have been a member.
Bill
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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I met Lei Maier on FOTMD prior to the Evart Funfest last year. Then, we met at the event and hung out and attended workshops together. I even helped her spend some money on a new, hand-crafted Native American Flute. Lei is a super person with such great values and is a delight to be with. I even met her husband and her two beautiful dogs. Thanks FOTMD for helping me meet my new life-long friend.
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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This past summer I was very fortunate to have met Rob Lackey, Robin and Mark Thompson and Hunter Walker at the Vandalia gathering on the grounds of the state capitol in Charleston WV. It was a GREAT day filled with music and other festivities. It was very special to meet these folks in person. All were as cordial and gracious as I had thought they would be. I knew Brenda Joyce Rivers prior to finding FOTMD. She is a dear friend and we have attended the festival at Clifftop together. It was euphoric! I've also met Tish Westman. My what a dynamo she is. Building instruments, workshoping, teaching and best of all, playing several instruments beautifully.
Yep, I'm a lucky fella. There are so many folks here that I'd like to meet. I do hope that Ican attend 'Wartz 'n' All next year.
Thank every one of you 'for th' good times'.
Sam'l
Have you met other FOTMD's in real life and become friends?
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We all know that Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer is a place where we meet lots of wonderful 'cyber buddies'.
It occurs to me that there must be some nice stories here about members getting together in person...meeting, playing music, and then becoming real life friends as well .
Let's hear some of these stories to bring cheer during our holiday season and brighten the bleak midwinter. How about sharing your tale of your FOTMD friendship 'jumping ship' into the real world?
updated by @strumelia: 07/31/23 09:26:09PM
Cedar Creek kits are no better or worse than any other kits.
I would humbly suggest that since you say "...I built a dulcimer years ago...and one of the tuners has stripped out on it. I have also had factory tuners strip out on guitars..." that the problem does not lay in the tuners themselves, but in something you are doing to them....
We just don't hear of factory or other tuners "stripping out" without decades of use or excessive (ab)use -- rock concert performers for example.
I started playing Dulcimer in March. I wasn't sure I was going to stick with it so I did not want to spend a lot of money. I purchased a fully assembled Backyard Cardboard Dulcimer for about $65.00. I still play it. I keep it tuned DAA and keep my newly purchased wooden dulcimer tuned DAd. Which Dulcimer I play depends on the song. I eventually plan on replacing the cardboard soundbox with a wooden box but have not gotten around to it yet. I had a great experience with my cardboard dulcimer and would recommend the same to anyone starting out. I hope this helps.
Cardboard dulcimer = $50 or $60.
Student/Beginner wooden instrument $100-$125
You can always make, or have someone make you, a wooden body and glue the fretboard from the cardboard instrument on it. There have been decent sounding dulcimers made from Legos and sheet acrylic plastic. The fretboard is the key to good sound. Without the frets in the right places you've got nothing but noise.
The cardboard dulcimers I've seen have been decent starter instruments. The sound quality isn't as nice as a wooden dulcimer, but it isn't near as poor as we might expect. They are pretty cheap to start with, but I believe some assembly is required. Not much, essentially you glue the fret board to the box, and install the tuners & strings. As long as the frets, nut and bridge are accurately placed in the fret board, and the nut & bridge height is set correctly,they play in tune and play easily. If you decide you want a better instrument later, you will have some playing skills to help you choose your next dulcimer. If you decide dulcimers aren't for you, you won't be out much money, and can pass the cardboard model to someone else to try. If you decide to keep playing, you also have the option of building a dulcimer, using the fretboard from the cardboard one. The fretboard on cardboard dulcimers is not cardboard, it's always wood. Talk to the local builder, and have him explain some of the terms I used here, and how the height of the nut and bridge make a difference.
There are also some builders making inexpensive wooden beginner models. Dave Lynch, of Sweet Woods Instruments builds a Student model from plywood for a very reasonable price. http://www.strothers.com/sweetwoodsinstruments.com/index.html You may find the price difference between the cardboard and Dave'sStudent model isn't a very great expense. I believe some other makers also have beginner models. The cardboard ones are unlikely to have much resale value if you decide to sell it, where a wooden one will retain more of it's original price.
Paul
Many of us started on cardboard dulcimers. I began with a Backyard cardboard dulcimer that was a kit I put together. The fretboard was already fretted, but the dulcimer had to be assembled and the strings put on. I think a lot of people were surprised by how good a sound it had. I enjoyed learning on it and used it in jam sessions, too. Mine didn't have the 6 1/2 fret, though, and after awhile that became necessary for me.
The best thing, of course, would be to have some angel lend you their really good dulcimer and learn to play on one of the best. Then, there are inexpensive "student dulcimers" that can sound pretty good...check out Sweetwood Dulcimers by Dave Lynch. His student model sounds pretty good, and if you decide you love playing the dulcimer (what's not to love?!) then you can tradethe student modelin as partial paymenton a more high end model once you've decided you're going to stay with it.
Good luck!
updated by @jan-potts: 02/13/16 05:27:29AM
Charley, I've seen ads from the 70's or early 80's for dulcimers from Korea which used that DC 2 model number. Seems like that was the more expensive of the models in the ad, and is probably a very good instrument. The "clover" sound holes seem to have been used on all of those hourglass instruments. The same models were sold with a lot of different labels. On the back, near the head, is there evidence of a sticker? If so, it probably said, "Made in Korea." I've also seen 1 on e-bay with DC-1 and Korea under it.
Rob
WOW!
Folkfan, thanks. For the time being I'm still using an old 6_ fret with serious limitations that make it better to stay in DAA. I know our folklore group's sub-group for dulcimer is playing DAd tab & thought it was a problem. This gives me hope until I succumb to DAD (Dulcimer Acquisition Disease). It's coming, but hopefully after Christmas expenses.
Pat, If you are playing a tab that has 6+ or 6 1/2 fret and is in a DAd tuning, you can easily switch to a DAA tuning. This is done by adding 3 to each of the fret numbers. Zero in DAd would be 3 in DAA, 1 to 4, 2 to 5 etc. on up. A 6+ becomes 9.
For any zero, 1, or 2 played on the middle string , simply bring them straight down to the melody string at the same fret.
And DAd and DAA tabs can be played together. So you can play the popular DAd tabs in DAA with a group playing in DAd. Just add 3. Hope this helps.
What tuning is *requiring* you to use a 6+ fret? Playing Chord-Melody or Melody Stringstyle? The more or less correct answer is to change tuning tothe onethat does not require the 6+ fret. If it's DAd that requires the 6+, then tune to DAA and play the tune; or vice versa.
I would not suggest a toothpick as a temporary fret - it's too soft, and the note will not sound clearly. Use a length of large paperclip wire instead.
The simplest work around is to just not play the 6+ note, but either rest for that time or play the previous note again or the following note twice.
Since your dulcimer does not have a 6+ fret I would seriously suggest learning to play in DAA rather than DAd. If you must play Chord-Melody style, you can play the same chords, more or less, in DAA (but not at the same frets). But a traditional (no 6+ fret) diantonic dulcimer is probably best played traditionally -- Melody & Drone or Noter & Drone style.