Forum Activity for @folkfan

http://www.acousticguitar.com/gear/advice/vibration.shtml

This will give you some information on the change. I've use a "put it on a boom box" approach for years. I turn my stereo on with a new instrument resting across it, turn it up, and leave the house. Fortunately I have no really close neighbors who have ever complained.

Gayle, I agree wholeheartedly with Rob's comments. Here is the url for Robert Force's website. You can download the book, albums and tab book for free.

http://robertforce.com/

You can download the entire book from www.robertforce.com . I think it's great that he has made it available to all in (I think) pdf format. There is also "The Wild Dulcimer Songbook" on there too for free download. Has a lot of great tunes in it.

I'm not the one to ask about changing strings. I don't change mine nearly as often as I "should" on guitars or dulcimers. If I have a gig then I change them on the guitar(s) or dulcimer(s) I'll be playing. I know I ought to change them a lot more often than I do, but I can hear the difference and most of the time, after about 2 days of fussing, I think I did the right thing.

Yes, it's true. That's why bluegrass guitarists want Martin guitars from the '40's & '50s and why violinists want an Amati or Stadavarius.

Isn't that a GREAT book? It revolutionized my playing 2 years ago when I finally got a copy! Everyone with a dulcimer should have it.

Very nice Paula! I'll look forward to hearing how you like it!

Check with Lauri Cole who is a member on this forum. She has a wonderful guitar stand that fits any Mountain Dulcimer which should include the Modern Mountain Dulcimer. It is made mostly of wood and folds in or out depending on the size of the dulcimer that is being held. The price is pretty reasonable.

Dennis

Thank you Sir!

Thanks Mary!

They are such nice folks. I enjoyed chatting with them at dulcimer U. Will email him this week and see.

I'm sure if you called or emailed him, he could tell you if your MMD would fit....

Cheryl Johnson said:

Thanks Jan....I forgot that Doug had stands. They look like they will hold a MMD.....I should have checked while I was at Dulcimer U and the Felts were there also but it never occurred to me....grrrrr. :)

Thanks Jan....I forgot that Doug had stands. They look like they will hold a MMD.....I should have checked while I was at Dulcimer U and the Felts were there also but it never occurred to me....grrrrr. :)

I have a really nice one made by Doug Felts. I've been very happy with mine...it seems to adjust to all the sizes of dulcimers I own (but I don't have a MMD! Hope this helps!

http://www.dulcimerbaglady.com/woodendulcimerstand.htm

The stand is adjustable for width and depth-I think it would work for just about any guitar.

Thanks Phil! Is that an electric guitar stand then?? My acoustic stands are wide so the dulcimer would slip through the arms. I'll have to do a bit more searching.......

Thanks again for the photos, I' have a much better idea of what I'm after now!!

Here's some pics:

Thanks Phil. None of my guitar stands fit.......do you have a pic by chance?

CJ

Hey CJ, I use a guitar stand-the kind that doesn't have an upper part.It adjusts to fit any dulcimer or guitar. Our friend Dave-O uses guitar stands with the upper part but he modifys them to fit his MMD's (which he has many of)

Hello,

Does anyone know who might build a stand that will fit a Modern Mountain Dulcimer?? I emailed David McKinney a couple times (maker of MMD) but he doesn't respond. I thought perhaps one of you who owns this instrument may have a stand that fits. My current stand holds every size except the MMD :(

Thanks!

Jan Potts said:

And if you have a simple cardboard box more or less the correct size, you can buy the plastic handles or attach one of your own design.

I HAVE reshaped the foam of an hourglass dulcimer foam case to accommodate a Banjammer, but I spent hours on it and the end result wasn't great (needs several more hours of work).

I recently bought a 36"LL Bean zippered nylon snowshoe bag. It's deep enough to carry an instrument or two in soft cases or bags, folding stand, folding stool, music folders, etc. It has carry straps and weighs just ounces. Part of it is mesh, though, so it might not provide much protection from the weather. I got it mainly so I could transport a bunch of stuff in one trip, like to a jam. It would also work great just as a misc. gear bag to be carried in addition to your instrument in a more protective case. I have anLL Bean VISA card, so I bought it with some of my Bonus Coupons.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/509573?nav=bc&subrnd=0&page=... #

And if you have a simple cardboard box more or less the correct size, you can buy the plastic handles or attach one of your own design.

I HAVE reshaped the foam of an hourglass dulcimer foam case to accommodate a Banjammer, but I spent hours on it and the end result wasn't great (needs several more hours of work).

I recently bought a 36"LL Bean zippered nylon snowshoe bag. It's deep enough to carry an instrument or two in soft cases or bags, folding stand, folding stool, music folders, etc. It has carry straps and weighs just ounces. Part of it is mesh, though, so it might not provide much protection from the weather. I got it mainly so I could transport a bunch of stuff in one trip, like to a jam. It would also work great just as a misc. gear bag to be carried in addition to your instrument in a more protective case. I have anLL Bean VISA card, so I bought it with some of my Bonus Coupons.

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/509573?nav=bc&subrnd=0&page=... #

Thanks Ken, As they say" "Waste not, want not."

Kenneth W. Longfield said:

John, that's a neat case. Very handy (pardon the pun).

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

John, that's a neat case. Very handy (pardon the pun).

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

John W. McKinstry said:

Hi Raven, I recently received an inexpensive cardboard bodied dulcimer in a carboard case. The case had a handle on it so the shipping container could become a carryingcase. I can now lend this dulcimer to a few people and don't have to buy an expensive case for an inexpensive dulcimer.

Hi Raven, I recently received an inexpensive cardboard bodied dulcimer in a carboard case. The case had a handle on it so the shipping container could become a carryingcase. I can now lend this dulcimer to a few people and don't have to buy an expensive case for an inexpensive dulcimer.

I have a hard case that I use with my Dulcimette when it might get banged around,like in the back of the car on a trip or something. I have no idea what it was made for, but it's well made and opens at the end (bizarre!) so I can just slide the dulcimette in its soft foam envelope/tube in and out very easily. It is 31.5 inches long.

I have also used a Hercules gear bag, long enough to carry a dulcimer and lots of music.

sweat pant legs and gun cases................lol...

For a double layer of protection, I used to insert one leg of the jogging pants into the other then carry the
"case" by the upper part. Never did get around to adding a draw string. heheheeee

Kevin Messenger said:

Hey everybody has an old pair of sweat pants. I use the when carring my dulcimers to differnt venues . Just sew the leg bottoms up and use the drawstring to close em up.

Lisa, I think I remember seeing the "instructions" for making those in an old, old copy of DPN. I'll have to look thru' mine to see if'n I'm right.

... an' be sure to rosin th' bow .............

mAYBE IF THE SWEAT PANTS ARE ROOMY ENOUGH you can stash a dulcimer in each leg while you're wearing them....just don't sit down! lol

Hey everybody has an old pair of sweat pants. I use the when carring my dulcimers to differnt venues . Just sew the leg bottoms up and use the drawstring to close em up.

I once saw a cool cloth 'gigbag' that someone made for their dulcimer out of an old blue jeans leg. They lined it with flannel and made a drawstring top. Awesome!

Depends on how much protection you need. I'm using the rip stop bag from a folding lawn chair at work to hang one in my locker. Fits just right and there is a draw string closure. Shoulder strap on the bag is heavy enough to carry the dulcimer on my shoulder if I needed to.

Well, I used a burlap mail sack for a while. I checked the gun cases at Dick's Sporting Goods and couldn't find one that would fit like I wanted it to. Thought I could find a gun case that would hold 2 nicely, but couldn't

I meant anything you used in your dulcimer playing time....thanks Sam ...that looks better than my buddy's gun case ...but man ...the cops in jersey and nyc are gonna stop me on every corner especially if there a political rally going on

... or this ..........
http://www.ebay.com/itm/case-gun-hard-/150884260492?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2321671a8c#ht_500wt_949

Raven,

I've been thinking this might work, with proper padding added, of course

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300604887882?var=600023415174&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_3427wt_1139

have you used anything other than a normal dulce case?.....I have my hondo teardrop inside of a old bass case.......my friend has a couple of empty old rifle cases.... I was thinking of shaping foam in one

so what have you used ?.....I remember some guy in greenwich village ,nyc that would walk around with his hour glass in his laundry bag...yuck

One never knows lol...

Geekling said:

Back atcha, John! Hey, you could be the first on your block (or planet) to bow a resonator dulcimer--now that I'd like to hear (at least once, anyway )!