Forum Activity for @dusty

Interesting dulcimer.  Is it an optical illusion or is the upper bout wider than the lower bout?

Okay. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

“ I assume you either bought this used or someone gave it to you.”

No; It appeared on eBay here in the UK but unfortunately the seller won’t ship it and it’s not local to me.

"Always the best hello, but also the hardest goodbye" ... says it well.

I'm correcting my C.S. Lewis quote: “No,” he said, “not our dogs.” However, he said, there would be, in heaven, “the essence of dogness.”  I think those of us loving our pets would go more with the idea of without them heaven wouldn't be heavenly. 

Homer, you seem to be asking a couple of different questions.

One is just how to maintain your repertoire.   Ken has one strategy that works if you have a good memory of the songs and just need a reminder of the beginning to get going.  I keep an active "set list" of no more than a dozen tunes that I play regularly. The set list is constantly changing but represents the tunes I enjoy playing the most at any given time. And I try to keep up on those, allowing others to get rusty.

But maintaining a repertoire is not the same as practicing in order to improve.  Personally, I enjoy playing scales and arpeggios and spend some time with both as often as possible. When you practice a song, you get better at that song.   But when you work on technique, you get better at every song you play.  There are also some songs I play as exercises with no intention of actually performing them.  I used Pig Ankle Rag like that for years, forcing myself to use my pinky as often as possible to strengthen that finger.  I also use a metronome for songs like that and when doing those scales and arpeggios.

But I also spend time just playing the songs I am working on, focusing on the problem areas. I just wrote a song recently that I really like, but there is a two-measure sequence of all eighth notes that moves over several frets and two strings, and I sometimes just play those two measures over and over.

Importantly, I end every practice session playing a song I enjoy and can play well.  So the emotion I leave with is one of contentment with my playing rather than the frustration that accompanies learning new stuff. And I always make a point to take some time to just to play, without any interest in the metronome or the occasional buzz from inaccurate fretting, or whatever.   You have to have fun, after all. As Steve Eulberg says, we call it "playing music," not "working music."

Two thoughts: C.S. Lewis said dogs (or was it pets? should look it up) must go to heaven or else we wouldn't find it heavenly; & at the lake alongside our big dog park I found tucked away a memorial stone to a dog saying it was always the best hello, but also the hardest goodbye.

My malamutes all seemed to go at 10, while my huskies could go to 12, 13, 14, so the husky in my wonderful husky/malamute mix is now 14, but oh the joint problems!  Had a woman say the final year for her mal was 15 but again those joints.  I read these losses & dread it coming.

Hugs to all losing &/or loving their pets.

As usual, I agree with Ken. The inlay looks like a green heron to me, but could certainly be some other bird. Since you are inquiring, I assume you either bought this used or someone gave it to you. The use of ukulele friction pegs may place the date it was made somewhere in the 1970s when they were popular among one off or hobby builders.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If there is no maker's label visible inside the bottom, below of the rear sound holes, chances are it is a personally-made instrument rather than a commercially made dulcimer.  Many personal instruments (better term than 'home made') which we make also have labels inside.   That fretboard inlay is nice, but is not like anything I've seen from the usual commercial builders. 

Hi folks,

Can anyone identify the likely make of the dulcimer in the pictures please? It has a distinctive inlay in the fretboard.

Or is it possibly home made?

Thanks

 dulcimer 1.jpg - 166KB

Practice

 Screenshot_20221106-104101_Facebook.jpg - 72KB

@ken-hulme That's ...well, if not GENIUS, a darn good idea.  Those 200 songs could be an excellent idea to share &/or sell.  People tend to put down Ionian noter/drone, but this is a perfect example of how easily it can work.  Just had a thought <GASP!> Many of these songs, since they're so traditional, could be found in something like the Sing Out! book, but that is planned primarily for vocal & guitar or maybe banjo.  It would be easy to write in the dulci openers.

So MANY questions!    Each of us is different, of course.  I don't practice, per se.  I play.    Noter & Drone.  By ear, not tab or SMN.  Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little.

I have, I suppose, over 200 songs in my repertoire (well, tunes anyway, not words). I have about 100 of them printed on a "cheat sheet" in tiny type, each with the first measure or two of melody tab notes, so I can recall how they start.  It's especially hard for me to 'hear' the start of a tune in my head when I'm in a high noise musical environment like a song circle or Open Mic event.  Here's the first few from the Americana section of my list:

Wayfaring Stranger 11..55..454.3.0
Shady Grove 4.444.5431
Skip To My Lou 55..33..55.7 4.44...22...44.6
Old Joe Clark 4565.4.3.2 45654
I'll Fly Away 5.3.0.3.5456.5...4.....3.22.0

Wondering how people practice. I usually practice the fundamental/techniques, old songs, a new song and noodling. The time spent on each varies. The order varies and may or may not include all in a given session.   When one has a large number old songs how do people manage? I find I can play songs from years ago but not well. The time needed to play the songs at a higher level varies from song to song. Do people try to keep their entire list of songs playable? Do they move on after they achieve a certain level never to return? What does your practice session consist of? How much time to do you spend on each activity?   

I believe Bill retired in the late 80's. Not sure what the intonation was set to, I'd imagine the melody was an A vs. the contemporary d.

Dan,

  Any idea of when Bill Davis stopped selling his kit dulcimers?

This one was assembled by a careful woodworker. Joints are all good  and finish is even.  I have not restrung it yet but checked the sound.  It does have a big sound! Also, what tuning is normal for the 5 string 4 course setup?

 Thanks

Bill R

Not a Clemmer but a Bill Davis peg head. Bill taught Sam Carrell who in turn trained Mike Clemmer. Bill sold a lot of kits back in the day. His pieces where marked on the lower right back. (Early pieces had labels) They have a "big" sound!

 100_2144.jpg~original.jpg - 46KB

Dan an John ,

 Here are some photos

 PB0420353b.jpg - 140KB

Dan and John, I found photos of the Bill Davis dulcimer, it fits it to a "t". I can see the similarities in the Clemmer peg head and the Davis peg head

Thanks

Sounds like a Bill Davis kit to me.....we need images!

I agree with Dan.  Sounds like a Bill Davis dulcimer from Gatlinburg years ago.

Sounds like a Bill Davis kit to me.....we need images!

I thought mike's instruments we well labelled.  Call him and ask --

 Retail shop open Thursday and Friday 10am - 5pm.    Call 865.448.6647 

Did Mike Clemmer make an hourglass instrument with wooden pegs and a 5 string (double melody and equi spaced as 4 string? I just had one given to me, no tag or serial#  27.5 or 28" vsl, all walnut, no 6 1/2 or 13 1/2 frets. scroll has wheat heads engraved on the sides. It is the violin style, nice woodwork and finish

I love Hazel Dickens; she was more of a hollering type singer.  So, this version doesn't seem like a pale imitation but, rather, a fresh new version from two young people.  

Hugs to all who are missing their sweet furry companions...

I like "The Rainbow Bridge"

There are going to be quite a few canine and feline companions to meet me there!

 Rainbow Bridge.png - 658KB

We lost our beautiful Cody on January 5, 2022, just before his 14th birthday. 

A sensitive, loving, and funny boy. 

As you all know, losing a pet is very difficult. They live on in our hearts. We got this canvas print, which was so appropriate for him.

Vale

Pug Maguire,
28 Feb 2009 - 15 Oct 2022

 Pug (4).JPG - 76KB

Well, Shelby, a.k.a. Schlubby, turned 16 in April - and died in May. She was skinny enough and basically just wasted away. She passed in the Mrs.' arms. We knew she was a tiny cat, but it;s been confirmed, comparing her with the two we replaced her with toward the end of the summer. They're huge by comparison, and house wreckers! They are from the same litter. The one with the Manx tail is Bobbi (which makes sense, bob tail). The one with the very soft fur is Charmin (which makes sense in a weird way). At feeding time, the two squeak like mice. But they run around the house like a herd of buffalo, and jump up on everything! They want to cling to the Mrs., and dig their nails in. Then they lie down where you trip over them. I really appreciate our Schlubby time so much more!

Our cats have never been let outdoors. We have fox, coyotes, fishers, and who knows what else. Bears and cougars are farther north - we're by the St. Lawrence River, right near Lake Ontario. But at least we don't have rattlesnakes (my sympathies, Salt Springs). For that I appreciate being here in southeastern Ontario. 

 2022-09-29 #6a Paul Rappell photo.JPG - 201KB

Beautiful.  Two instruments.  Two voices.  Infinitely joyful.

Will they scrape off? The fretboard probably has no finish to damage [oiled?], so you could try using a new single sided razor blade [or fine {400} grit sandpaper on a popsicle stick edge?] and carefully scrape between the frets without marker dots.

Thanks Ken but the little dots are in the Ebony fret board, they are not the pearl place markers. I will look into the fret board conditioners, that would be good to have on hand. 

I have cleaned the dulcimer and it now looks like new. You can see the difference between grimy strum hollow before & updated photo attached. 

I lower the action, just a hair to make it easier to play and sing as I slide up the fret board. It is a Prussia Valley Butternut & Walnut 3" deep dulcimer, I knew under the grim it would be beautiful with a full tone - and it is.

Thanks for all your help

Oh, I blacken the 1.5 until I get use to it - it will wear off in no time.

 Gary Sager.jpg - 58KB

The little dots look like they are stick-on and not inlays, so any cleaning or oiling of the fret board is going to loosen them. If you like the dots, you can have a luthier inlay pearl dots in the same spots. It requires drilling holes in the fret board, gluing in the dots, and then leveling them with the fret board. Ebony fret boards do dry out over time depending upon how much they are exposed to sun and air. A good fret board conditioner such as those sold by Fender, Dunlop, Taylor, Music Nomad, Lizard Spit, etc. will restore your fret board. Use as directed.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ryan, I like the concept of model designations that give you information about the instrument. When someone says they have a C.F. Martin D28 you know exactly what this is; a rosewood dreadnaught with white binding, etc.  If some tells you they have a Taylor 314ce, you know that is has sapele back and sides, sitka spruce top, Venetian cutaway, electronic pickup built in, and is a grand auditorium model. Both Folkcraft and McSpadden used various abbreviations in their model designations to let you know what you features you had.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

BUT....

I completely confused the point of my naming question.

I'm not as concerned with the family name as the model name.  Like Fender has Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, etc.  What would be an interesting thread of naming for these?  I'd go with wood names but that would be pure confusion.  Or maybe it could be wood abbreviations on a simple name that actually is like "Model 1" with, for example, a Maple-Cherry combination making it "Model 1-MC'31" where the '31 is the length in the event that I make different sizes (which I intend), or "e" if I get to electric models.

Does that make more sense?  I mean, what does that spark for folks here?  I've been noodling on this matter for over a year!

Lol, "Lancelot"... I think it'll be of such a higher quality that I will probably avoid too much association with the Merlin, tho it does have some inspiration in the Merlin's predecessor, the Woodrow Instrument Co of Asheville.

Friends, Sarah Kate Morgan is joined by Megan Gregory on fiddle to play and sing a Hazel Dickens song.  I first saw it last evening and enjoyed it so.  So, I'm sharing it here: 

Salt, I remember when you posted that Fritz was bitten by a rattlesnake.  I'm so sorry you lost him.  Those are hard times when we watch our pet decline despite all we are trying to do to save them.  Cheers to the new pup.

Mary, I met you folks and your dog a couple years ago in Berea. Love the costumes.

Nina (aka Dulcinina)

Yes, the pup can be adorable, she's a Lab and Bulldog I think.  Really high energy 24/7.  There were 8 of them at the shelter the day we got her. I think she's 4 mos. old today, ........old Fritz was one of the best.....when a big old Black Bear pinned my old Beagle against the backyard fence and was going to do her in, Fritz covered the 300 ft in a split second and wailed that Bear and rescued the Beagle....never got a scratch, when our 16 year old cat was lost in the forest after a hurricane tore the joint up.......I turned him loose in the forest and told him to find that old cat.........an hour later he brought her back...........125 lbs of spit and vinegar with a penchant for Boar's Head roast beef and fried chicken from Popeye's on Sunday. Bears at the kitchen door....he would run 'em off.  Coyote's no sweat....'nuff said.