Do you have a machine that tunes your dulcimers, too?
Not yet, but someday someone will invent one. I've been tempted to try one of the automatic guitar tuners, but it would just be something else to clutter the accessory pocket in my guitar case.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
My self-propelled mower lasts a little over an hour on a fully charged battery. Mine is a Kobalt from Lowe's. My robotic mover also lasts around an hour on a full charge. It docks itself when it needs to be recharged. It is a Husqvarna. I saw these in action when I attended the A.S.I.A. Symposium in East Stroudsburg, PA in 2018. I was impressed by how they worked. My wife wanted me to get someone to cut the lawn. The robot was a compromise. It cuts the largest part of the year and I use the walk behind, self-propelled mower to do parts of the yard that the robot is not programmed to do. These are areas out near the street and outside of fenced in year and along the fence as the robot does not cut all the way to fence.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Robin, I am guessing that you are talking about a plug-in mower with an extension cord. My sister and her former husband used one for many years. My sister still does.
Last year I switched over to battery powered lawn mower, string trimmer, and hedge trimmer. Most of my lawn is done by a robot, but I need the mower for places the robot doesn't reach. No more messing with gas and oil.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I think you are making a good decision. I would have passed on the May dulcimer for the same reason. Are you sure the VSL on the McSpadden is correct? Most McSpadden's fo that period were 28.5 inches. Also, McSpadden dulcimers were not built by one person. The craftsperson whose responsibility of gluing on the back was the person who signed the label. Someone else may have bent the sides, installed the frets, tuners, strings, done the glue ups, etc.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Robin, it has been getting colder all day. Tomorrow is not going to be a day to be outside doing yard work. Maybe I'll be able to get some of dulcimer projects worked on. You stay warm as well.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I agree that the dark spot looks to be in the wood.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Venni, glad to hear the you made it through. Best wishes for continued improvement in your health.
Robin, you can keep the snow in Ohio, thank you.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome, Richard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome, Robin.I like finding these dulcimer related articles in my Google News Feed. I enjoyed it too.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Here is an new story some of you might find interesting: https://www.wvpublic.org/section/arts-culture/2021-04-14/recycling-never-sounded-so-good-appalachian-luthiers-turn-cardboard-and-tin-cans-into-musical-instruments
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Yes, Susie, I've had more at one time. They come and go. It's the ebb and flow of dulcimer ownership.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
At the moment I only have 15: the first one I made which is based on a plan by Joseph Wallo, rosewood and spruce; a teardrop from Scott Antes plans, rosewood and spruce; the same model but made of marine grade mahogany plywood and spruce; the same model made of chestnut and spruce; a Blue Lion hourglass, rosewood, red cedar, and mahogany; a Folkcraft all walnut hourglass (the last two have have built in pickups), a David Lynch travel dulcimer; Musical Traditions hourglass of walnut; an walnut hourglass made by Warren May; an original James Edward Thomas all walnut hourglass; a cardboard Backyard dulcimer painted navy blue; a Sunhearth teardrop made by Walt Martin made of walnut and spruce; a C.N. Prichard hourglass reproduction made of all poplar painted black; a teardrop dulcimer based on Scott Antes plan made of paduk and spruce; and one based on the C.N. Prichard dulcimer made of walnut and butternut. In addition I have four Pennsylvania German zitters, two of which I made. One is based on an instrument in the Mercer Museum and the other is based on an instrument in the Landis Valley Museum. I also have a 16/15 hammered dulcimer and an open back banjo which I made. I made a Fender "S" style electric guitar and am currently working on an acoustic guitar.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome, Dusty. And it will be a great loss for the dulcimer community.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome, Susie. I thought it was.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I thought some folks would enjoy this article: https://themtnear.com/2021/04/award-winning-dulcimer-maker-and-musician-bonnie-carol/
Ken,
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
What we don't know for sure is whether they worked together in building dulcimers. Was John one of the builders of The American Dulcimer or did they work separately. I think they lived close enough to each other to have worked together. I visited C.N.'s gravesite, but have not spent any other time in Huntington, WV. It would be interesting find a copy of The Cricket, C.N.'s advertising newspaper and see if the ran ads for his instruments. Also, we don't know how he sold them. Was it through a music store, mail order, or what? I would enjoy poking around Huntington see if I could find any info on him.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks for sharing that article, Dusty. I found it informative and interesting.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
What Rojo said and elegant.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
For a long time our grocery stores would not allow us to bring our own bags in to the store. I think that restriction has ease now, although the last two times I went to the grocery store, it was only to pick up prescriptions.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Well, the second shot is in the arm. Two weeks from today I should be good to go although I will keep wearing a mask out in public. In two weeks our daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons will be here to visit. Can't wait for them to visit. We have a lot of planning to do for our trip out to Yellowstone N.P. in late June and early July.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I agree pretty much with Ken Hulme; especially the need to change the slots in the nut and bridge. Depending upon how sturdily built your dulcimer is will determine how well the nylon strings work. Have fun experimenting.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
In about 20 minutes I am off to receive my second vaccine shot. Can't wait, but I will have to fight strong winds and gusts on the way.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Venni, I am saddened by the news of your contracting Covid19. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I'm glad you are enjoying your McSpadden dulcimer. Having an instrument you love means you will want to play it often, and it sounds like this is true for you. Best wishes for your dulcimer journey.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You are all welcome. I subscribe to Google Alerts that lets me know when the word "dulcimer" appears in a news report. Much of what Google links to is junk, but once in a while there is an interesting news story. I wasn't sure how many people would see it, so I decided to share it here.
Dusty, I remember reading something about that project in Northern California. I can't remember if it was on a website or a link to an article somewhere.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
This story from Minnesota appeared in my email today. I thought some of you might be interested in this project. https://www.hometownsource.com/morrison_county_record/mol-students-build-their-own-musical-instruments/article_ccf9c80c-8024-11eb-8ef3-33ff1a8b2e99.html
It would be nice to see more schools doing this.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Jim, unfortunately the dulcimer clubs around Somerset no longer exist. As you can see from the link Ken Hulme posted there is nothing close by. This is not to say there aren't any dulcimer players in the area. You just need to be creative in finding ways to invite them to play with you.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Welcome Andi. You are doing much better with English than I could do with Spanish. Go ahead and ask questions. We will try to help you along on your dulcimer journey.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Bill, a lot of it depends upon the design. Some folks put a thin piece of wood under the sound hole area with the grain running perpendicular to the top grain and then cut out the hole. A friend of mine saves used dryer sheets and glues that in the area where the sound hole will be cut out. Others glue small pieces of wood around the hole to keep cracks from developing.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Virtually sounds good. I've hiked portions of the AT in Maine, NH, Vermont, NY, PA, Maryland, and VA.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It's great to hear this news, Ken! Now we can both hike the Appalachian Trail from Canada to Georgia! (virtually).
As long as you promise to carry me all the way.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Lois, I do have a bass dulcimer on loan from a friend. It is a Blue Lion and not much heavier than my Blue Lion dulcimer.
Lisa, it certainly does feel good.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dusty, sure, as long as I don't have to lift anything heavier than 8 pounds. Are you paying for my round trip airfare and other expenses?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Today I saw my cardiac surgeon for my first, and as it turns out, my last post op appointment. I am doing so well with my recovery that he does not need to see me again. I can drive again. I still need to be cautious of lifting things for another 2 months so I do not damage my sternum. My heart is in great shape after the mitral valve repair. Look out world, I'm back! LOL
Thank you to all who offered good wishes, prayers, notes of concern , and phone calls during this time. It is greatly appreciated.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Lisa, you have a beautiful instrument. Bob Mine did excellent work. I do not think those cracks were there when he built that dulcimer. I think They are a function of age and humidity. I can't tell if they go all the way through the peg head or are just surface cracks. If the latter, let them go. If the former a little bit of thin super glue in the crack and some clamping will fix the cracks. Put new strings on it, tune it up, and play it. Enjoy your "new" dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I have not yet registered for an on-line festival. I do get together with a few folks once a week on Zoom to play. The reason I haven't participated in these festivals is that I don't go festivals to take workshops. I go to visit with other builders or for conversation during and between workshops. I no longer feel the need to accumulate more tabs or pick up new playing techniques. It is the informal visiting and spontaneous jams that I enjoy most at festivals. Also, most festivals do not offer workshops that meet my interest in the history of the mountain dulcimer and its predecessors, the music of the mountains, or playing techniques that apply. Having said all of this, I am looking at participating in a festival in April which includes my interests.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thank you for the update, Dewey. Don't forget to change it's position from time-to-time so it darkens all over and not just on the top and one side.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I agree with John that the wood looks like cherry which is one of the woods Lazenby used. However, this dulcimer was made in 1980 according to label and I think I might have darkened up by now. At any rate it is a beautiful instrument. Enjoy.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I had no heard of John Frazier before reading your post. I have been unable to find out anything about him. I'll be interested to see what others come with about him.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
