Forum Activity for @ken-longfield

I missed this entire thread when we were away camping in the Northwoods of Pennsylvania. In addition to Jean Ritchies books, English Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians by Cecil Sharp and Maude Karpeles and The Child Ballads by Francis James Child are excellent resources. Child's collection was originally titled The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. It contained 305 songs (lyrics only) with American variants. Tunes were added in 1960. I believe the original was 8 volumes. It is still available in print and digital editions. Sharps book was originally published in 1917 is still available in the used book market but most  scholars agree that the second and enlarged addition is the one to have. It contains 273 songs and ballads and 968 tunes. I bought a copy many years ago and paid $200 for it. I looked today and found a first printing of second edition for a mere $750. Since the copyright has expired on Sharp's work, it can be found in reprints and digital editions for a lot less. Both works are worth having for folk song researchers. Many of the individuals and groups involved in the so called folk music revival of the 1950s and 60s used songs from these works.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Karen, due to the thicker strings used on a baritone, I suggest putting on a new nut and bridge. I don't remember if Dave spent a lot of time adjusting the slots in his nuts and bridges to create better intonation or just went with the VSL. I think people stress too much about attaining perfect intonation. Somewhere I read an article about a luthier building a guitar and making sure that the intonation on each string was perfect. Not being much of a player, he asked some well known guitarists to play it. The consensus was that it was dull and lifeless; not due to construction, but due to the lack of overtones or something like that due to the perfect intonation. I wish I could remember where I read that story.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I'm lucky here in central PA where there are many saw mills. Sometimes you can find short pieces that won't sell to well because they are only 3 or 4 feet long. You can get them for a really good price. Gotta love those Amish saw mills.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Another option if it isn't an historically valuable dulcimer is to cut the dowels off and use #2 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch brass screws.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Take your loop end string and run the plain end of the string through the loop thus creating a larger loop that will fit over the dowels. If it is a four string dulcimer, two strings go on each down. This system isn't very convenient if you break a string, but it works.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Why don't you email or call Warren and ask him? 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Even though, as Skip pointed out, the Strothers calculator tend to suggest strings on the light side, I would go with those to begin with. If you find them to be too loose, you can always move up a little the next time you change strings. You didn't say whether this dulcimer uses loop or ball end strings but strings in the sizes suggested should be readily available as singles.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Hatikvah (The Hope) is available in tab form on a few websites and well as in a few published tab books. I think there are few others out there, like the dreidel song, but you can do an internet search for specific songs to see what's out there.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thank you, Lisa.

I'll not only be playing on the porch on Saturday, but I'll be serenading my wife as we celebrate our 56th wedding anniversary that day.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I don't play finger style, but my friend does Nina Zanetti does. Visit her website https://www.ninazanetti.com and you will find some good information on finger style playing. She has some free tabs you can download. If you try one or two of them you will get a feel for the style.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I suggest that you go to the For Sale forum and read the information about selling on this site. Also read the FAQs about selling. I see no time placed on membership before selling something. Just follow the rules from the places I've noted and if you sell an item for $100 or more please make at least a $5.00 donation to FOTMD.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thank you, Strumelia. I think it is helpful for people to have a visual example. I remember years ago a Folkcraft catalog had a pull out section that showed the difference in various vibrating string lengths they offered. I can't remember whether that was under David's or Richard's ownership. I probably have it in a file somewhere. I guess I'll look for it when I get the time. I have an old Windows program, WFret, that prints out a fret board diagram for you. I've thought of printing out different vsl fret boards and pasting them on poster board so people can see the actual distances. It might be a good rainy or snow day project for this coming winter.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Perhaps these calculations will be helpful to see the differences in distances between frets on a 24 vs. 26.5 vsl. I used the Stew-Mac fret calculator for this.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.

John, the redo of the website looks good. It is easy to navigate and provides good descriptions and other information. You and your customers do a fine job of playing your instruments.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

You are on the right track. First see if it moves better after you loosen the screw. You might start with an 1/8th or 1/4th turn. If it turns well and doesn't slip after reaching the proper pitch. If that doesn't work, tighten the screw until the string holds under tension. Now try lubricating the tuner with either graphite or a dry silicone spray. I prefer the first as the silicone spray can get on the finish and harm it. You may need to turn the peg completely around many times. Oh, you could also clean the peg with either a commercial degreaser and/ or denatured alcohol. This best done with tuners off of the dulcimer. Hope this helps.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

My oldest dulcimer is from 1931. It doesn't party. I don't take it out on camping trips or to parties. I do take it to mountain dulcimer events and allow others to play it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Way to go! That will be a great help with your restoration.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thank you, Strumelia.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for the photo, XLIV. As you can see it is too large to show the entire instrument. You might try resizing your photo and reposting it. I usually post my mine at 8 x 10 inches or 5 by 7, but sometimes my mind slips and I post them at 8 1/2 by 11.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Please post some photos of the unfinished rebec project. I assume you want to finish the project. I'll offer what advice I can after I see what you have. Sounds like an interesting undertaking. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I agree with Strumelia that 27" is pretty much "the normal/standard range for a dulcimer." If you haven't already done so, you might check out this site: https://dulcimercentral.com/gallier-dulcimers  

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Twenty-seven inches is my favorite VSL. I use 28.5 inches on dulcimers for noter playing. I think if you do the calculations on the Strothers calculator they won't be to far off from what I suggested. Restring that dulcimer. It deserves to be played and enjoyed.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for photos Jonathan. It looks like the builder may have miscalculated the placement of the seventh fret and moved it but never filled in the slot. Not sure what another reason would be. Your dulcimer looks nice.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Jonathan, can you post a photo of your dulcimer? It may help us to better help you. Also, if you the maker of the dulcimer that would be helpful. Since your father played noter style, it makes sense to start learning in DAA. You double melody strings would be tuned to the A below middle C. The middle string would be the same. The next two strings would "d" and "D" respectively. The bass D, your thick string would be the D below middle C and the other "d" would be just above middle C.

Using 29 inches as the vibrating string length which you estimated to 28-30 inches, the "A" strings would be 0.012, the "D" string would be 0.018, and the high d 0.009. The Strothers string calculator tends to be "light" on string string suggestions so I would change the D to 0.020 and the d to 0.010. If those turn out to be to loose when tuned to pitch you could try 0.011 or 0.012 for the d and 0.022 for the D. You can find the calculator  here.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I'm not Ken Hulme.I'm the other Ken. Here is the link to his article: https://fotmd.com/strumelia/group_discuss/2316/ken-hulmes-i-just-got-a-dulcimer-now-what-article  

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Another possibility if you aren't interested in the money would be to donate it to the Appalachian Dulcimer Museum in Sperryville, VA. I'm sure John Hallberg would be interested if he doesn't already have one.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks, Strumelia. I've been around the Appalachian dulcimer world since the late 1960s. Over the years I've met many folks in this community. If I hadn't worked most weekends since 1969 I might have met more. Keeping my eyes and ears open I learned about the history of and people who love the Appalachian dulcimer. I'm still learning and enjoy every new encounter with dulcimer folk and history.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I agree with John and olddog75 that $300 is a fair price if you are looking to get it in to the hands of someone who will enjoy playing it. Of course you can always ask for more and if it doesn't sell lower the price. It just depends upon whether you want to get it in the hands of a player or try to make money.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Mark Blair made some wonderful dulcimers. He, along with his wife Carol, wrote a couple of books of music for Appalachian dulcimer. One is a book of hymns, Best Loved Hymns for Appalachian Dulcimer and the other was a book of Christmas hymns. I think the latter might have been self published. Back in November, 2024 I spent some time with his wife, Carol, and their son. We had a good time reminiscing about the dulcimer community around Washington, D.C. in the lat 1960s and 1970s. Looking at the Facebook page John suggested I see that he made 700 dulcimers. I would consider him one of the "revival" builders.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Robin, it is a possibility. I don't have the Foxfire plans in front of me to compare, but from the photos posted there are differences from the Mize dulcimers I've seen. The tuning pegs are not quite the same shape and the end block is different from Mize dulcimers. I can't see the peg head well enough to make a comparison. Folks who use plans like Mize's are known to make modifications that appeal to the builder. If the owner of this dulcimer does find a label inside we will know for sure.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The dulcimer looks familiar but I can't place it with a builder at the moment. It appears to be well built and the wood is very nice. I think the to is butternut and the rest of the dulcimer is walnut. It has a 6 1/2 fret but not 13 1/2 fret (octave). Wood tuning pegs are not something most players appreciate these days. On a good day you might be able to sell it for $300 - $350 but without the builder's name that could be a very optimistic. In reality it may only bring between $200 - $300.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

My guess is that if you play in modern finger picking style it would be helpful, but I've never played a mountain dulcimer with a radiused fret board. I see that some banjos which have traditionally had flat fret boards are now being made with radiused fret boards. There are some dulcimer makers who are doing fret boards with a radius, but I can't remember who they are. As to pros and cons, I have no idea.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

My experience with Black Mountain dulcimers is that they are good instruments. They are not fancy, but are well built, play well, and sound good. Back in the 1970s and 80s I considered them an excellent entry level instrument which could become a lifetime instrument. Whether or not it is an upgrade from your current dulcimer you will have to determine from playing it. They have a very comfortable VSL and in my opinion make very nice chording dulcimers.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I'm glad that was helpful. Often it takes it a little experimenting to get right action for your playing style.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I really can’t tell much from the photos and am not sure what you want to know. Folkcraft kits came in two shapes; hourglass and teardrop. From the scroll in the photo yours appears to be an hourglass shaped one. I’m not sure what style nuts and bridges were used back in 1987. I think they are similar to the current Delvin bridges. You can see them on the Folkcraft website. Usually the bridges needed a lot of trimming to get a good string height.

Ken

”The dulcimer sings a sweet song.”

You're welcome. If you need any help with the replacement let me know. I've done it many times.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If the screw has bottomed out you can place a washer between the wall of the peg head and the shaft of the peg to increase the distance the screw travels. Then you can tighten the peg again. If this method isn't to your liking, you can replace them with geared tuners. The Dulcimer Shoppe sells ones that they put on their instruments. I've used them on a few dulcimers as replacements. Tuning pegs They take a 10mm or 3/8 inch hole which is about the same size as the hole in your kit dulcimer. It is fairly easy to do the replacement.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sounds reasonable to me too.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Well, this is really for everyone. There is a Chat feature on FOTMD and I'm not sure many people know about it. At one time we had a rather active group or folks who showed up in the chat from time to time to visit with one another. You can find it in the bottom right hand corner. It is a blue ballon with three red dots on it in a white square. If you click on this it opens the chat window. Sometimes folks log in early in the morning before work which is what I did for a long time. Since I've been retired I don't get up that early anymore. I usually check to see if anyone else is in the chat window when I check in to FOTMD. If you see me there, or anyone else for that matter, stop in and say Hello.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."