I have dulcimers with and without the 6 1/2 fret. When playing with a noter I prefer the dulcimers without. When playing chords, if prefer the one with. There are exceptions to both of those preferences from time to time.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I doubt that banjo strings were used by early because of the sound they produced. My guess is that banjo strings were used because they had loop rather than ball ends (guitar strings). It was a matter of which type of string was easier to attach to the dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
National Guitar is February 11.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Not exactly good for outdoor activities in my part of the world, but I have no objections.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I have Richlite fretboards on two of my Martin guitars. You can't see a difference between it and ebony and I think the Richlite lets you slide better than ebony.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It's a good question and you have received good answers. In the end, what is most important is that the dulcimer appeals to you and makes you happy when you play/use it. If you don't like the instrument for whatever reason, you aren't going to play it. Some people like fancy inlays and bindings, others don't. Some like hourglass shape, and others don't. If hourglass dulcimers with beautiful woods are aesthetically pleasing to you go for that, because that is what you will enjoy playing and it won't really matter whether you have a flat or scroll peg head.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That Clifford Glenn dulcimer is beautiful; a real treasure. You've been given good advice, so I have nothing to add to it. Just enjoy the dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
No, Steven. You measure the distance to the 7th fret (actually the center of the top of the 7th fret) and double that distance.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I hope I'm not giving the wrong impression. I spent 40 years working with teenagers and enjoy them. I was being facetious in my first post about our teenage years here on FOTMD.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
For sure Robin. My oldest grandson just turned 13 last week. Hence my comment.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Oh, no! Another teenager.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
The vernal equinox can occur on March 19, 20, or 21. The last possible day for the celebration of Easter is April 25. Any date we pick before April 25 will put International Appalachian Dulcimer Day during the Christian season of Lent occasionally. While I don't think this should deter us, it is just something of which we should be aware. Am I understanding correctly that it should be a specific day rather than the last Saturday in March or the second Saturday in April?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I, too, after careful consideration of all arguments (including my own) feel that we should use the name "Appalachian dulcimer" and realize that we will continue the ongoing controversy of how "Appalachian" should be pronounced. For the past forty years I have lived in area of Pennsylvania that is part of Appalachia and here we pronounce it differently from my friends in the southern part of the region.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Charles N. Prichard marketed his instruments as "The American Dulcimer." Just look at the label he used. I call the presentation I do on dulcimer history "The History of the American Dulcimer." So, I'm fine with Leo's suggestion. As to the use of American as an identifier for the day, I think we were talking about a national dulcimer day and the United States of American is usually shorted to just America. I'm enjoying this conversation.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I like that idea Skip. Perhaps the 155th day for 1 - 5 - 5 tuning or the 158th for 1 - 5 - 8 tuning. Or we could choose another tuning; DAC, DAG, etc. Another could the number of letters in Appalachian dulcimer or mountain dulcimer either side by side or added together. And to go really random, put number 1 - 365 in your hat and draw one. That's really what you suggested.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Ah, yes, thank you for that correction. I forgot all about the confusion over Uncle Ed's birthday.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Another possible date would be June 21, the date the mountain dulcimer became the official state instrument of Kentucky.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I would rather see August 28 as National Dulcimer Day especially because I would rather see December 8 as Jean's birthday and not overshadowing or overshadowed by another celebration. Although Jean exposed many people to the mountain dulcimer she was so much more than that. She was a promoter of the Ritchie family and southern Appalachian songs as well. I really think we would do a disservice to her by tying her memory only to the dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I like Steve's idea even better. Since it is two days from our wedding anniversary I might remember it. So, Dusty, are you volunteering to set up the Wikipedia entry"
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Not to detract from Jean's fame as a popularizer of the dulcimer, I suggest March 19 as that is the birthdate of James Edward (Uncle Ed) Thomas who built the early hourglass style mountain dulcimer. Didn't Jean's father play one of Thomas's dulcimers?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I'm glad that you found and shared that photo. Like Dusty I would enjoy hearing him play that instrument.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It's good to know the folks in Spain had a brief exposure to the Appalachian dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I've had several of Dave's student dulcimers and wound up selling them to students who wanted to move beyond a cardboard dulcimer. I have played quite of few of his regular dulcimers and can tell you that they are well built and a delight to play. I have no experience with Ron's dulcimers, but he has a good reputation as a builder.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Two good books on dulcimer history are Ralph Lee Smith's Appalachian Dulcimer Traditions and The Story of the Dulcimer. I suggest doing an internet search for them. Georgia is not known for having a history of mountain dulcimer making or playing. If you just want to know about Georgia, an internet search will provide you will lots of information.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dale had a shop in Pigeon Forge in the 1990s and made hammered and mountain dulcimers. I knew him more as a hammered dulcimer maker. As I recall he did good work and made fine, playable instruments.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
John Pledger lives in northwest Georgia and after he retired decided to start building dulcimers. He is a hobbyist who sells his dulcimers through Etsy. Here is a photo of him with two of his dulcimers. This is what it says on his Etsy page: "I am a hobbyist Dulcimer maker from North Georgia. I make one dulcimer at a time and only seven or eight per year. I enjoy playing the Mountain Dulcimer and attending craft shows with them throughout the year. I meet a lot of interesting people who love art and music. The Mountain dulcimer is arguably the easiest of the stringed instruments to play. I am learning old time American mountain music and Celtic/New age tunes. The dulcimer is the instrument for the beginning string student because of its ease and immediate results." He is a member here and you can search for him under members and send him a private message if you have any other questions.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sagebum, the dulcimer is really a four string dulcimer with doubled courses. There are a variety of ways this dulcimer could be tuned; DD aa aa dd, GG, DD, AA, EE ( like a mandolin), etc. It is hard to give you answer on string gauges without knowing the vibrating string length. For the notes you have, you can just duplicate those strings. If you know the VSL you can use Strothers' string calculator to determine what gauges you need. http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.html
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Bill, can you provide a photo of the dulcimer? The most important thing is to determine where the the nuts were located. Once that is determined, you can measure from the fret board side of the nut to the middle of the seventh fret. Double that measurement and that should be where the strings contact the bridge. A little fine adjustment may be necessary for better intonation.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Regarding the slot; I wonder if it was an attempt to loosen the top and allow it to vibrate more. I realize that as it flares out and extends over the sides of the dulcimer it would do little to lessen the stiffness of the top.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dusty is correct about Sunhearth dulcimers. Walt Martin's fine tuners were usually made of ebony and broke easily. I've never heard of Mr. Titus either. That is quite a list of folks you have contacted who have no knowledge of him. You may have already done this, but have you contacted Bob Dylan? I realize that Dylan is 80 years old and it may be difficult to remember back 55 years, but is worth a try.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Very nice. That bocote wood is beautiful. You do good work. Enjoy your dulcimer. I'm sure your friend will cherish the other one you made. Like Ken H., I use a surface sander on figured wood, never a planer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thank you, Linda.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome Scott. Do share, if you get a reply. I know it is a long shot.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Nitro is west of Charleston heading toward Huntington. It is a small town of around 6,500 people at spans two counties in the western part of central West Virginia. Nitro itself has an interesting history as the place that manufactured gun powder for World War I. As to Mr. Jennings I know nothing about him. Here is a link to https://w ww.g orbysmusic.com so you can look for yourself. My guess is that Mr. Jennings made a few dulcimers and put them in the shop on consignment, but maybe some of our West Virginia members know more about him. Perhaps you could call the shop and someone there might know something about him.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I thought of Rod when I did The Friendly Beasts for our Tuesday evening Zoom group video. Even after 11 years I have fond memories of all the conversations I had with Rod.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I enjoyed the video and think it expresses the song very well. Thank you for sharing it.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Wow, very nice playing. Thanks for sharing.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's a creative design Ken and should do the job you intend it to do. Nice construction. Thanks for sharing.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Eric, I would like to know that as well. I'm just guessing here, but I think he is referring the do re mi as a diatonic scale (seven notes) compared to a chromatic scale. I don't know how chromatic becomes a "European" scale.
Ken
"The dulcimer player sings a sweet song."
