Forum Activity for @ken-longfield

Hi, Mick. I knew you are in the UK. You have a 5 string dulcimer then. They are usually strung as a doubled melody (strings closest to you), a single middle string, and a doubled bass with doubles an octave apart. There are many mountain dulcimers built in the shape of yours. The instrument is diatonically fretted; no 6 1/2 fret.  For a 23 inch VSL I recommend 0.012 size string for d, 0.016 for A, and 0.024 for the bass D. You can string it as a 3 string dulcimer by leaving off one string each of the pairs. I don't know what tuning you plan to use or how you plan to play, but here are some possible tunings. 

D,d A d,d

D,D A A.A

Of course you can also tune to G using C and G as the notes.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Mick, you have a mountain or Appalachian dulcimer. It looks like it is a three string model. It should be strung with bass string (wound) in the slot farthest from the player. A string in the middle of the fret board and either a single or double string in the slots closest to the player. Standard tunings are DAdd or DAA.

To determine what string should be on your dulcimer we need to know the vibrating string length (VSL). This is the distance from the inside of the nut (fret board side) to where the strings first touch the bridge.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Robin and Dusty, you're welcome. I was unclear as to whether this video is a clip from a larger video which PBS Craft in America filmed. I do hope there is more. It is a treasure and difficult to play that way.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Here is a video of Jon Pickow, one of Jean Richie's and George Pickow's sons, made by PBS a few days before he died. PBS Craft in America has given us (Appalachian School of Luthiery) permission to redistribute this beautiful piece, so please share with the FOTMD community with our blessing!

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I don't think it is the same instrument. This one looks more like a decorated McSpadden to me.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Let me answer your question, but first help you with some terminology. What you are asking is "does the 'depth' of the sides not the 'thickness' influence the sound."]  Both will influence the sound of the dulcimer. Stiffer sides generally help with projection of the sound.  The thickness of the sides is usually between 1/8 th and 1/10 th of an inch and helps create the stiffness.  Depth can vary as you've noticed. Deeper sides tend to emphasize the bass sounds, but other factors come in to play. The vibrating string length (VSL), the types of wood used, the strength of the glue joints, the type of strings, how you play it, etc. all influence sound. Notice how different the dulcimer sounds when you play close to the bridge, over the strum hollow, over the fret board.

I hope this answer was simple enough, but still gives you some other information to expand your knowledge of the dulcimer.

Enjoy your dulcimer journey. Play well. Be safe.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Dave, I hadn't considered ash, but that is certainly a possibility. Thank for sharing all those photos. We supported a Hungarian refuge family years ago and I had a Hungarian dictionary which might have helped me in understanding the info sheet. Unfortunately I gave it away when I retired.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

David, can you tell what type of wood is used the construction of you citera? It looks like some of it might be birch or maple. BTW, thanks for sharing the video and the photo.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It is interesting to see the underside fo the citera. The board with the holes in it reminds me of one of my zitters that has a board with two holes in it, but rather than being perpendicular to the top as the one in the citera, it parallels the top. The woman who plays in the video is a very skilled player. I enjoyed her smile at the applause when she finished playing.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Although I have forgotten this sometimes (I hope not here at FOTMD), what is called "The Golden Rule" is how I have tried to relate to people in person and online. I understand that most world religions and philosophies have some form of it as part of their doctrine: do to others as you would have them do to you. I try as much as I can to walk in the others shoes.

Here at FOTMD I feel we all try to do that. Thank you everyone for a delightful place to share our love of music and the mountain dulcimer.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I am not familiar with the Fremont strings. I'll have to look into them.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

What a cool instrument James! Enjoy playing it. I think they sound really good. Thanks for sharing your new acquisition.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

That's really nice inlay on that Blue Lion. Enjoy.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song." (and I'm sure this one will)

I think you can find plans on the internet for the capo Ken Hulme describes. If you want to buy a capo you might try Folkcraft or Prussia Valley. I imagine the shipping costs depend upon where you are in Canada.

Here is a link to what one you can make yourself would look like: https://www.etsy.com/listing/161049441/dulcimer-capos?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=dulcimer+capo&ref=sr_gallery-1-7

Or you can order one from this seller or others.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

And 10 and 12, also. There is no octave for the 1 1/2 which would be 8 1/2.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It is with a great deal of sadness that I share the news that Ralph Lee Smith died this morning, December 30, 2020, at his home in Virginia. He was 93 years old. I will share more when I have collected myself. R.I.P. Ralph.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I agree Dusty. I don't put position dots on the dulcimers I build. I think I have two with position dots, a Folkcraft and Blue Lion.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The problem with the diatonic fretting on the mountain dulcimer is that the root note, third, and fifth vary from tuning to tuning. Position markers at frets 3, 5, and 7 because the scale in 1 - 5 - 5 tuning starts at the 3rd fret. If you use 1 - 3 - 5 tuning, then the 2, 4, 6 placement makes sense. For those of us who use both tunings on the same dulcimer, position markers don't make sense, at least to me. So before you reply your friend, find out what tuning he intends those who play his dulcimers to use.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It looks very good Nathina. It is pretty much what a new Jim Good dulcimer looked like on his sale table. For some reason I'm under the impression that Jim sold his workshop and inventory a while back, but I'm not certain about this. I remember when Jim started using walnut shells in his sound holes. Jim's wife is Brenda, but I don't know if she ever painted on any of their dulcimers.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

If you have nut files for the gauge strings you plan to use, they will work well. Not sure what you mean by guitar file. I've cut slots with a razor saw and widened them with a small triangular file. The photo reminds me of a dulcimer kit that was available around that time. I can't remember the name of the manufacturer of the kit.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

It's really looking good. Nice work.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I replaced a "bead" on a Sunhearth dulcimer I purchased. The original probably broke and was replaced with a black Lego brick. I cut a new one out of some scrap ebony I had. It matches the other three originals quite well. It is not round like a bead, but is more trapezoidal in shape. There is small hole drilled through it longitudinally for the string to pass through. This bead slides between the saddle and tail to adjust the tension on the string to sharpen or flatten it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Like the others here have said, I would enjoy seeing photos of before and after. I can't tell if your goal is to resell the dulcimer or keep it for your own playing. If your goal is to resell the instrument, it will no longer be an historically correct John Maxwell dulcimer and will not be attractive to any collectors, but as a refurbished instrument for modern playing styles it might be attractive to some players. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I am trying to understand your tuning. The melody string is tuned to F. The middle string is tuned to G, but is it higher or lower than the F. The bass string is tuned to B flat. Is this tuned lower than the F? I want to try tuning my dulcimer this way, but may need to change strings to do so.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I have never seen a dulcimer made by Jim Good with any painted designs on it. Are you sure this was  not done after the dulcimer was purchased? When you look at the dulcimers on Jim's website, there are no dulcimers with painted designs. He doesn't mention that on the website. If it were something he offered, you would think it would be on the website. I can't wait to see your purchase.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

You're welcome, John. I've seen a few Tignor dulcimers over the years. I, too, was struck by the narrow waist and wide lower bout as well as the depth and the large pegs.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Rod was a generous and caring person. He was always so helpful. I've missed him over the years. I can't believe it has been ten years.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

This website has a nice photo of a Tignor dulcimer from the tip of the peg head to the end of the tailpiece. A mountain dulcimer does not have a neck. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1970s-appalachian-mountain-dulcimer-1904007493

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Happy anniversary 1865! I'm sure it will continue to provide you with inspiration.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I have a question for you Nathina. Have you been to the Musical Instrument Museum? There is a nice display of dulcimers and their predecessors there. My wife and I visited there in 2018.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

By the 1980s most workshops at dulcimer festivals were in DAd. People looked at you like you were a lunatic if you tried to offer anything in DAA.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Nathina, I forgot to address your question about the 6.5 fret. There are some examples of it being used in the early part of the 20th century. On some of those, the 6 fret was absent. For the most part the 6.5 fret began to be included by modern builders by the mid-1970s. Some included it before that. It was also at that time the mountain dulcimer players began moving away from DAA to DAd. Before that they moved from CGG to DAA. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Lisa, I will try to put together a thread on my Thomas dulcimer #1465. I did not do the restoration myself. I had John Huron do it. I met John at Dulcimerville in 2011 (I think). John was teaching a dulcimer building workshop based on the Thomas pattern. I showed him the dulcimer and was thrilled that I asked him to restore it. John took many photos during the process and some video as well. At the time, I was still working full time and did not have the time to do the work. John and I consulted a few times by email and phone during the three years it took to do the restoration. Betty and I stopped in Bristol, TN where John lives and picked up the dulcimer on our way home from visiting our son in CA. I wrote an article about the restoration that appeared in Dulcimer Players News. I will have to look up what issue it is in.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The Maxwell dulcimers I've seen were solid wood.  Replacing the tuners might be a challenge depending upon the diameter of the tuners he made. You might have to plug and re-drill the holes. As to the 6.5 fret it depends upon the tuning the person wants to use. The 6.5 fret is not needed for a 1 - 5 - 5 tuning. If playing 1 - 3 - 8 the 6.5 fret is helpful as well as the octave, 13.5. When I replace those frets I measure the VSL and calculate the proper placement. I can't speak for others, but I don't mind you asking questions. Ask away.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

This one is also interesting. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John-maxwell-dulcimers-moa-tn1.jpg

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Here is a link to a thread here: https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/instruments-discuss-specific-features-luthiers-instrument-problems-questions/24674/john-maxwell-dulcimer

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Nathina, I've seen a few of his dulcimers over the years and may have played a tune or two on one. Here is link that shows what I believe to be typical of his instruments. https://revelsmusic.co.uk/dulcimers-for-sale/historicunusual-dulcimers/maxwell-teardrop/

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I don't think Sam ever sold any of his hammered dulcimers for that much. It is a beautiful instrument. Sam does excellent work. It would have to have a fantastic sound for me to pay that price. I buy and build dulcimers for their sound, not for ornamentation. Who knows, someone may bite on this.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for sharing this Robin.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Well, I don't know the full history of CapriTaurus, but I do know that Howard kept very good records on the production of FolkRoots dulcimers, so I would think he would have done that with CapriTaurus as well. There is nothing showing a serial number or date of manufacture. You could go to Howard's current website: https://dulcimuse.com/capritaurusdulcimers/ordering.html  and find his email address or phone number and ask him.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."