I sent out an email tonight to a few folks who expressed interest in still getting together. If you want to be included, please let me know.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I could do Friday and Saturday. I have a reservation at the Quality Inn for Sunday night, but don't mind moving.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I have not received the official notice yet. While I am not out as much as you are Ken, I do have a non-refundable motel reservation in Berea for Sunday night. Is there a way a few of us who might be interested can meet, visit, and play together? It doesn't have to be in Hindman (not lodging there).
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Great John. I can't wait to see you again.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Richard, I find that "traditional" means different things to different people depending upon their knowledge of mountain dulcimer history. Many of the older instruction books used a 1 - 5 - 5 tuning and quite a few used CGG. In the area around Galax, VA a unison tuning was quite common and one could say traditional for that area. As Ralph Lee Smith says, when he asked an older Appalachian man how the dulcimer was tuned, the man replied you tune the thick string to a "good" note and the others in relation to it. I think that meant that the bass was tuned to a key to fit the player's voice and the drone and melody were tuned a fifth above that, but I didn't talk with the man. I think we should be less concerned about trying to emulate a "traditional" style and just play the way we enjoy playing.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song,"
I also made a contribution.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
For those going to Hindman next month, you might be interest to know that there was severe flooding around the settlement school. Here is a link Hindman Flooding with a couple of photos and a link to donate to recovery efforts if you so choose.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I never had a FOTMD button, but I think we will find each other. Let's try to remember to organize and take a group photo at least.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Richard, I had a small stand for two years at Hindman. I am not vending this year. I sold books and accessories rather than instruments. I think those who did bring instruments the first year found that there was not much of an interest in buying dulcimers by participants. Maybe this year will be different.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
It looks like a homemade instrument to me.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Nice work, Ken.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
You're welcome, Robin. I remember you being there. This will be my fourth. Haven't missed one yet.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks. Lisa. I found a few minutes to sit, so I worked on it. 
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I created an event notice for the Homecoming. Once Lisa approves it, it will appear in the Events listings. I supplied the date, place, and link to the Homecoming website. Let me know if you think there should be more there.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's a good question John. My guess is that none of the organizers are members here. If I had time I would do it, but I'm really busy tomorrow and heading out of town for a few days and will have spotty internet connections. Maybe I'll do it when I get home, if someone doesn't do it before me.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Richard, as fas I know, the workshop offerings have not been posted yet. I know a couple of people made the suggestion to Lorinda Jones that she offer such a workshop. There will be a few noter drone players there.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Yes, that is a bobbin. A spool of thread would have been put on that and then then run through the loom.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Your welcome, Don. I figured it was easier to post the link rather than try to summarize all the information here.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Here is a link to a discussion of this very topic at Everything Dulcimer:
http://everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33782&p=377292&hilit=Herdim#p377292
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Nice.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sorry to hear that the senior housing fell through. I'll miss you. I took care of my mother and father at different times. Cherish your time with them.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I just received information on registration for the 2018 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming. Here is the link: https://www.hindmansettlement.org/programs/cultural-heritage-programs/dulcimer-homecoming/ This is the first year that the homecoming will be under the direction of the Hindman Settlement School rather than the Appalachian Artisan Center. I am registered and look forward to seeing other mountain dulcimer enthusiasts there.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Nice, I'm partial to walnut instruments. Enjoy.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I would put some super glue in the crack and use a clamp to see if the crack closes up and glues together. Actually I'd try the clamp first and if the wood moved with the clamp then I would remove the clamp, put glue in the crack, and then clamp it. A little accelerator sprayed on the crack after it is glued and clamp will harden it up quickly.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Removing a fret is not as easy as it sounds. You need to be very careful. Frets have tangs which hold them in place and when the frets are pulled the tangs have a tendency to pull some of the wood out of the fret board. Once the fret is removed, you need to fill that empty space. There are special tools designed to pull frets with minimal damage. Various types of wood used for fret boards react differently to having frets pulled. If the builder of your dulcimer glued the frets in, you have another whole set of problems. I am not suggesting it can't be done, but it is not a job for the faint-of-heart.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Caleb, I do not use a heating blanket for bending the uke sides. It was just too much for me to invest in for this project. I steam the sides and then place them in the bender. I use a heat gun to heat the sides as I bend them. I make a sandwich of galvanized steel, wet paper towel, side, wet paper towel, and galvanized steel. The first bend went well. I'll see how the rest do; especially when I change from mahogany to rosewood.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Work on my 00 size guitar is stalled as my friend who is helping me with it is renovating his home. The renovation is taking most of his time, so we do not find time to get together. So I looked through my shop and discovered that I have lots of scraps waiting to be used on other projects. When my son was here from California in June, I asked him if he would be interested in a soprano size ukulele for himself and one for his son. He replied in the affirmative, so I decided to go ahead with the project. I am now making six ukuleles; three from mahogany and spruce and three from rosewood, spruce, and mahogany. I spent the last few weeks thickness sanding wood, making forms, and other prep work. Today I bent the first set of mahogany sides. I have one neck roughed out. Here are a couple of photos of the bending.
George, that is a very nice find. If you can close the crack by squeezing the sides, a little CA glue in the crack and clamp across the body should do the trick.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's an interesting story. I met Audrey's father, Albert Hash, when I interviewed for a position at their church. I never met Audrey. Her father made some really nice fiddles. My guess is that "Scottish" is a model name. It would be interesting to know how she arrived at that name. The Hashes, being of German descent (I think), probably would not have identified the dulcimer as a "Scottish" instrument.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Dana, sorry, I'm getting in to this discussion late. Dusty really covered everything in his posts. Here is the information on the Ginger from the McSpadden website: 4 String Ginger, Flat Peghead, Hourglass with Cherry top, back and sides. Comes with a padded Teal nylon case.
McSpadden Ginger Models are smaller dulcimers with a 23 3/16” fretboard that can provide a high (Key of G) clear voice similar to that of a mandolin. On request they can be set up in the Key of D to be used as a smaller standard dulcimer for players who have difficulty reaching positions on a standard size fretboard. The voice remains bright and clear whichever key is chosen. The standard setup is G-d-gg. Optional setups are G-d-dd, D-A-dd, and D-A-AA. Included are 6 ½ and 13 ½ frets, Teal nylon padded case, pick & noter and warranty. When set up in Key of D a beginner instruction book is provided and for Key of G setups an extra set of strings is substituted for the book. No case upgrade is available for the Ginger. Other options available include: Strap Buttons (Chrome, Black or Gold); Upgrade to Black or Gold Tuning Pegs; Squeakless Strings.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Sean, I have never used one except to contribute. A friend of mine is using Go-Fund-Me to raise money for his CD. Here is a link to his campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/normwilliams
He seems to be doing well with it. I am not sharing this to ask for contributions, only to help you to see how someone else is doing what you want to do.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Lois, here is a link to chord chart in DAA from EverythingDulcimer.com: http://everythingdulcimer.com/files/tab/chord_chart_daa_major.pdf
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Wonderful, Dana. Thanks for sharing that story.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Happy Anniversary to all whether you have been here all eight years or just joined. This is a great virtual community. Thank you Lisa and all the moderators who help keep this site moving forward.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
That's great! Enjoy the fame.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
This is the reply I received today.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Ken,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Dulcimer is an important of our business and your suggestions have been forwarded to our management team for consideration.
Regards,
David Legere
Mel Bay Publications
I did the same thing as Dusty, however I asked if they still had them in a digital format and if they would be willing to place them on another website if they were not going to be available at Mel Bay anymore. If I receive a reply, I will post it here as well.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
For a minute I thought you were talking about our bell choir rehearsal, but we did not have one last night. Glad that you are happy with the dulcimer.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
George quit making those when he stopped making dulcimers. At that point he moved over to building his dulciharps (autoharps) full time. Enjoy your limberjack.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
My guess is that they are completely gone now. For a while I was making hard copies of some of the articles. When I get home I'll look and see if I still have a file of them. Other than that, I can't help. If they are no longer available on the web, this is a great loss to the dulcimer community.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
