Forum Activity for @ken-longfield

I play N/D and flat picking. I like both styles. I don't do fingerpicking very often, but I have done it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

On my Folkcraft I have 0.011s on my melody strings. I have no problem playing in Cgg with this configuration. The Folkcraft has a 27 inch VSL.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Glad to hear you are making progress on getting your dulcimer repaired.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings sweet song."

 The simple answer is yes. I don't know how close you are to Chicago, but if you are near there, you could call the Old Town School of Folk Music and ask who in your area could do a repair for you.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

That's the next phase of litigation. We will see what the judge decides.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks, Kevin. Saved me a trip to the cellar.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Really good job there, Patty. Looks professional. I'm sure your neighbor will enjoy using it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for the clarification. On the CN Prichard reproduction dulcimers that Kevin Messenger and I build, the bass string is an unwound string. I need to check what gauge that is. Like KenH said on the tuning: "Sure. Why not."

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

The strings gauges used on the Sweet Woods instruments are for playing in DAdd. There is no reason they can't be used for C - G - C, but will be at lower tension when tuned to pitch. The "ideal" string for the "C" bass would be a 0.023. Wound strings have an inner core that is a smaller gauge. If you tried to tune up a 0.023 to the C bellow middle C you might break it. In the usual DAd tuning the Ds are an octave apart. The high d being a note above middle C and the low D below middle C. Do you want to go an octave below that?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Well, how about that! Happy Birthday everyone!!

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Joe, I suggest that you stop by the Old Town School of Folk Music. If they don't have books you want, they can probably tell you where to find them in the Chicago area. Here is the website: https://www.oldtownschool.org . Hope this helps.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Oh, no problem, Sheryl. We don't learn if we don't ask questions. DPN is Dulcimer Players News, a quarterly journal for both mountain and hammered dulcimer players. http://www.dpnews.com

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sheryl, I will eventually share the information I collected including the pictures. Right now I am working with this information and with Ralph Lee Smith on an article for DPN.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thank you, Sheryl. Recently I was able to examine the instruments (PA German zithers) in the collection of the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum that are pictured in L. Allen Smith's "A Catalogue of Pre-Revival Appalachian Dulcimers." Unfortunately none of zithers are on public display. While doing so I found that there is another one in the collection that Allen did not examine. Perhaps it was not there when he visited. I also examined that one taking photos, measuring, and tracing it. These are very interesting instruments.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Wonderful!

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks for sharing that information. I haven't liked the slot head screws either. I will have to try this on one of my dulcimers that still has the Champions on it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sheryl, you're welcome. Here ia a fake book that I use occasionally, but like. http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Fake-Book-Instruments/dp/0793529395  I use it occasionally because I don't own it, but my son does. So when I visit him in California I dig it out and play some tunes. If you like fiddle tunes, the Fiddlers' Fake Book is excellent. Many of those songs need to be transposed. Many fiddle tunes are in "A" but quite a few are in "D." Again, I don't own, but my son does. You can get fake books for many genres of music.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

A fake book usually contains the words to a song and a simple melody accompaniment. Chords may be inserted above the music staff as names "E," "A," "D," etc. It is up to you to figure out any chordal or harmony accompaniment. In other words, it gives you the bones to the song and it is up to you to put flesh on them. I like fake books in the key of C because they easily can be played in DAA.

Ken

"The dulcmer sings a sweet song."

That's great Lisa. Keep up the good work.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks Jim. I appreciate you comment.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I'm coming in to this discussion a little late. I have a MacBookPro and use GarageBand to do audio recordings with the built-in microphone. In GB I choose the acoustic guitar setting and then adjust it by turning down the treble setting and turning up the bass setting. If you listen to the second scheitholt podcast at dulcimuse.com, I recorded the piece I played on my Mac.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Sheryl, if you need a red herdim, let me know. I've been selling out my inventory and I think I still have some red ones left. They are a dollar each.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Aw, Lisa, now you've gone and made me want to dig out my bones and give it a try again. I have one set made of walnut and another set, I think, of cherry. Glad you are trying the bones again.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.

Marg, I was only trying to clarify something. The washers that John talks about go between the wood and the metal parts of the tuner. What I think you are referring to is a small washer that goes between the head of the screw and the top of the button. I think you might have a difficult time finding a washer that small. If you can't find any let me know. I might have some in my spare parts box.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Marg, are you talking about a small washer between the hole in the tuner's button and the screw? It would fit in the small indentation just under the head of the screw?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Those look like Grover Champion Ukelele pegs.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

John covered it well. Often when going from violin pegs to planetary pegs the holes need to be enlarged. That's happens going to Sta-Tites or Grover Champions, both of which are mechanical friction pegs.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Randy, thanks for the Robert Force video. Cornwall is a nice piece.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Bob, thanks for sharing Randy's video. It addresses this question well.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Playing guitar, banjo, and (occasionally) mandolin besides my dulcimers, I am always dealing with different size (length) fret boards. It's never been a problem.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

I'll second or third (whatever) the recommendation of the stands from the Dulcimer Bag Lady. It is the sturdiest dulcimer stand I have ever seen. My understanding is that they are still being made by Doug's son and are available. If you have a large do, it is not a good idea to store your dulcimer where the dog's tail can hit the stand. I have repaired several dulcimers which were knocked off stands by a dog's tail. Dulcimers on stands also should be kept out the reach of small children. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

A little shameless self-promotion here, but I want to let everyone know that Patricia and Wayne have the latest episode posted.

http://dulcimuse.com/podcast/resource/003.html

Enjoy it folks.

Ken

"The dulcimer plays a sweet song."

It looks like a relatively simple repair to me. Certainly worth it if the price stays low, although at the moment it is just under $100 with the shipping.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Here is a link to Clifford's obituary for anyone insterested: http://www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com/obituary.php?name=1483

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

At McSpadden I bought a couple of books, picks and noters, no dulcimer, but I had just built my first dulcimer.

 I have several Snarks but I don't use them heavily. Snarks are prone to breaking at the pivot point which is the weakest place. Although they cost a little more, my favorite clip on tuner is the Intellitouch PT-10. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PT10C I use it on my dulcimers, banjos, and guitars.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

You're welcome, Jimmy.

Hello Jimmy. We visited McSpadden and the Ozark Folk Center in 1974. My wife and I camped at Blanchard Springs Campground. We visited with Lynn McSpadden and also took in an evening concert at the Folk Center. I remember Jimmy Driftwood as part of the concert and some other folks from Mt. View. I'm not sure, but I think Elliot Hancock played the dulcimer during the concert. Most of the photos from that trip are on paper and I haven't scanned them in the computer. I do have these two photos of the Dulcimer Shoppe.

The date of Clifford's death is July 18, 2015 in case anyone is interested.

I just read at Banjo Hangout that dulcimer and banjo maker, Clifford Glenn, has died. He was 79 years old and has been in failing health. I have not been able to indepently verify this at the present time. Just want to let folks know. Clifford's family and friends are in my prayers. 

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."