I am probably in the minority in that I consider all musical instruments to be its. No gender. I studied German in high school and college. I think there are other instruments using the feminine article, but I do not know what they are. It is just one of those recollections from many years ago.
Jan, I am coming in late to this discussion of your dulcimer, but if you want to know more about your particular instrument, Howard Rugg, over at www.EverythingDulcimer.com can tell you all about it. He and his brother along with Jackel made your dulcimer. I do not know if Howard is on here at FOTMD, but he does check in at ED occasionally. You might try asking about your dulcimer in the "History of Dulcimers and Songs" thread.
Ken
Rich, don't worry about wrong place. Perhaps one of the moderators will move it the right place. Since you live in Indiana why don't you drive over Folkcraft and try out a few dulcimers. If they don't have what you want in the showroom they can build a custom instrument for you. The VSL can be anywhere from 22 to 29 inches. I find little difference between my 25 inch scale and 27 inch scale dulcimers.
Ken
I have been a Folkcraft dealer for over ten years. I can tell you that a 25 percent discount would not leave me much of a profit. Perhaps if I sold a hundred of them a month I could do that, but I only sell around eight a year at the present rate. Of course I do not advertise nor do I do Internet sales. I do discount the dulcimers I sell. One of the reasons Folkcraft is behind on production is that almost all of the instruments being sold these days are custom instruments and not stock models. If I want to have stock models like the FSH series on hand, I have to special order it.
John, that's a neat case. Very handy (pardon the pun).
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Quinn, thanks for that link, but I think the one referred to as not working is the one in the original post. Kyle Daniel Mills posted a link to research paper he wrote on C.N. Prichard, but that link no longer works. Back in November I visited CN's grave and place one of the copies I made of his dulcimers on the stone and took a picture. It was a memorable moment.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Moonshine, if you can venture out of Minneapolis, you can try this store:
Hobgoblin Music
920 State Hwy 19
Red Wing MN 55066
It is also known as Stoney End.
Or try:
Musicmaker's Kits
14525 61st St. Ct. N
PO Box 2117
Stillwater, MN 55082
They may have some completed dulcimers for sale.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I passed on the audition when Folkcraft contacted me as I tried one out at the Indiana Dulcimer Festival and purchased it. I was favorably impressed. Because of the height of the fret board it is not really suitable for noter/drone style playing.
McSpadden dulcimers are made by a group of people. No one person makes the instrument from start to finish. The person who happens to attach the top to the back and sides is the one who signs the label. In all likelihood, every one in the shop had a hand in building each instrument that is made. Just and FYI.
That's wonderful news Lisa. Enjoy the rebec which it seems you are doing already.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I think Hank Levin now lives in California. He no longer makes mountain dulcimers. I have a web site somewhere for his current endeavors. If I can find it, I will post it here. I, too, have a MT dulcimer which is all cherry with the Grover tuners.
Ken
I found it. Here it is: http://www.musicaravan.com/home
