Forum Activity for @ken-longfield

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
04/12/23 11:12:50AM
1,166 posts

Connection Between Hammered and Mountain Dulcimers?


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

For anyone interested in learning about the hammered dulcimer, I recommend this book The Hammered Dulcimer A History by Paul M. Gifford which was published by Scarecrow Press. The book is no longer available new. When I looked for it in the used market, it is even more expensive that when I bought it new; $65 then and almost twice that now. In my opinion it is well worth the price to those who have a genuine interest in this instrument. If you just want to read it, see if your local library can get it for you.

On the "scheitholt" issue, I in addition to placing the blame on Praetorius, we can also place the blame of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC for displaying a zitter and calling it a scheitholt without extensively researching the history of the instrument and on Jean Ritchie for taking it at face value and repeating it in one of her books. The same instrument is still in the collection at the MMA, but is now called a zither.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
04/05/23 12:18:20PM
1,166 posts

2023 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming online link


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thank you, Robin.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
04/05/23 09:41:20AM
1,166 posts

2023 Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming online link


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for posting this Robin. I would have posted this information in Events, but with my wife's open heart surgery and difficult recovery I just haven't had the time to participate in our dulcimer forums as much I as I usually do. I'm waiting to see if she will be discharged from the hospital today and go to a rehab facility.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/15/23 06:19:37PM
1,166 posts

Gary Sager


OFF TOPIC discussions


It is with a sad heart that I share the news that Gary Sager of Prussia Valley dulcimers died this afternoon, March 15, 2023. Gary was an experienced dulcimer maker and an enthusiastic promoter of the mountain dulcimer. I first met Gary and Dave Lynch at the same time at a Harmony Harvest festival in Lancaster, OH. Gary was generous in sharing advice about building and playing dulcimers. He will be missed by all who knew him or shopped at the Prussia Valley Music Store or website.

My sympathy goes out to his wife, Toni, and the rest of Gary's family. 

Rest in peace Gary.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/15/23 05:16:53PM
1,166 posts

Dulcimer Players News demise


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

In my conversation with Ashley she indicated she would keep up the events calendar and maybe the club list, but I don't think she was interested in maintaining a digital newsletter. I guess if that is a need for the dulcimer community someone will develop it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/14/23 10:39:45PM
1,166 posts

Question about Blue Lion Instruments


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

After reading the story from Janita, I have a vague recollection of her telling me that story. It was at one of the Shenandoah University dulcimer weeks that Maddie Mac Neal and Ralph Lee Smith organized. We were sharing our backgrounds and I asked how a geology major got involved in dulcimers. I had forgotten all about that until Silverstrings posted Janita's response.

Ken

"The dulcimer sing a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/13/23 01:40:56PM
1,166 posts

Question about Blue Lion Instruments


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I have no idea, but I'm sure you could email Janita and ask her. Bob and Janita have building dulcimers since 1977. There must be a story behind the name.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/12/23 11:17:15AM
1,166 posts

Benefits of longer VSL?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Scale length is always a matter of personal preference. Three of my guitars have vsls of 25.5 inches and of course all those fret boards are chromatic. My banjos are 26.25 inch vsl. The length I prefer for the dulcimer at vsl of 27 although I have some shorter than that and longer than that. As to strings, I don't buy dulcimer string sets. I buy strings in bulk for the gauges I prefer, both ball and loop end strings. I also make custom strings from spools of piano wire. Prepackaged dulcimer strings are just plain steel strings and wound strings packaged for dulcimer builders (Folkcraft andMcSpadden, etc.) by string manufacturers who make strings for guitars, banjos, mandolins, balalaikas, hammered dulcimers, etc. So, I don't think there is really any benefit to a longer VSL. If you like the sound and feel of a longer VSL, go for it. If not, choose one that appeals to you.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/11/23 06:00:29PM
1,166 posts

Dave Lynch Harpmaker passing


OFF TOPIC discussions

Folkfan, you have my deepest sympathy. Dave was a friend to so many dulcimer players. His student dulcimer got so many folks started on our beloved instrument. His "travel" dulcimer was a unique innovation. He will be missed by so many people. I consider myself fortunate to have known him in this life.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/09/23 05:02:42PM
1,166 posts

John Crocker


OFF TOPIC discussions

That's good news Robin.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/09/23 09:42:43AM
1,166 posts

John Crocker


OFF TOPIC discussions


John's son Paul says that John is in hospital and is asking prayers for him at this time.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/08/23 11:30:29AM
1,166 posts

International Appalachian Dulcimer Day


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Wonderful video, alegre1. Thank you for creating and sharing it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
03/02/23 10:24:11AM
1,166 posts

Liquid Electrical Tape


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Thanks Wally. That's a good idea.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/27/23 09:10:03AM
1,166 posts

Strings turned iridescent?


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I think what you are seeing is the result of a chemical reaction either from the proximity of other metals as already noted or from the envelopes in which the strings were packaged. Did the envelopes have printing on them? Even if they didn't, there are chemicals used in creating the paper that could have leached on to the strings.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/20/23 12:35:03PM
1,166 posts

Tab for Georgia Buck


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Dusty, blame it on spell check. When I typed in "Cotten," spell check immediately changed it to "Cotton."

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/20/23 09:23:27AM
1,166 posts

Tab for Georgia Buck


Dulcimer Resources:TABS/Books/websites/DVDs

Thanks for the tab Dusty. And the link to Libba playing it. I'm trying to think of the first person I ever heard playing that song. It might have been Mike Seeger. I just can't remember.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/19/23 08:14:36AM
1,166 posts

Black Mountain Instruments Feb 2023


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I agree with both of you. Black Mountain Dulcimers has provided quality instruments and will continue to do so, just not on as a large a scale as in the past. Building custom instruments for individuals in different from making large quantities of the one design for wholesale purchase. I wish David the best as he transitions to building one dulcimer at a time.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/15/23 11:05:35AM
1,166 posts

Tom Strothers Passes


OFF TOPIC discussions


Thanks for posting this Ben. Probably should be a separate discussion. I enjoyed visiting with Jeremy at a few festivals. 

I couldn't find an obituary for Jeremy. Ben, do you have access to one?

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 02/15/23 11:15:54AM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/14/23 09:26:41AM
1,166 posts

Tom Strothers Passes


OFF TOPIC discussions

Very sad news indeed. Today is Missy's birthday. My sympathy goes out to Missy and the rest of the family.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/06/23 10:25:51AM
1,166 posts

Slots for frets loose


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

I'm glad you finished it and can enjoy playing it. Have fun.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/03/23 09:34:18PM
1,166 posts

Cardboard Dulcimer Recommendations


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

You might talk with Richard Ash at Folkcraft to see if he would make custom kits for you. Folkcraft does make a chromatic dulcimer kit, but all the kits are three stringed. So if you would want to experiment with 4 equidistant strings, he would need to provide different fret boards. Otherwise all your other requirements are possible with the two types of 3 string dulcimer kits from Folkcraft.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/03/23 02:59:36AM
1,166 posts

Slots for frets loose


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Using super glue makes the frets a little harder to remove if you ever need to do that, but not impossible. I've used super glue, the thin kind, after seating the fret and wicking a little under the fret. I haven't had one come loose yet. I do use it sparingly.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
02/01/23 05:34:06PM
1,166 posts

Dulcimer Players News demise


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


On Facebook today, 01 February 2023, Ashley Ernst announced that DPN will cease publication in 2024. She did not give a volume or issue number, but I suspect the last issue will be the first one that comes out in 2024. Again, that is just speculation on my part.

Having been a columnist and contributor to DPN over the years, I will miss the magazine. I understand why Ashley made this difficult decision. Many print publications are ending that aspect of life and shifting to electronic (online) editions. There was no mention of this as a possibility for DPN.

In the early days of DPN it seemed the "newsletter" worked to create a community of dulcimer enthusiasts. It helped people share ideas, arrange meetings (festivals), and find places to buy instruments. It also kept us posted on what we were all doing. While these things continued over the life of the magazine, over the last 10 or 15 years the emphasis seemed to shift to teaching techniques or songs. In a sense it became a quarterly lesson for mountain or hammered dulcimer. The connection of getting to know "dulcimer people" seemed to have been lost. We knew contributors were good players and provided excellent lessons without learning what brought them to play the dulcimer, desire to teach, etc. I know that much of that community building happens at festivals, but with so many festivals going virtual what we are experiencing is group video lessons and little real community (but that is a whole other discussion).

I offer my thanks to Ashley, Dan, Maddie, and Phil for their hard work and dedication to DPN and the dulcimer community it created. Without them who knows where we would all be. So to those five folks and all who contributed to the magazine over the years, "So long, and thanks for the all the fish."

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 02/01/23 05:36:29PM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/31/23 09:29:49PM
1,166 posts

Jethro Amburgey #110


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

What a great story and wonderful ending. Enjoy your granduncle's handiwork.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/31/23 10:41:50AM
1,166 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Dwain Wilder:

I always made those ebony fine tuners for Walt, and still do. Message me if you need them. I also make cases that fit Sunhearths, but the are expensive and hard to find materials for. None on hand.

This is good to know Dwain.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/30/23 10:44:39PM
1,166 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I don't know of any makers of the fine tuners on the Sunhearth dulcimers. Walt made those himself. One was missing on the Sunhearth I bought, but I had some little pieces of ebony so I made one for my dulcimer. If you send me a photo of the the fire tuners on your dulcimer and rough measurements, I can make one for you. Send me a private message here if interested. Click on @ken-longfield and then look for  send message on the left hand side of the screen

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 01/30/23 10:47:10PM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/30/23 07:58:32PM
1,166 posts

Introduce Yourself!


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

I think the original poster meant Cigar Box Guitar, CBG and just transposed the B and G. I'll be interest to see his new cigar box creation when he finishes it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/16/23 04:22:24PM
1,166 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

You're welcome.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/11/23 09:23:58AM
1,166 posts

A stolen Rolling Stones dulcimer


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Thanks for sharing this story. It certainly was interesting.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/08/23 01:52:21PM
1,166 posts

W. Martin Dulcimer History


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

If you send me a personal message and provide me with you email address I can send you two scans for articles about Walt Martin and Sunhearth dulcimers. Walt was quite a character. He could be very cordial and at other times acerbic. I met him at festival and talked with him for a bit mentioning that my in-laws lived near him. He invited me and wife to stop by to visit him and see his workshop. When we did, he wanted to know what the h*ll we were doing there. We did manage a brief but somewhat antagonistic (on his part) visit.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/06/23 11:45:41PM
1,166 posts

Sarah Kate on mountain dulcimer on a Hazel Dickens song


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

This is a beautiful rendition of that song. Thanks for sharing it.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/04/23 08:27:36PM
1,166 posts

International Appalachian Dulcimer Day


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

My bad. It is the last Saturday in March which is the 25th. Note; the 25th not the 28th. I will go back and edit my post.

Ken

The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/04/23 12:51:07PM
1,166 posts

International Appalachian Dulcimer Day


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions


Just giving everyone a heads up on IADD which will be on March 25th this year. It's not too early to begin planning both your music and fun for International Appalachian Dulcimer Day.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 01/04/23 08:28:06PM
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/04/23 12:41:19PM
1,166 posts

New Year's Resolution: "Help Somebody Today"


OFF TOPIC discussions

John, I look forward to your video. This is a new hymn to me. Thank you for sharing it.

Randy, it has always been my practice to hold the door for anyone following me in to a building. Unlike you Nebraskans, there are few people who say thanks. On our trip across country in October I can count on one hand the number of people who thanked me for holding the door open for them. That would be at truck stops, gas stations, rest areas, restaurants, motels, etc.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
01/01/23 02:58:48PM
1,166 posts

Rest in Peace, Gwen Caeli


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

Lisa, I don't know if that is the correct person. I did a search on her name an that is one of the options that came up for Spartanburg, SC. The photo looked like her likeness from her videos. I never met Gwen and only know her through the dulcimer videos.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
12/31/22 11:48:34PM
1,166 posts

Rest in Peace, Gwen Caeli


General mountain dulcimer or music discussions

There is a Gwen Caeli Mooneyham in LinkedIn. I don't know if that is the same person. There is information about her professional life.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
12/30/22 05:06:06PM
1,166 posts

Help! New (old) Dulcimer w/ loose tuner knob


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions

Well, Marlie, I don't have any pegs or screws in my spare parts box. I'm sorry I can't help you that way. Here is a link to new pegs like you have on your dulcimer: https://www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/ukulele-tuning-machines/grover-champion-dulcimeruke-friction-pegs/  You might be able to find the cheaper elsewhere by doing an internet search.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield
12/29/22 08:48:05PM
1,166 posts

Help! New (old) Dulcimer w/ loose tuner knob


Instruments- discuss specific features, luthiers, instrument problems & questions


Marlie, following up on John's post, are you able to turn the screw in the tuner that is giving you trouble? If so, tightening the screw will increase the tension on the tuner and prevent it from turning on its own when brought up to pitch (when the string is in tune). If you can't turn the screw you will need to find someone who can remove it for and then replace the tuner. The tuner appears to be one used on ukuleles. Dulcimer makers used both ukulele and banjo tuners. I will look in my spare tuner box the next time I'm in my workshop (tomorrow) and see if I have one that matches the one in the photo. If I have have one, I can send it to you and you or someone you know who is handy with a screw driver can put it on you dulcimer for you. No charge for the tuner or mailing it to you if I have one.

I could probably send you a screw from an old tuner too.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


updated by @ken-longfield: 12/29/22 08:51:40PM
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