So this koa folkroots. I have given it a name. Jimmy Earl, ala James Earl Jones, "Luke I am your Father". The deep, rich voice this dulcimer has blows me away BUT...that longer vsl, I just can't do it. It will go the way of my last two mcspaddens and I will be sticking to the shorter 25-26" vsl. But seriously folks...how did Howard get such a boomy voice outta these things. Nothing comes close.
That's a funny name! I prefer the 25" - 26" scale for whatever style I play.
Dana, the longer VSL should not be a problem if you play in a drone style. Consider using this dulcimer (and others with VSLs too long for comfortable chording) specifically for tunes played on the melody string with the drones . . . uh . . . droning.
So this koa folkroots. I have given it a name. Jimmy Earl, ala James Earl Jones, "Luke I am your Father". The deep, rich voice this dulcimer has blows me away BUT...that longer vsl, I just can't do it. It will go the way of my last two mcspaddens and I will be sticking to the shorter 25-26" vsl. But seriously folks...how did Howard get such a boomy voice outta these things. Nothing comes close.
Haha, Steven, it's like the Incredible Mr. Limpet had a dulcimer baby. 
Nice find, Dana! Funny, I thought I heard some dulcimer playing in the distance...
Steven
Haha, Brian, I actually played Nut Factory Shuffle yesterday and it was so loud, I'm pretty certain the birds flew off the trees. He gets such good volume with that deep body!
Haha, wouldn't that be the bees' knees! The problem is though....I got this dulcimer to give to a young friend who visits once a year from the UK. She sat and played my dulcimers for two weeks last year (having never played before) and I wanted to surprise her with her very own, in a hard case for the travel back.
I wasn't expecting this one to be...Koa. And so amazing, haha! Folk Roots have the richest, buttery smooth and yet loud voice of all my dulcimers so I might need to keep looking for Lianne. :)
Wow! Lucky you. What a great find! Capritaurus and FolkRoots dulcimers pop up every so often, especially here in California, but I've never seen one made of koa. I know Neal Hellman and Michael Rugg used to work the Ren Fairs on a regular basis. They would play all day hoping to entice people to buy a dulcimer. Neal repeatedly mentions how good his playing got when you played all day. Kind of makes sense, huh? Maybe that's the secret. I just need to find a job that pays me to play the dulcimer.
just beautiful.
How exciting! Thank you for finding that out. I found Howard's response on E.D. and I'm very excited to know this!
WOW! That is great.
Well, I was wrong about the back and sides. Howard tells us that it is koa. What a great find.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I'm looking forward to hearing from Howard in this. I also posted in Everything Dulcimer and sent an email. I changed out the strings just now, played a tune and woke up every single solitary person taking an afternoon nap between here and the Mississippi. This thing has a VOICE, Lord help mercy! I love it, ha!!
Howard can give you the full details on your instrument, but since the label says "Rugg & Jackel" that would mean it was made during or after 1976. Before then it would have been "Rugg, Rugg and Jackel." The D200 is the model number with the "S" signifying a spruce top. The back and sides appear to be mahogany. I can't tell if they were still using a laminated wood at this point. I'm sure if Howard see this, he will offer the definitive answer. Hope this helps.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
So I bought a brand new (yet old) FolkRoots dulcimer from a fellow in CA. He bought it at a renaissance fair..he thinks back in the 80s. The gal he bought it for never played it. So basically it's brand spankin new. I got it today and it's gorgeous. The case is mint and it looks like Howard just handed it over this morning.
With that said, I want to learn a bit more. The inside label says Rugg & Jackel Folk Roots dulcimers D200 S 170 Nothing is kerfed on the inside. The top is light and the back darker and the fretboard looks to be walnut or mahogany with the little pick marks both woods have. Any info would be appreciated!
