My dream dulcimer would be the one that I build. I have all the wood, all the luthier tools and all the supplies, fret wire, machine tuners, etc. Have all the saws, drills, sanders and all the woodworking machinery and hand tools to make all types of instruments. When I do make it I’ll send a pic. or two. Steve
Glad to hear your eye surgery is behind you, Ken! 
Those are two really wonderful dulcimers you have there. 🙌🏼
Hi @jazzc... Had cataract surgery yesterday so i couldn't take any pix until today... Here are my two favorite Traditional dulcemores:
Uncle Ed Thomas replica Kentucky Hourglass by John Knopf on the bottom. Traditionally painted flat black.
Above is my Virginia style Hogfiddle by Bobby Ratliff
.
Both have the high-silvery sound of traditional dulcemores rather than the more mellow sound of modern dulcimers
Thanx John, Fixed it. y new eye isn't quite up to par yet... another few days before the swelling goes down.
It's t'other way around, Ken! VA at the top, KY at the bottom. That Ed Thomas sure is a beauty!
Hi @jazzc... Had cataract surgery yesterday so i couldn't take any pix until today... Here are my two favorite Traditional dulcemores:
Uncle Ed Thomas replica Kentucky Hourglass by John Knopf on the bottom. Traditionally painted flat black.
Above is my Virginia style Hogfiddle by Bobby Ratliff
.
Both have the high-silvery sound of traditional dulcemores rather than the more mellow sound of modern dulcimers
Either my Uncle Ed Thomas traditional dulcemore replica by John Knopf; or my traditional Virginia style Hogfiddle by Bobby Ratliff, Both with staple frets under the melody string and plain (no 6+) diatonic fret layout.
If I had to pick just one, it would be my Folkcraft Custom with a butternut top and walnut back and sides. It has the fret layout I love, a 27" vsl, and a Fishman Prefix Pro Blend pickup with a built in preamp. It has other custom features like the dolphin sound holes and a maple dolphin inlay at the 5th fret and a galax back. It's everything I would ever want and has a beautiful tone.
Either my Uncle Ed Thomas traditional dulcemore replica by John Knopf; or my traditional Virginia style Hogfiddle by Bobby Ratliff, Both with staple frets under the melody string and plain (no 6+) diatonic fret layout.
If I had to pick just one, it would be my Folkcraft Custom with a butternut top and walnut back and sides. It has the fret layout I love, a 27" vsl, and a Fishman Prefix Pro Blend pickup with a built in preamp. It has other custom features like the dolphin sound holes and a maple dolphin inlay at the 5th fret and a galax back. It's everything I would ever want and has a beautiful tone.
I already own my dream dulcimer which is a Blue Lion Acoustic Jam dulcimer. Like Robin’s dulcimer, it is made with a western red cedar soundboard and walnut back and sides. The VSL is 26.25.” I play mostly fingerpicking chord style. The Blue Lion dulcimer is great for that. I guess having some beautiful inlay work would make it even more dreamy. Since acquiring the Blue Lion AJ dulcimer, my playing has greatly improved.
I looked up the dulcimer you have. Beautiful instrument. So glad to hear your playing improved so much since you acquired it.
I already own my dream dulcimer which is a Blue Lion Acoustic Jam dulcimer. Like Robin’s dulcimer, it is made with a western red cedar soundboard and walnut back and sides. The VSL is 26.25.” I play mostly fingerpicking chord style. The Blue Lion dulcimer is great for that. I guess having some beautiful inlay work would make it even more dreamy. Since acquiring the Blue Lion AJ dulcimer, my playing has greatly improved.
I'm fortunate to own a dream dulcimer, a Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model instrument. Top is Western Red Cedar, sides & back are Walnut. I can't tell you the VSL off the top of my head-- I only play with a noter so VSL isn't much of a factor.
Tough question. If I could have just one, today, I think it would be a 1917 RT model, a replication of an older Thomas made for Bailis Ritchie in all walnut built by Dan Cox. Maybe tomorrow it would be something else.
What type of music do you play now and/or wish to learn in the future?
What type of music do you play now and/or wish to learn in the future?
