The T-shirts are nice.

I have mine now to try out, it's a nice little dulcimer, and I've had fun with it. I too will be sending it back, as we are saving up for new living room furniture. But I will be sure to give them my size for the free
Tshirt!
Susie said:

Agreed. They do a great job of taking care of folks.

Susie said:

I didn't realize they were doing it either, until I got the instrument, and the instructions letter said that they were doing T's as a "thank you". I'll take it....it's a nice thing to do on their part.

John Keane said:

I did a trial run on one of these; the tone was quite good, but I felt the fretboard was too thin and transmitted too much sound from fingering into the soundboard. Still, it's a fun design, and would certainly be enjoyable as a travel instrument.

I'm workin' on it!

John Henry said:

Tut tut ! With your wardrobe in it's current state !! C'mon JK !!!

Anon

So...I guess you realize that I didn't know that I was passing on a free shirt...

Susie said:

I played one at Dulcimerville in June, so I passed on the test trial. I was very impressed with the sound from such a small instrument.

That is nice, Susie. Iwas on that audition list, too, but basically gave up ever hearing from Richard. As it turned out,I obtained one anyway, but was obliged to sell it to pay for another (much more expensive) dulcimer. My ad with video demonstration is still available in the For Sale Forum for anyone interested.

As Ken has pointed out, the shallow fretboard does not allow it tobe played noter/drone style. I also found the stringsa bit loose andwould suggest different gauge strings. But other than that, the instrument is very well made, has excellent intonation, and especially for its size, has a really nice tone, one that seems to get better as thesebrand new instruments mellow a bit.

Susie said:

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.

Awesome!

Susie said:

Surprise, surprise......I got notified by Folkcraft and got the FolkRoots Travel dulcimer on Friday to try out for a few days. My sister also got one. I'll be giving them my feedback...mostly good, but a couple suggestions. Nice that Richard followed through with the auditions. Neat little dulcimer...nicely made. I'll be sending it back, though, because I have another dulcimer on order.

I wondered the same thing, Dusty. Oh well, if they still want to send me one, I'd love to try before I buy, if I end up liking it. Sounds like that's still Richard's intention. Maybe they feel they owe it to those of us who signed up. Richard took a couple to a show/festival in Feb. and had good response. He sold those too.

Dusty Turtle said:

I stopped waiting. I just figure maybe someday I'll hear from Richard that they're ready. But until then, I'm not holding my breath. I also thought we were supposed to be the beta testers before they sold the model, but they're already selling the model! I don't really understand why they need testers anymore.

Absolutely...the more the merrier!

I talked to Richard about a week ago and heard the same thing, John. However, I've been hearing that they are "almost ready" for a few months now. I know they are really busy at Folkcraft, and regular orders take precedent. I'm with the rest of you....I'm really anxious to try the new dulcimer out, but I've kind of tried to crank up my "patience" meter a bit. They've been selling them too, which I'm sure is having an effect on the number of dulcimers that they can get ready to send out to us. My music store has 2 on order. So, maybe I'll end up trying one at the store before I get one sent to my house. I'm glad that Folkcraft is real busy, though...shows business is going well for them.

Yeah... December to March without a word is kinda hinky. Frankly I thought a December field test wasn't the best idea. It should have been ready to sell by November 1st or held back until spring for Festival season. So that appears to be what they're doing.

Oh...you are quite welcome. I was afraid that folks had kinda given up on the things.

Talked to Richard tonight...it shouldn't be long now.

Frets...I ain't heard nuthin'.

So, has anyone out there in FOTMD-land purchased one of these little guys yet? Any feedback for those of us who are anxiously waiting to try one out?

That is certainly understandable. When I initially read about the project, I thought that the time line was a tad optimistic lol. I reckon it'll happen when it happens.

Last I heard, they were trying to fill orders for "regular" dulcimers. I talked to Richard, and he said that they've been swamped, and these orders take priority (understandably). They get to the travel dulcimers when they get the time. It also sounds like they will have a group of "trial" dulcimers that they'll send out, then get back, then send out again to the next group of auditioners. So, I kind of got the impression and there will be waves of trials, instead of a one-to-one ratio of trial instruments to auditioners. I'm just saying what I've heard, and its not necessarily gospel. I'm anxious to try it out, maybe early next year we'll get that chance.

It's just been mighty quiet, so I was wondering.

I have heard nothing recently, but I do know there were some delays as they changed the bracing on the instrument.

nope...

Okay...has anyone heard anything???

Ben is actually a member here at FOTMD...that's a big ol' sound for a little dulcimer!

frets4fun said:

Lemme see if I can get an image on here for you...

Geekling said:

Wow...I feel like that guy in the commercial ("Everyone's outside Mike's office eating tacos...I like tacos" lol). I had no idea. Well...ya learn somethin' new every single day. A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well!

Geekling said:

Cool! I can't believe you haven't checked out the Bigfoot stuff mentioned earlier in the thread! I can't wait to hear what y'all think of this little dulcimer!

Geekling said:

Ken,

After seeing your reply, and that you are #59 on their list, I got real curious as to where I am on "the list". I just talked to Richard and I'm #27. Sounds like they are just so swamped with orders, they've gotten behind on this travel dulcimer project. But, that's a good thing for them.

Thanks Ken. That helps alot!

Ken Hulme said:

Frets4Fun -- it's Real Soon Now! Expect yours when you get an email from Folkcraft and the FedX guy shows up at your door.

Last I heard from Richard they were still finishing the instruments and in fact had to make a second batch of trial instruments. Some of those testing the 1+/8+ fret versions will have to wait longer -- for the second batch. Those testing the modern 6+/13+ versions may get theirs sooner as there are fewer of us and they have enough instruments in the pipeline. On Nov 15th he told me "mid-to-late December". I am #59 on the list of testers. He also said:

" I'll email once an instrument is ready for you (it seems that most folks are taking the instrument with

the 1 1/2 and 8 1/2, so yours might be sooner rather than later - we made up a number of each,

but demand is higher than anticipated for the current "modern" extra frets

(as opposed to the 20-30 years less-modern extra frets of 6 1/2 and 13 1/2)."

It's the part where dulcimers and Bigfoot must be linked somehow that I found so amusing, I know you're not making this up.

John Keane said:

So, has anyone got the "official" word of when we'll be contacted and the dulcimers will get sent out to us? I'm reading conflicting claims (mid-Dec., end of Dec., etc.). Just curious.

Yep...they just kinda let the dulcimers become the background music for a time.

Dana R. McCall said:

That was cute. Thanks for posting. I heard a little Ole Joe Clark

Okay...here's a link to a video from our local news. This played last month. Dulcimers, Bigfoot, AND a wedding!

http://www.stormtracker12.org/story/15666224/big-foot-love-birds-tie-knot?clienttype=printable

Well...I wish I could take credit, but I ain't makin' this up!

Beth Hansen-Buth said:

So funny John, so funny.

John Keane said:

Awesome! Well, it seems there are a few of us around here. On a related matter (since this thing is based on the old Folkroots design), Michael Rugg (yes, THAT Michael Rugg) was featured along with his BIGFOOT MUSEUM (in Fenton, CA) on a show that I recently caught in passing (while channel surfing). It seems he may actually have a Sasquatch tooth in his possession (according to the show, tests are going on as we speak). I had NO IDEA he was a Bigfoot guy, but the interview was pretty cool. His place is called "The CapriTaurus Bigfoot Discovery Museum", and admission is free. Talk about a potentially neat place to visit if ever in that area! I knew Bigfoot and dulcimers had to be linked somehow.

Erin said:

Oh you lucky people! I'm looking forward to hearing what you all think of the new travel model. I love my Folkcraft FSH, and someday I will get a sister or brother for her.

It was largely a blast! I highly recommend it!

frets4fun said:

I sure would like to visit Dulcimerville one of these years. What did you think of it?

John Keane said:

Sounds like a plan. I really liked the Folkcraft instruments that I tried at Dulcimerville last summer, so I'm looking very forward to this!

frets4fun said:

John, maybe those of us here can compare notes on this forum. This summer I purchased a FolkRoots butternut/walnut dulcimer and absolutely love it. I'm really enjoying the 1+ fret. The folks at Folkcraftdo great work. Should be fun.

Erin, that's great. Which version will you be trying?

Frets, we'll need to compare notes. I can't wait to see how they've turned out.

I signed up to audition one of these Folkroots Travel Dulcimer reissues. I'll probably go with the standard-plus with the 1+ and 8+ frets. I'm really excited to see it and try it out, but it's beena longer wait than expected. From the ED website, sounds like there were several reasons for the delay.

Awesome Ken! Richard told me to expect one around the end of December. I'm testing one with the added 1+/8+ frets.

Ayup; I'll be field testing one of the 6+/13+ frets instruments, and so will be getting mine Real Soon Now. Apparently a large number of folks want to try the 1+/8+ and other closer to chromatic additional fret setups; and because Folkcraft made a limited number of each kind, those testers may have to wait for the second batch of test instruments to be finished. Richard is very interested in my N&D opinion as apparently the fretboard is very shallow...

Just curious if any of our FOTMD crew signed-up to test drive one of these. I know there were some delays, but I understand they'll be shipping soon. The design (based on the old Folkroots model) is intriguing...simple in appearance, but it looks like it's designed for a big sound in a small package.