Location:
Location: NY
Country: USA
Country: USA
My Latest Followers:
Stats
Latest Activity
All
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on What's your favorite finish ?:
Posted a new Comment on What's your favorite finish ?:
"Ken Longfield:
I've made dulcimers and used lots of different finishes. I started out over 50 years ago using violin varnish. I used that on three or four..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on What's your favorite finish ?:
Posted a new Comment on What's your favorite finish ?:
"Dusty Turtle:
Ken (and everyone else), when you express your preferences, are you basing that on how it is to work with the product, how it looks on the..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 11
Created a new Group discussion "What's your favorite finish ?":
Created a new Group discussion "What's your favorite finish ?":
"Finishes are my latest concern and don't want to get into spray finishes if I can avoid it. The back and sides will be walnut with a Port Orford cedar top..."
Dulcimer Making
Dulcimer Making
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
"Your first paragraph is pretty much the conclusion I arrived at.
Your player's point of view is what I was noticing while listening many you tube videos..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
"Strumelia:
I've personally noticed that over the course of the past 25 years (no pun intended, lol) the doubled melody string has changed from been the..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
"Ken Longfield:
I think over the last few years I've built more 3 string dulcimers than 4 stringers. My Prichard reproductions and "modern" Prichards have all..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
Posted a new Comment on Three or Four Strings, that is the question:
"Nate:
Id say the most common is three courses with a pair of melody strings running in one course, for a total of 4 strings.
Having paired melody strings..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 9
Created a new Group discussion "Three or Four Strings, that is the question":
Created a new Group discussion "Three or Four Strings, that is the question":
"Just wondering if you build more three string dulcimers or more four string dulcimers. I notice many experienced players with three strings. Your thoughts?"
Dulcimer Making
Dulcimer Making
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"I ordered a few books on dulcimers and one is pictures of pre-revival dulcimers. Looking at these pictures and knowing a bit about old ways of working..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
Glad to hear it Jack. @dwain-wilder has tons of incredibly useful information for builders, and has helped me a lot over time. Truly an indispensable..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
Jack I was just remarking that if one were to use a yardstick that only has 16ths and a calculator that gives readings in 128ths, as Wally mentioned,..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Wally Venable:
Ooops. Wrong citation. Not Strothers.
You know there is YAFCalc?
Yet Another Fret Calculator..."
@jack-m
• one month ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
Of course, now youll be needing to convert 128ths into 16ths, which seems just as annoying
Yes, I'm amazed there isn't software that works for all..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 13
Posted a new Comment on Luthiers Mercantile:
Posted a new Comment on Luthiers Mercantile:
"Homer Ross:
Ken Longfield:
Well, it looks like we successfully hijacked this discussion to learn all about and praise Stew-Mac. The sad thing about the..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Skip:
@Jack=M
Here is one of the more detailed fret calculators. It's the one I use the most. You will need two layouts, one for each VSL...."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Wally Venable:
"Have you built baritone dulcimers? If so did you change anything to strengthen it for the higher string load? "
The Strothers String..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
Jack, for a 29" VSL dulcimer, the 1# or 1.5 fret should be 4.614" from the nut and the 6.5 fret should be 13.638" from the nut. The same..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Ken Longfield:
I seldom use the Stewmac fret calculator. I prefer the old WFret program which prints out a template. It is a Windows program and since I use..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate,
Using the Stewmac calculator got some numbers that don't seem right to me. 29" VSL 1# 3.164" and 6# 13.638" from nut. When I compared it to..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
For the sake of brevity, if it would help, you could tell me your string length (VSL) and I can tell you exactly where to put the 1# fret
Thanks..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Nate:
To clarify, because i think i phrased that poorly, if you use a fret calculator for any chromatic instrument other than a dulcimer, such as a mandolin..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Tuner help please:
Posted a new Comment on Tuner help please:
"These are expensive but really nice for ukulele.
Gotoh UPT Ukulele Planetary Tuners Black Finish with Black Oval Buttons | eBay"
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Wally Venable:
Use a calculator for any chromatic instrument, guitar or uke for instance, with the desired VSL. Then you will have to figure out the count..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Liked a group discussions item created by @jack-m: Fret Position
Liked a group discussions item created by @jack-m: Fret Position
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
Posted a new Comment on Fret Position:
"Thanks Nate,
I thought they would show those in a calculator but nooooo. I'll play with it tomorrow. I have the 6.5 position but after listening to some..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 37
Created a new Group discussion "Fret Position":
Created a new Group discussion "Fret Position":
"Using Stewmac's fret position calculator for dulcimer I don't see 1.5 and 6.5 frets listed. Are 1.5 and 6.5 frets literally halfway between their neighbors?..."
Dulcimer Making
Dulcimer Making
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"Ken Longfield:
Here a couple photos of the dulcimer I mentioned below. It is based on the dulcimers made by Charles N. Prichard in Huntington, WV. All the..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"I was wondering about flat sawn maple or butternut for the top. I can' find either of those in quartersawn
Today I drove a couple hours east to Amish..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"found this video which shows braces in a Kurt Simerman dulcimer being built Kurt Simerman: Dulcimer Maker
It doesn't show enough to determine exact..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"Sorry, I find this particular venue hard to follow at times. Titebond would be a lot easier!
John C. Knopf:
Jack, this is John, not Nate. I've built..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"Returned from my wood hunting trip. Managed to find about 12' of 8/4 X 6 quarter sawn walnut that is quite beautiful albeit pricey. The search for a..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"definition - "The mountain dulcimer is a fretted, zither-family folk instrument native to the Appalachian region of the United States, typically featuring a..."
@jack-m
• 2 months ago
• comments: 47
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
Posted a new Comment on Short fretboard dulcimer?:
"Nate, What glue do you use? I was going to use hide glue but if there is an easier to use glue that is reversable with heat I'd us it.
In ukuleles the..."
Latest Group Discussions
All
What's your favorite finish ?
Finishes are my latest concern and don't want to get into spray finishes...
@Jack M one month ago - Comments: 11
Three or Four Strings, that is the question
Just wondering if you build more three string dulcimers or more four...
@Jack M one month ago - Comments: 9
Fret Position
Using Stewmac's fret position calculator for dulcimer I don't see 1.5...
@Jack M 2 months ago - Comments: 37
Short fretboard dulcimer?
I'm new to dulcimers and am planning to build one. I have the Kimbell...
@Jack M 2 months ago - Comments: 47
Comments
09/07/25 01:42:50PM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:
Hi Jack, and welcome to the wonderful world of the Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's a good place to come, spend some time, learn about the dulcimer, and to meet some good people.
Ben
09/06/25 05:12:47PM @richard-streib:
Welcome Jack M. Glad you joined. There are a number of builders on this site. Post your question in the making dulcimers group for the best place to connect with builders. Best wishes on your dulcimer journey.
