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Location: Westland, MI
Country: US

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Latest Activity

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@john-c-knopf • yesterday • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on A new Tennessee music box that looks OLD...:

"Thanks, Irene! The new owner is impressed by the big sound from such an "unorthodox" instrument. The top and bottom are nearly 3/8" thick, and the sides..."

@john-c-knopf • yesterday • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on A new Tennessee music box that looks OLD...:

"Robin, you would need to either 1) play the music box, or 2) play checkers. I don't know if it's possible to do both at the same time. Dropped checkers..."

@john-c-knopf • 4 days ago • comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on Your favourite or preferred shape to build / play:

"Cheap cardboard student dulcimers make a SURPRISINGLY WONDERFUL sound. I almost couldn't believe it when I heard one for the first time."

@john-c-knopf • 4 days ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Tips for using loop end strings on a build?:

"Square-cut nails or the aforementioned dowel, which was usually referred to as a tailpin. Some dulcimer builders used screws instead. You can buy a 1/4"..."

@john-c-knopf • 5 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Moving to Southern Virginia":

"Bob, I've been thinking in that direction myself, lately. Looks like a wonderful area of the country, with nice folks who actually know what a dulcimer is!"

@john-c-knopf • 6 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Humbucker stye pickup...?:

"FYI, CBGitty sells 3-pole and 4-pole humbuckers now on their website. But like Ken says, they wouldn't be necessary. Unless you're trying to make a..."

@john-c-knopf • 6 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Humbucker stye pickup...?:

"I have installed humbuckers on an electric dulcimer I built years ago. They were standard guitar pickups with 2 sets of 6 pole pieces on each one. The..."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Anyone heard of "B.F.M. Music" stick dulcimer?":

"Do you have any photos to help us? "

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on Your favourite or preferred shape to build / play:

"Well, Tatts, I prefer to build simpler shapes, as they're less trouble to get the overall shape right. The easiest would be the Tennessee music box, because..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on A new Tennessee music box that looks OLD...:

"Dan: Your tin work looks great! Thanks, Dan!"

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
A new Tennessee music box that looks OLD...

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Created a new forum topic "Do not adjust your set!":

"See something a little different here? I've noticed that when I play the scale, I get "od-it-al-los-af-im-er-od..." Oh-- everything's BACKWARDS. This is a..."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "What In The World Is This?":

"Looks almost like a DSO to me."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on 1976 Hamer:

"Apparently he was/is fond of acorns and oaks.... was he possibly a squirrel? If so, he makes a dang pretty dulcimer if I do say so meself!"

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on A new Scheitholt:

"Glorious work, Bob."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Removing a fretboard":

"Ken's right-- I'll sometimes use a Harbor Freight Tools heat gun to soften some Titebond glue enough to reposition something. It works quite well."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Walnut Thomas with possum board":

"UPDATE: He just received it a couple hours ago, and he loves it! Sentiments to brighten a poor luthier's heart!"

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Removing a fretboard":

"Molly, I can't see what you're dealing with, but in most cases you should be able to surface the topside of the fretboard level, then either refinish it and..."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Walnut Thomas with possum board":

"Thank you all for the comments. The new owner should have it in a couple of days now."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on Tuning peg knobs:

"You're a braver man than I am, Ken!"

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Created a new forum topic "Walnut Thomas with possum board":

"Just completed, another walnut Thomas dulcimore with a matching possum board."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 19
Posted a new Comment on Questions about buying a dulcimer.:

"That depends on how you will be playing the dulcimer. If you play in a modern style, it might be useful. I've never used (or liked) the 1-1/2 fret."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Looking for help with a Hughes kit:

"You may want to use these materials to make a dulcimer of your own design, since you don't have the original instructions. No doubt you could improve on..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer #2:

"Beautiful work! I was unaware that The Dulcimer Shoppe used bookmatched walnut for the backs in their kits. That's usually pretty expensive to do. It..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Tailpiece help please":

"James, That looks like a mandolin tailpiece to me. If so, the pointed decorative end should lift up to reveal the string ends. In other words, there..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Burnsville Holly Leaf:

"Nice one, Ken!"

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 13
Posted a new Comment on What do you want in a box dulcimer?:

"Lisa, I try to sell any box dulcimer in my shop! So far I've limited myself to historic reproductions of old Tennessee music boxes (sometimes known as..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Air dried vs. kiln dried woods:

"Just make sure the moisture content is about 6% - 8%, and that it's relatively free of defects. Cut the wood close to the final thickness desired, then let..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Air dried vs. kiln dried woods:

"Air-dried takes longer... No, seriously, I use both kinds for my building and haven't had problems with either one."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on Appflutes Dulcimers:

"Stunning, Jack! Nice wood combinations."

@john-c-knopf • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Dulcimer Queries":

"Howie Mitchell's "floating bridge" design has been largely discredited. This design tends to allow the bridge end of the fretboard to bow up. Some folks..."

@john-c-knopf • 3 months ago

@john-c-knopf is now following @ken-longfield

@john-c-knopf • 3 months ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on Basswood as a tone wood?:

"Yep, basswood is really soft and easy to dent. It's a favorite wood for carvers. Very lightweight, too. If you don't mind the fragility of the surface,..."

Latest Group Discussions

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Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here

Here is my fifth (and last?) Dulcimaster electric dulcimer, which will...
@John C. Knopf 9 months ago - Comments: 11

"Glory" in all her glory

Now heading for Durango is "Glory", a Melton-style Galax dulcimer made...
@John C. Knopf last year - Comments: 10

Melton Galax just finished!

Here's the latest cherry, spruce and maple Melton Galax dulcimer from my...
@John C. Knopf last year - Comments: 11

Just finished-- another Thomas!

Just now completed another J. E. Thomas dulcimer in poplar for a...
@John C. Knopf last year - Comments: 11

On the Workbench

My latest creation is nearly finished. Bird's eye maple throughout.
@John C. Knopf 2 years ago - Comments: 8

On the Workbench

My latest creation is nearly finished. Bird's eye maple throughout.
@John C. Knopf 2 years ago - Comments: 0

Another cherry and maple solid-body electric

My newest Dulcimaster is solid cherry and hard maple, with...
@John C. Knopf 3 years ago - Comments: 3

"Cat and Mouse" walnut dulcimer reproduction

@John C. Knopf 3 years ago - Comments: 12

All-Walnut Thomas Hourglass

Here is my latest dulcimer, finished just minutes ago. Its name is...
@John C. Knopf 3 years ago - Comments: 10

New Chromatic Walnut Hourglass

Here's the latest from my shop. My first chromatic (and last?).
@John C. Knopf 4 years ago - Comments: 4

Siegrist Dulcimer on ShopGoodwill

There's a Siegrist mechanical dulcimer being auctioned now!...
@John C. Knopf 4 years ago - Comments: 0

First Singleton build

Here are some peeks at my "Uncle Will" Singleton replica now underway....
@John C. Knopf 4 years ago - Comments: 6

A problem with my special project

Hi all. I made a special cane for somebody, and I'm having trouble with...
@John C. Knopf 4 years ago - Comments: 15

Making a Davis kit dulcimer playable

Well, it seems a lady nearby has a Davis dulcimer she built from a kit...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 14

What Does Your Spouse Think?

I've been wondering for some time what our luthier's lives are like at...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 13

Here's a Delight!

I finished this Thomas hourglass dulcimer replica just this afternoon,...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 11

"Middletown dulcimer" sneak preview!

This is what I'm working on now in my shop. If you look at Anne Grimes'...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 16

I need some advice re: shellac drips

I'm hand-brushing shellac (premixed, from a can) onto my new walnut...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 15

Electric Hybrid TMB

I just finished a hybrid Tennessee music box for one of our members...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 16

"Heritage" is finished!

I just finished building my all-wormy-chestnut dulcimer, and have named...
@John C. Knopf 5 years ago - Comments: 10

Latest Audio

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Latest Videos

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John & "Uncle Eddie" 11/20/13

@John C. Knopf
4 years ago - Comments: 8

Latest Photos

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Latest Forum Discussions

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Do not adjust your set!

Posted: Sunday September 22 2019, 3:26 AM
By: @Steven Berger

Walnut Thomas with possum board

Posted: Tuesday September 10 2019, 1:18 PM
By: @Strumelia

"Angel" Will Singleton Replica

Posted: Wednesday May 22 2019, 10:21 PM
By: @IRENE

Tiny mahogany dulcimer thingy just made

Posted: Sunday March 24 2019, 3:39 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Richard and Denise Wilson Dulcimer on...

Posted: Wednesday October 10 2018, 9:24 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

chatroom sidebar - adjusting the chat pane...

Posted: Monday October 1 2018, 10:36 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

John Tignor dulcimer rework

Posted: Friday March 30 2018, 9:25 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Dennis Dorogi

Posted: Friday May 19 2017, 6:33 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Jeopardy! Contestant Likes The Dulcimer

Posted: Saturday September 17 2016, 1:25 PM
By: @hugssandi

Your story about rescuing damaged dulcimers

Posted: Friday September 26 2014, 3:28 PM
By: @John Henry

Comments

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05/11/19 01:00:29PM @robin-thompson:

I'll keep my eye out for photos of the Singleton with a cherry heart!

08/07/16 10:44:53PM @hugssandi:

Love your profile pic dulcimer~it's amazing!

11/22/15 11:26:08AM @strumelia:

John, please let me know whether you got my email reply. Thanks!

06/05/15 07:48:18AM @timothy-p-teefey:

Justlooking at your photos,that's quitea collection of dulcimers you'vegot there!

06/05/15 07:44:38AM @timothy-p-teefey:

Thankyou for the kind words. Guess I'm kind of an old world kind of guy. :-)

01/30/15 05:00:24PM @cynthia-wigington:
and I thought I accepted it! Thanks.

12/26/13 08:01:10PM @patty-from-virginia:

John, Yes, Mike kept it up on the site and I did see it. That was fantastic!!! Lisa had him to take it down. I asked Mike if there's any way he could put it up on Youtube and apparently he didn't have the capability to do that. I did see it and I think Uncle Eddie sounds great. I'm hoping to make a trip to Kentucky to see it. I've got to save my pennies Thanks John!!!