This site requires Javascript to function properly - please enable Javascript in your browser

Location:

Location: Westland, MI
Country: US

My Latest Followers:

Stats

youtube videos: 1

images: 61

Latest Activity

All

@john-c-knopf • 5 days ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on Is Re-Fretting Possible Without Damage?:

"When I install frets on a completed dulcimer, sometimes instead of hammering onto the fretboard and soundbox (creating a blast of air in my face from the..."

@john-c-knopf • 5 days ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Trip to the lumber yard:

"Great finds! Congratulations! I love going down to UrbanWoods in Ann Arbor, where they do the same thing. Several locally-owned sawmills cut down..."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "To hollow or not to hollow that is the question?":

"Hollowing the fretboard saves weight and adds more cubic inches of soundbox, and usually yields a little more sound. All things being equal, it's a good..."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimer Build Workshops:

"The only ones I've heard of are those offered at the John C. Campbell School of Folk Music (in Brasstown, NC), the ones John Huron (of Bristol, TN) offered..."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on "Long Tom" poplar hourglass dulcimer:

"Nope-- same size as yours, David! And much more playable."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on "Long Tom" poplar hourglass dulcimer:

"Kevin, I spaced the strings that way in order to have the melody string go over the center of the frets rather than close to the edge, to make playing..."

@john-c-knopf • one week ago • comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on Questions about buying a dulcimer.:

"Hi, Gwen! Welcome to the world of the dulcimer. To answer your questions: 1. The shape of the dulcimer is personal preference. A wider body would..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on My Own Favorite:

"Beauteous as always, Bob! Too pretty to play!"

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @riksgewijs:

"You seem to be doing fine already with your posts. Best wishes for your playing and learning!"

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Buying in Europe":

"I agree with Ken. Robin Clark should be able to help you, friend."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Tiny brass dulcimer.":

"The shape reminds me of the Black Mountain hourglass dulcimer-- wide and a little shortened. Pretty! "

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on Things Were Going Okay.... Then This!!!:

"Jimmy, please re-read this: Dan: The sides have a slight tension to them causing the sides to try to spring in, drawing the bottom up on the ends. When you..."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
"Long Tom" poplar hourglass dulcimer

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 15
Posted a new Comment on Icelandic Langspil:

"What a fascinating instrument, and there's such an antique look to the wood. The etchings are cool."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 18
Posted a new Comment on Things Were Going Okay.... Then This!!!:

"Whenever I glue sides of an hourglass dulcimer to the back, then remove the mold from the inside, the assembly always warps to a greater or lesser degree...."

@john-c-knopf • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "No Strum hollow ":

"It seems to me that the strum hollow was "invented" by either Charles Prichard in Huntington, WV or by Ed Thomas in Bath, KY, long after dulcimers were being..."

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on Butternut and Osage Shoat Hogfiddle:

"Wow! That Osage Orange wood is really bright! I've never used it for building but have a small chunk intended for pen turning. An intriguing wood."

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on Jinny 1-19 open D:

"FABULOUS, Dan!"

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Shipping in the cold":

"Matt, I mention the following to my customers who buy one of my dulcimers in the wintertime: I tell them to bring the box into their house, but NOT TO OPEN..."

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Curly Maple Suppliers?:

"Bob, if you have a Woodcraft store near you, they might have both of these, but they'll probably be 3/4"-1" thick and expensive."

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 9
Posted a new Comment on Bridget Cruise (3rd Air):

"So peaceful!"

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Courting Dulcimer pick-up placement:

"I would buy 2 transducer pickups from C. B. Gitty and install them under the bridges. They have a good selection of pre-wired pickups for crazy cheap..."

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on "PEELER CREEK" on Dulcimer:

"Beautifully played!"

@john-c-knopf • 3 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on A Little Teardrop :

"What a sweet little thang! Gorgeous wood."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here:

"Bob: John, does this instrument have a solid body like an electric guitar, or a hollow one? (I am guessing solid) The tuning head resembles a Bass..."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Does Anyone Have A Good Source For Mountain Dulcimer VSL?:

"John C. Knopf: Go to stewmac.com, and get to the free "fret scale calculator" page. Type in your desired VSL, enter inches or millimeters, number of..."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here:

"Bob: Very funkdellic! You amaze me John! Likewise, my friend! I'm going back to acoustic after this. Much easier."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Does Anyone Have A Good Source For Mountain Dulcimer VSL?:

"Go to stewmac.com, and get to the free "fret scale calculator" page. Type in your desired VSL, enter inches or millimeters, number of frets and Dulcimer...."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here:

"Thanks, everyone!"

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Partial Frets":

"With much patience and care -- far more than I have."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 11
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here:

"Thank you, Ken! It sounds fine. I'm always gratified to discover that the circuitry I wire up actually works in the end. Believe it or not, I started..."

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 11
Created a new Group discussion "Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here":

"Here is my fifth (and last?) Dulcimaster electric dulcimer, which will be sent to England soon. It has just 3 strings and a narrower fretboard than usual...."
Dulcimer Making

@john-c-knopf • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Top/Back Thickness and Sustain?":

"My usual top and bottom thickness is about 1/8", but I try to go thinner than that if I can. As you might have read on this site, or elsewhere, you can get..."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on How Do You Sign Your MD?:

"Jimmy, they're nothing tricky. I just use Microsoft Word for them. AR Julian typeface, text centered in a box. Probably any word processing program would..."

@john-c-knopf • one month ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on How Do You Sign Your MD?:

"Here's a sample of the labels I print on my computer: "

Latest Group Discussions

All

Dulcimaster Number 5 Is Here

Here is my fifth (and last?) Dulcimaster electric dulcimer, which will...
@John C. Knopf 4 weeks ago - Comments: 11

"Glory" in all her glory

Now heading for Durango is "Glory", a Melton-style Galax dulcimer made...
@John C. Knopf 5 months ago - Comments: 10

Melton Galax just finished!

Here's the latest cherry, spruce and maple Melton Galax dulcimer from my...
@John C. Knopf 7 months ago - Comments: 11

Just finished-- another Thomas!

Just now completed another J. E. Thomas dulcimer in poplar for a pastor...
@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

All

Latest Videos

All

John & "Uncle Eddie" 11/20/13

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

Latest Photos

All

Latest Forum Discussions

All

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

You must be logged in to post a comment

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.

08/26/14 05:04:03PM @robin-l-sacks:

Hey John, Robin here, I need your assistance if you would please sir...

I'm in the process of making a bass ducimer out of a gourd, I got the fret calculations from Stew-Mac, but for a three stringed instrument, what size strings shold I use? your recomendations willl be muchly appericeated.. I did write the ones suggested by he folks there at Stew-Mac, but now I caint find it

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 penniesThanks John!!!