Hey that's my dulcimer

I bought Blessed because I really wanted to see what was and wasn't possible on an early dulcimer. And I have to say that I have fallen in love with the instrument. It is very light and incredibly tactile. Its tiny waist and tough build make it easy to carry around in one hand. I love its earthy tone and simplicity. I also love the fact that it is not 'simple' to play. In fact, far from it. It is the most sonically complex dulcimer I own! I can't just sit down and expect it to sound great whatever I do (like I can with my McSpadden) - 'Blessed' expects me to put some effort in to the process of generating tone!!!!! In many respects this dulcimer is like an old fiddle; there is great tone in there somewhere but you are going to have to work to find it and tease it out. It is why I work with traditional quills, pick materials, strings and noters. Ed Thomas was apparently a fine player himself, and he would take no persuading to play you a tune, oftengaining his board and lodgings for the night in the process. So I reckon that working on old styleplaying techniques (particularly right hand work) is the way to get the best from an Ed Thomas.

It is the dulcimer that draws me back time and time again. It is very diffcult to put down. It always draws a crowd whenI play anywhere public. And it just sounds soooo sweet

The original Tignor pattern was almost identical to Thomas and Amburgey. He used the fiddle edges and staple frets. As the 60's turned into the 70's he 1st used full frets (mine is small bodied/full frets,) then he increased the body size and lost the fiddle edges succumbing to the popular tastes. Mine is accurately fretted so any tuning is good. I recorded "Green Rolling Hills" in DAd. I have it in DAc now working on someElizabethan/Renaissancepieces, and it's perfect for it!

Heather...I bet you'll love it and John is a wonderful guy to work with. He has sent photos every inch of the way and given my dulcimer a beautiful name all her own. Will save that for the big reveal

I love the sound of your Tignor....and losing fiddle edges is a bad thing! I'm a sucker for fiddle edges. :) :) So did Tignor build from the Thomas pattern?

I could tell from comparing Ralph's video and Robins that there is a pretty good size difference between the two. And Ralph's Prichard has a little bit of a deeper sound.

And yet, Cheryl, the "Thomas Pattern" is quite a bit smaller than the "Prichard Pattern." Ralph Lee Smith compared the 2 in an article in DPN which should be available on-line. I'll try to find the reference this weekend and post it. I am amazed at the sound which comes out of the small bodied "Thomas Pattern!" My Tignor is probably one of the last he built on that pattern before enlarging them somewhat and losing the "fiddle edge." It can get really loud.

Rob, In the Ralph Lee Smith's video you linked me to....his amazing Prichard is that gorgeous black. Something so sleek about old dulcimers in black.

Heather, have you seen Robin Clark's video of his John C Knopf Ed Thomas replica? The sound is fantastic and this is a great little dulcimer.

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/video/ed-thomas-replica-mountain-dulcimer-30-mar-12-wmv

He also has other recordings of it. Mine is is production right now and I can't wait to play it! It's the perfect noter-drone dulcimer IMHO.

Actually Charles Napolean Prichard of Huntington, WV, painted his black as well. He was a little older than Thomas and made instruments in the same time frame. 1870 to about 1900 was his working time, so it is believed.

Rob

Thanks, Heather! Yes, I build these J. E. Thomas replica hourglass dulcimers with the old-time staple frets and a black painted finish (unique to Mr. Thomas, as far as I know). I try to copy "Uncle Eddie" Thomas' design closely. For more information on my dulcimers, just send me a message in my inbox here. Since we are now friends, that option is available to you. Thanks again for the kind words.