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Almost 20 years ago, my daughter asked me to buy her a harp to play…Being a father of 7, [+1 in heaven] money always seemed to be tight, [still is], so the solution I found was to buy a broken harp, do my best to fix it to be playable….and away we went.
Soon after I was fixing / restoring /re homing all sorts of stringed instruments for other members of the family, students, teachers, and anyone who wanted to learn, but for whatever reason could not afford to buy an instrument. I never got into the ooh and ahhs of brands and orchestral snobbery. I have always seen harps without the hype, violins based on sound rather than makers mark, or vintage. I know for a fact that there are kids now out there playing on pre-war Gibson guitars, and 19th century [perhaps earlier] violins.
I feel the screeching of someone learning to play is a much sweeter sound, and worth so much more, than the silence of an instrument stored in a damp basement.
Folks would call “out of the blue” and ask if I might have a violin, cello, guitar, mandolin or “whatever” for this youngster or friend that needs one. And as best I could, I’d figure out a solution. Sometimes scouring the bent, broken, and “for parts” section of auction sites, sometimes getting donated closet relics… but always getting better at the repairs, rebuilds, and restoring to function as I went along.
Fast forward a few decades and here I am. My health is not what it once was, my income ain’t either… And while I still do not charge for most of the instruments I give away, the reality is that it is not a sustainable effort.
My ETSY shop, and my pettreemusic.com are just a way to try and offset the costs, and keep the wolves at bay. Thank you for stopping in. Feel free to ask whatever you will about instruments, repair, or whatever other thoughts you may have.
May God go with you,
john
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Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Fest
Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Fest
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Posted a response to "Help with restoring a 1962 Arthur Dixon dulcimer?":
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Latest Group Discussions
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Thank you John, I'm glad you sold the Hughs! And thanks so much for your donation to the site. I'll remove the ad. 
Hi John, 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
Ken, you could do what I did and knock one lens out of your glasses. Or cover a lens with black paper. Just a couple ideas...
Thank you, John. The first cataract surgery went well and I'm seeing clearly with that eye. Unfortunately I had to postpone the second surgery due to a cold. It is rescheduled for the end of February. In the meantime, I'm going crazy trying to see well with my glasses on and with them off.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Thanks for the welcome! I've just been reading through the forums and "spying" on y'all...
I've got quite a back log of dulcimers [ or dare I call some of them dulcimores?]. Quite interesting the amount of things I'm learning.
I recently listed this one with a deeply scalloped fingerboard, I did get some history from the maker, but would like to hear about how in the world one plays this... Perhaps I'll post in one of the forums. Still figuring this whole thing out.
Talk again soon, take care
john
Welcome to FOTMD, John. What a wonderful mission to make instruments playable again and into the hands of folks who want to learn to play them. Thank you for doing that. Perhaps you will have some insights regarding repair which you can offer when we discuss doing that. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Welcome John Petry to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Glad you joined. It sounds like you have developed quite a mission with your instrument repair and re-homing. God bless you in that. Let us know if you have questions. We'll find an answer.
