Location:
Location: Reedsville, PA
Country: US
Country: US
My Latest Followers:
Stats
youtube videos: 1
images: 63
events: 1
I am retired and live in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. I built my first mountain dulcimer in 1974. I continue to build mountain dulcimers, hammered dulcimers and do repair work on them as well as guitars and banjos. I enjoy old time music, bluegrass, and folk music from before and after the folk scare of the 1950s and 1960s.
Latest Activity
All
@ken-longfield
• 18 hours ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @michael-janes:
Posted a new Comment on @michael-janes:
"Welcome to FOTMD Michael. It is good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 2 days ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @pete2049:
Posted a new Comment on @pete2049:
"Welcome to FOTMD Pete2049. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 3 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @4estdweller:
Posted a new Comment on @4estdweller:
"Welcome to FOTMD 4estdweller. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 5 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @bmarshall1891:
Posted a new Comment on @bmarshall1891:
"Welcome to FOTMD BMARSHALL1891. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 5 days ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @leliaph:
Posted a new Comment on @leliaph:
"Welcome to FOTMD LeliaPH. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 5 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @peppy:
Posted a new Comment on @peppy:
"Welcome to FOTMD Peppy. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 5 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @booglefloop:
Posted a new Comment on @booglefloop:
"Welcome to FOTMD Booglefloop. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 5 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @jane-griffith-ward:
Posted a new Comment on @jane-griffith-ward:
"Welcome to FOTMD Jane. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 6 days ago
• comments: 6
Liked a photos item created by @bob-stephens:
Stephens Lutherie mountain dulcimer
Liked a photos item created by @bob-stephens:
Stephens Lutherie mountain dulcimer
@ken-longfield
• 6 days ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @dulcidom:
Posted a new Comment on @dulcidom:
"Welcome to FOTMD Dulcidom. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Clamps for building":
Posted a response to "Clamps for building":
"If I were home, I would post a photo of my clamp rack which only shows the large clamps. The smaller ones are stored in boxes under one of my work benches...."
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @klcrump:
Posted a new Comment on @klcrump:
"Welcome to FOTMD Klcrump. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @acharman:
Posted a new Comment on @acharman:
"Welcome to FOTMD Acharman. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @tshults:
Posted a new Comment on @tshults:
"Welcome to FOTMD Tshults It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Clamps for building":
Posted a response to "Clamps for building":
""You can never have too many clamps." I made a bunch of clamps like those Dan made. I also used some regular wood working clamps. I have some deep throat..."
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on @kozaturf:
Posted a new Comment on @kozaturf:
"Welcome to FOTMD Kozaturf. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @maltess:
Posted a new Comment on @maltess:
"Welcome to FOTMD MaltEss. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @atilwi:
Posted a new Comment on @atilwi:
"Welcome to FOTMD Atilwi. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "A W Jeffreys Jr.":
Posted a response to "A W Jeffreys Jr.":
"That's a nice looking Jeffreys. At this point in my life I'm only collecting photographs of instruments. I like the dulcimers that Jeffreys made.
Ken
"The..."
@ken-longfield
• one week ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
"John and Ken, it is still there and under new ownership. We didn't get it to try it on the way out, but will try to stop on our way back east.
Ken
"The..."
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
"Dusty, we are staying on Route 66 tonight in Moriarty, NM. Richard showed us the radiused fret board. It has a 10 inch radius. Should be a nice feature for..."
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
Posted a response to "The Positive Thread...":
"Betty and I had a very nice visit with Richard Ash at Folkcraft instruments yesterday morning. Richard took time to show us through the Folkcraft facility,..."
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 5
Posted a new Comment on @cj-smith:
Posted a new Comment on @cj-smith:
"Welcome to FOTMD CJ. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @cherylleigh100:
Posted a new Comment on @cherylleigh100:
"Welcome to FOTMD Cherylleigh100. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @hooahmedic:
Posted a new Comment on @hooahmedic:
"Welcome to FOTMD Hooahmedic. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 2 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Looking for album":
Posted a response to "Looking for album":
"Was it perhaps this one?
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Comprehensive List of Dulcimer Festivals":
Posted a response to "Comprehensive List of Dulcimer Festivals":
"I agree with Stephen that it would be good to see a list of all dulcimer festivals in a given year. I thing, however, that it is an impossible task. We..."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @diane-r:
Posted a new Comment on @diane-r:
"Diane, I see that you live in Ohio. Depending on where you live in Ohio there might be someone near you to help you. Gary Sager comes to mind. David Lynch..."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @fortytwo:
Posted a new Comment on @fortytwo:
"Welcome to FOTMD 42. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
"It sounds like the tension on the bass string is greater than the tension on the other three strings. Once you remove all four string you should be able to..."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "":
Posted a response to "":
"I dug through my file on Keith Young, but found nothing about the finish he used on his instruments. My suspicion is lacquer, but I am not 100% certain. Here..."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
"Plain steel 0.020 string should be available in a local music store. As Kusani said, "opinions vary." I use squeakless wound strings for chord/melody..."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @nanners:
Posted a new Comment on @nanners:
"Welcome to FOTMD Nanners. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song""
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 0
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
Posted a response to "Guitar Strings?":
"Given that VSL I would try .010s on the melody strings, .014 on the middle, and a .020 for the bass. You could go up just a little if these are still floppy...."
@ken-longfield
• 3 weeks ago
• comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on @sburketopdog:
Posted a new Comment on @sburketopdog:
"I know how hard it is to find a mountain dulcimer when there are none available locally. I have several dulcimers made by folks other than myself. My every..."
Latest Group Discussions
All
The Story of the Dulcimer, Second Edition
This is just a notice that it is available for pre-ordering on Amazon.
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 14
PA German Zitter
As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 0
Old-time West Virginia bands
County Sales currently has these two CDs on sale for $7.00 each if...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 1
Wartz Tab Book Corrections
In the Wartz tab book for the DAA "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms,"...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 2
My First Prichard
It is not quite finished, but I thought I would share a photo of my...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 15
J. E. Thomas Dulcimer #1465 played by Joe Collins
Here is a link to a video of Joe Collins playing my James E. "Uncle Ed"...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 1
String tension calculations
Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 7
Latest Photos
All
Latest Forum Discussions
AllThe Ugly Dulcimer - A Story
Posted: Monday September 3 2018, 7:34 PM
By: @Richard Streib
By: @Richard Streib
Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming
Posted: Monday February 26 2018, 12:56 PM
By: @Jan Potts
By: @Jan Potts
Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...
Posted: Wednesday October 25 2017, 10:52 AM
By: @Val Hughes
By: @Val Hughes
Ukulele construction
Posted: Thursday September 14 2017, 9:42 AM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
A New "Old" Project
Posted: Friday March 10 2017, 4:09 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
PA German Zitter
Posted: Tuesday March 7 2017, 8:55 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
Hindman, Kentucky
Posted: Saturday November 26 2016, 9:14 PM
By: @John C. Knopf
By: @John C. Knopf
Stanley Hicks article
Posted: Thursday July 7 2016, 12:08 PM
By: @Lexie R Oakley
By: @Lexie R Oakley
Wood Choice - Food For Thought
Posted: Sunday February 14 2016, 3:13 PM
By: @James Swayne
By: @James Swayne
Wayfaring Strangers
Posted: Thursday February 4 2016, 1:05 PM
By: @Ron Larson2
By: @Ron Larson2
Clifford Glenn
Posted: Sunday July 26 2015, 10:17 AM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
For Old Time Music Fans
Posted: Friday April 3 2015, 1:07 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
Folk Music Resources
Posted: Wednesday February 11 2015, 1:18 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
A photo for Patty from Virginia
Posted: Thursday January 15 2015, 8:28 PM
By: @Patty from Virginia
By: @Patty from Virginia
The Dulcimer in Eastern Kentucky Videos
Posted: Thursday December 11 2014, 5:41 AM
By: @Rob N Lackey
By: @Rob N Lackey
2014 National Mountain Dulcimer Champions
Posted: Sunday September 21 2014, 7:35 AM
By: @John Keane
By: @John Keane
Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer
Posted: Sunday August 31 2014, 2:00 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
Not a Mountain Dulcimer
Posted: Sunday March 10 2013, 3:57 PM
By: @James Phillips
By: @James Phillips
Encyclopedia of Appalachia
Posted: Friday October 19 2012, 10:17 PM
By: @Ken Longfield
By: @Ken Longfield
Comments
10/15/18 11:08:21PM @acharman:
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the welcome. I am sure I will find lots of things to inspire me.
Cheers, Andrew
09/29/18 09:18:41AM @tallytune:
Hi Ken,
Thanks so much for the welcome. I am actually doing a workshop with Aubrey Atwater in a couple of weeks to get me started, I am super excited!
09/27/18 01:00:45PM @sburketopdog:
Thank you, Ken. I am still researching the purchase of a mountain dulcimer. There aren't many resources in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, so I'm researching on line.
09/22/18 08:16:43PM @ryan78:
Thanks a ton! It'll take me some time to learn how to use and navigate this forum (the layout is different than i'm used to) so forgive any mistakes. I'm excited about a dulcimer community and learning more from experienced players.
08/02/18 03:46:48PM @hstulips:
I camped on the mountains of Virginia on my way home to Canadas from Dulcimer University in NC. I pulled out my dulcimer and played to the mountains. It was an enchanting moment to be playing in the hills where this instrument originated!
