Ken Longfield

Location:

Location: Reedsville, PA
Country: US

My Latest Followers:

RobMachin seaswmr AppalachiaSky Moon Dancer MelSabol Mary_Adelee Chaplain Peter SJMawhee87 Kris Paul 1 dronehound Homer Ross mac bhodaich Kenneth Woolley III dreadnought28 Dulcimerlady JDH54 AndiBear Susan Ann MandaPanda NancyH Dulcianne Quigley John Desaulniers Jr Wendell G dchenaul syoung Big Bubba chiselerinwood Wally Venable KnobbyNotes Blackhawk13 Emjay Noah Cline hstulips haydee025 Ballad Gal Exukaden Ariane sbarnett524 Debbie Kopp Simpkins Sue MacKenzie - ADK Friends sweetbriar jcurtis55 steve c. Tennessee Jed Billy T Lucky Dave Mary MacGowan Kevin R.

Stats

youtube videos: 1
images: 77
events: 3
Groups: 1
audio tracks: 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
@ken-longfield • 14 hours ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @robmachin:
"Welcome to FOTMD, Rob. It's good to have you aboard. Have fun with your new dulcimer when you receive it. If you have any questions, just ask. I look forward..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • yesterday • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Crack in the soundboard, by the sound hole":
"Marg, it looks like it cracked along the grain of an area that has no support under it. A friend of mine has something similar happen when she had her..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • yesterday • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @ringo:
"Well Ringo, you'll find over a hundred stick dulcimer enthusiasts in that group. There is a lot of useful information there which I think you will find..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • yesterday • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @ringo:
"What type of information are you looking for about a "stick dulcimer" which is not a mountain dulcimer. It does have a diatonically fretted fingerboard, but..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @ringo:
"Welcome to FOTMD, Ringo. You will find lots of information here about dulcimers, their players, and makers. Have fun exploring this site. If you have any..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Crack in the soundboard, by the sound hole":
"If it were my dulcimer, I would glue a thin strip of wood along the underside of the crack. If you have any quarter sawn spruce, pine, or cedar, that's what..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimers I have built:
"Very nice, Alan. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on Dulcimers I have built:
"That is good looking dulcimer, Alan! Good work. Ken, "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @alan-from-pa:
"And sometimes the fiddle. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 days ago • comments: 3
Posted a new Comment on @alan-from-pa:
"Welcome to FOTMD, Alan From PA. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. It's always nice to have another..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 4 days ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on @txjeff:
"Welcome to FOTMD TXJeff. This is a great place to connect with other dulcimer enthusiasts. Have fun exploring your new to you dulcimer and exploring this..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 5 days ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on @fearn:
"Welcome to FOTMD Fearn. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. I'll have to look up Znamenry chants and..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @woodsmoke:
"Welcome to FOTMD, Woodsmoke. It's good to have you aboard. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @s11141827:
"Welcome to FOTMD S11141827. I look forward to your participation in these discussions. Have fun exploring the site.  Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • one week ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "New Cherry Galax Dulcimer":
"Three cheers for the new owner! That person is receiving a beautiful instrument. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 10
Posted a new Comment on @lynn-peachey:
"Hi, Lynn, welcome to FOTMD. I hope you enjoy this site and company here. You'll have fun looking through all the information here. Ken "The dulcimer sings a..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 2
Posted a new Comment on Raymond Melton workshop from 1974:
"Thanks, Dusty. I've seen this before, but it is fun watching again. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Robert N. Lackey, rest in peace":
"FYI:..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Created a new forum topic "Folklife in Ohio":
"In another dulcimer site a member shared a link to a video about folklife in Ohio. It was produced by Ohio Bell and does show some dulcimer information...."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on @jeffb957:
"Don't let the time of the group gathering discourage you. Make contact with them and you may find someone willing to meet you outside of the group meetings..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on @jeffb957:
"Here is the information:..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 8
Posted a new Comment on @jeffb957:
"Welcome to FOTMD Jeff. It's good to have you aboard. Are you a member of the Athens Dulcimer Club? Let us know if you have any questions. I look forward to..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 6
Posted a new Comment on Just a Closer Walk With Thee:
"Thank for this lovely rendition of Just A Closer Walk With Thee. I really enjoy the hymns you play and sing. That's a beautiful painting at the end of the..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 6
Liked a youtube item created by @john-w-mckinstry: Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 2 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @rita:
"Welcome to FOTMD, Rita. If you have questions, we have answers even if we hav to make them up (just kidding about the making up part). We have many..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Vintage dulcimer information sought ":
"Art, it looks like the tuning pegs are traditional violin pegs. When tuning you need to push the pegs in to the peg box as you turn them. They stay in place..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 1
Posted a new Comment on In The Shop:
"It's looking good Jim. I can't wait to see it finished and hear it played. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song.""
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Vintage dulcimer information sought ":
"I agree with John. Nice find. I suspect you will ask about the cracks in the back. Those can be fixed easily with some CA glue or wood glue and clamping...."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "What Are You Working On?":
"Hi, Marg. With regard to the Lazenby dulcimer I would not use wood filler on it. Instead I would plug the hole with a piece of hardwood dowel rod. You will..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @holly-schimmelpfennig:
"Welcome to FOTMD Holly. It's good to have you aboard. Hymns sound wonderful on the mountain dulcimer. Have fun exploring this site. If you have any questions..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @rimrock:
"Welcome to FOTMD Rimrock. Have fun exploring this site. Let us know if you have any questions. I look forward to your participation here. Ken "The dulcimer..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @tracy-hiller:
"Welcome to FOTMD Tracy. This is a wonderful place to learn about mountain dulcimers and connect with those who play and build them. Have fun exploring this..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Birdseye Maple":
"Well, Birdseye maple is hard maple (acer saccharum). According to the Wood Database, the Birdseye figure comes from poor growing conditions where the tree..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 4
Posted a new Comment on @mo-lee:
"Welcome to FOTMD Mo Lee. Sorry you were captured by the guitar, but glad you are returning to the mountain dulcimer. Have fun learning to play. We have a..."
Ken Longfield
@ken-longfield • 3 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Birdseye Maple":
"Not sure what type of thoughts you are looking for Marg, but Birdseye maple is a pretty wood. It should produce a little brighter sound from it than from..."

Latest Group Discussions

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Ken Longfield

Another Tabledit question


Yesterday I updated my Tabledit for Mac to version 3.03 a4a. I can no...
@Ken Longfield 10 months ago - Comments: 10
Ken Longfield

T - 6


This is my sixth teardrop dulcimer. The shape comes from plans by Scott...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 12
Ken Longfield

Latest project - Prichard


I started to build a C.N. Prichard reproduction, but made a mistake...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 9
Ken Longfield

Making wood tuning pegs


For those of us who make wood tuning pegs, what finish do you put on...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 3
Ken Longfield

Current build


Here are some photos as I near the completion of this project. The...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 15
Ken Longfield

Tuning peg knobs


I have a customer who is having the tuning pegs replaced on two of his...
@Ken Longfield 5 years ago - Comments: 23
Ken Longfield

Wood Choice - Food For Thought


I came across this experiment for classical guitars and found it...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 13
Ken Longfield

The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story


Somewhere and at sometime someone decided to build a mountain dulcimer...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 8
Ken Longfield

Repairing a Diamond Dulcimer


While this is not a build, we do not have a specific area to show...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 17
Ken Longfield

PA German Zitter


Here are some photos of PA German zitter reproduction I'm making. There...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 17
Ken Longfield

Not a Mountain Dulcimer


A few folks here at FOTMD know that I was working on a hammered...
@Ken Longfield 11 years ago - Comments: 9
Ken Longfield

A New "Old" Project


Back maybe 20 to 25 years ago, my sister was wandering through a yard...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 2
Ken Longfield

Stanley Hicks article


Although not dulcimer specific, Stanley Hicks played a significant...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 8
Ken Longfield

The Story of the Dulcimer, Second Edition


This is just a notice that it is available for pre-ordering on Amazon.
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 14
Ken Longfield

PA German Zitter


As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 0
Ken Longfield

Old-time West Virginia bands


County Sales currently has these two CDs on sale for $7.00 each if...
@Ken Longfield 9 years ago - Comments: 1
Ken Longfield

Wartz Tab Book Corrections


In the Wartz tab book for the DAA "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms," the...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 2
Ken Longfield

My First Prichard


It is not quite finished, but I thought I would share a photo of my...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 14
Ken Longfield

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 10 years ago - Comments: 6
Ken Longfield

String tension calculations


Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 5

Latest Audio

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Oh Lord, What A Morning

Oh Lord, What A Morning


@Ken Longfield
7 months ago - Comments: 7

Latest Videos

  All
Landis Valley Zitter

Landis Valley Zitter


@Ken Longfield
6 years ago - Comments: 19

Latest Photos

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Latest Forum Discussions

  All

Robert N. Lackey, rest in peace

Posted: Wednesday March 6 2024, 11:45 AM
By: @Dusty Turtle

Folklife in Ohio

Posted: Monday March 4 2024, 2:48 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...

Posted: Thursday February 22 2024, 3:55 AM
By: @shanonmilan

Dulcimer Players News demise

Posted: Tuesday July 18 2023, 12:45 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Everythingdulcimer.com

Posted: Sunday July 16 2023, 1:58 PM
By: @Strumelia

Gary Sager

Posted: Thursday March 23 2023, 9:43 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

John Crocker

Posted: Thursday March 9 2023, 5:02 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Mike Clemmer

Posted: Friday December 17 2021, 9:41 AM
By: @Skip

Don Pedi honored

Posted: Thursday September 16 2021, 6:11 AM
By: @Susie

Joni Mitchell and Mountain Dulcimers

Posted: Thursday August 26 2021, 8:38 PM
By: @Dusty Turtle

Zoom group invitation

Posted: Sunday May 23 2021, 6:24 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

An Interesting News Story from West Virginia

Posted: Thursday April 15 2021, 8:15 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Bonnie Carol

Posted: Saturday April 3 2021, 6:54 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Newspaper Article

Posted: Saturday March 13 2021, 10:38 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Jon Pickow's last performance

Posted: Saturday January 23 2021, 10:07 PM
By: @Ken Hulme

Sad News -- RIP Ralph Lee Smith

Posted: Thursday December 31 2020, 3:05 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Dr. George Orthey, Mountain dulcimer and...

Posted: Thursday November 26 2020, 12:07 PM
By: @Robin Thompson

Anyone bidding"

Posted: Thursday September 17 2020, 5:49 AM
By: @Susie

The New ED

Posted: Sunday April 19 2020, 10:50 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Guitar project

Posted: Tuesday January 28 2020, 9:13 PM
By: @Susie

Sad News

Posted: Tuesday January 15 2019, 8:16 PM
By: @jeffrey charles foster

Capritaurus Dulcimer - Oh My!

Posted: Thursday November 22 2018, 7:56 AM
By: @Robin Thompson

Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming

Posted: Monday February 26 2018, 12:56 PM
By: @Jan Potts

Ukulele construction

Posted: Thursday September 14 2017, 9:42 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Hindman, Kentucky

Posted: Saturday November 26 2016, 9:14 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Wayfaring Strangers

Posted: Thursday February 4 2016, 8:56 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

Clifford Glenn

Posted: Sunday July 26 2015, 10:17 AM
By: @Ken Longfield

For Old Time Music Fans

Posted: Friday April 3 2015, 1:07 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

Folk Music Resources

Posted: Wednesday February 11 2015, 1:18 PM
By: @Ken Longfield

A photo for Patty from Virginia

Posted: Thursday January 15 2015, 8:28 PM
By: @Patty from Virginia

Comments

Ringo
03/17/24 05:36:04PM @ringo:

I am a stick dulcimer player and was directed to this site because it had a stick dulcimer group. I also like the dulcimer music and tabs that can help me. I would image some dulcimer players also play stick dulcimer.  Just looking to expand my knowledge. Should be able to here.

Thanks


Ringo
03/17/24 02:00:33PM @ringo:

Thank you I really love the stick dulcimer but haven't found much info. A little one here though!


Alan from PA
03/16/24 01:43:18PM @alan-from-pa:

The Mt dulcimer is the "pipes" of Appalachia 


Woodsmoke
03/09/24 09:25:27PM @woodsmoke:

Thank you sir - I appreciate it!


Lynn Peachey
03/06/24 10:13:21PM @lynn-peachey:

Thank you Ken. You have been my teacher and friend for many years. My life has been blessed by adding a dulcimer to it, and all the new friends it gave me. 


jeffb957
03/03/24 07:06:00PM @jeffb957:

I'll do that. Thank you..


jeffb957
03/03/24 04:19:11PM @jeffb957:

Well, that's kind of a bummer. I'm a roll off dumpster man, so I generally work from 5:00 AM till 6 PM Monday through Friday. For any north Alabama locals, I work for the guys with the yellow dumpsters 😁

I'm off work recovering from surgery for the next 5 weeks, so maybe I'll be able to hit one once I'm fit for public view 😅  Once I'm back to work, I'll be unable to make it. 

Thanks for the info anyway. 


Tracy Hiller
02/27/24 11:03:32AM @tracy-hiller:

Thanks for the welcome.  I have been meeting with a local person weekly and have been to 2 jam sessions.  So far it is going well.  I think it helps that I have been a musician almost my whole life between playing trombone, ringing handbells and singing.

I purchased a never used Enos Yaeger dulcimer.  I have discovered that I will need to have a 6.5 fret installed, but other than that it is a beautiful sounding instrument.


seaswmr
02/17/24 11:38:40AM @may-zeller:

Thank you!  I am glad I found this site.  Looking forward to learning more.  


ZedKloud
01/30/24 07:50:42PM @zedkloud:

Thank you for the welcome.  Honestly, I came across this dulcimer in an estate sale and could not resist picking it up.  This dulcimer needs a home with someone who will really appreciate her and I figured who better than this group.  I will post pictures and everything soon.  Thank you again!


EmAnGu
01/27/24 02:59:16PM @emangu:

Thank you, glad to be here.  I've already learned a lot here.  I found my way here while searching for how to tune my AW Jeffreys dulcimer with slipping wooden pegs.  Found several possible solutions, and hope to learn more.


Strumelia
01/12/24 09:47:53PM @strumelia:

Glad to hear you got at least 'half' of your two eyeballs fixed up nicely at this point Ken!
Wishing you good luck ahead for the other one in a few weeks!  what


Ken Longfield
01/12/24 05:38:00PM @ken-longfield:

Well, you got that right, John. I'm often closing one eye so I can see close up and the other to see far away. Only 44 more days of doing that. Haha.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."


John Petry
01/12/24 04:35:52PM @john-petry:

I know I'm new to the "friends"....but I think I'll just call ya "winky"....


John Petry
01/12/24 01:58:51AM @john-petry:

Just noticed you had a "procedure" or two these last few weeks....Thinking of the tune "I can see clearly now...." Hope all went well


beckyM
01/09/24 03:31:27PM @beckym:

Thank you so much


john thorp
01/04/24 11:58:04AM @john-thorp:

Thank you Ken. Robin's link led me right to what I was looking for. I am going to like this site. Thanks again.


jerrytro
11/04/23 12:45:47PM @jerrytro:

DAD, similar in some respects to "Boat's Disease", the feeling that after you get a boat, even if it's just a canoe, you'll need to get another, bigger better one?  I hear you and it would actually be great to become accomplished enough that I can "justify" additional instruments.  But for perspective, I've known people to spend more in one night at a bar or casino than the cost of even a very high end dulcimer so I think I'll be OK.


Mowog
10/20/23 01:52:52PM @mowog:

Thank you, Ken.

David


Cottage Timbre
10/11/23 01:29:05PM @cottage-timbre:

Thank you for your offer to be of help if needed. I hope not to wear it out!