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.
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Latest Group Discussions
AllAnother Tabledit question
Yesterday I updated my Tabledit for Mac to version 3.03 a4a. I can no...
@Ken Longfield last year - Comments: 10
T - 6
This is my sixth teardrop dulcimer. The shape comes from plans by Scott...
@Ken Longfield 3 years ago - Comments: 12
Latest project - Prichard
I started to build a C.N. Prichard reproduction, but made a mistake...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 9
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
Current build
Here are some photos as I near the completion of this project. The...
@Ken Longfield 4 years ago - Comments: 15
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
Wood Choice - Food For Thought
I came across this experiment for classical guitars and found it...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 13
The Ugly Dulcimer - A Story
Somewhere and at sometime someone decided to build a mountain dulcimer...
@Ken Longfield 6 years ago - Comments: 8
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
PA German Zitter
Here are some photos of PA German zitter reproduction I'm making. There...
@Ken Longfield 7 years ago - Comments: 17
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
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
Stanley Hicks article
Although not dulcimer specific, Stanley Hicks played a significant...
@Ken Longfield 8 years ago - Comments: 8
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
PA German Zitter
As I understand it, Jean Ritchie saw a PA German Zitter in the...
@Ken Longfield 9 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 9 years ago - Comments: 1
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
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
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
String tension calculations
Over at the Banjo Hangout I saw a posting for a string tension...
@Ken Longfield 10 years ago - Comments: 5
Latest Photos
AllLatest Forum Discussions
AllSomething Old with a new surprise
By: @Ken Longfield
Folklife in Ohio
By: @cairney
Pete Seeger
By: @Jim Yates
Dulcimer Players News demise
By: @Ken Longfield
Something to watch
By: @Ken Longfield
Robert N. Lackey, rest in peace
By: @Dusty Turtle
Just For Fun - sayings regarding the...
By: @shanonmilan
Everythingdulcimer.com
By: @Strumelia
Gary Sager
By: @Robin Thompson
John Crocker
By: @Ken Longfield
Mike Clemmer
By: @Skip
Don Pedi honored
By: @Susie
Joni Mitchell and Mountain Dulcimers
By: @Dusty Turtle
Zoom group invitation
By: @Ken Longfield
An Interesting News Story from West Virginia
By: @Ken Longfield
Bonnie Carol
By: @Ken Longfield
Newspaper Article
By: @Robin Thompson
Jon Pickow's last performance
By: @Ken Hulme
Sad News -- RIP Ralph Lee Smith
By: @Robin Thompson
Dr. George Orthey, Mountain dulcimer and...
By: @Robin Thompson
Anyone bidding"
By: @Susie
The New ED
By: @Ken Longfield
Guitar project
By: @Susie
Sad News
By: @jeffrey charles foster
Capritaurus Dulcimer - Oh My!
By: @Robin Thompson
Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming
By: @Jan Potts
Ukulele construction
By: @Ken Longfield
Hindman, Kentucky
By: @John C. Knopf
Wayfaring Strangers
By: @Ken Longfield
Clifford Glenn
By: @Ken Longfield
Comments
Thank you very much for welcoming me. Im very happy to have found FOTMD, its a goldmine for me to find so much information. Mountain dulcimer is a very rare instrument in Sweden so this is great!
Ken: Nice to hear from you. We met in Indiana a few years ago when I sold you a double dulcimer case. All the best to you.
Thanks Richard....so the 4th melody string is a duplicate to on of the 3, so as to create more of that same note? Correct?
Yes, many of the 4 stringers have a doubled melody set of 2. To play with 3 strings simply remove one of the two. Some people do play 4 equidistant strings.
Ken I really appreciate your thorough response. As a beginner this gives me the detail I need. I was AWOL for a bit but am now following your advice with these makers and shopping on EBay. Im looking for simplicity so learning is easier. There seem to be a lot more 4 stringers for sale than 3 strings. I'm drawn to the 3 for ease and simplicity. Why are there 4 stringers ? Are 2 strings duplicates? Please give me your feelings and opinions as a seasoned player. Again, I appreciate your assistance very, very much.
Kindly, Todd Metcalf
Thanks! I have been jamming with groups in Houston and a couple in College Station, but am spending half my time in Waco now. It would be nice to find someone in that vicinity. Or maybe someone would want lessons...
William
Thank you so very much for all of this super helpful info. I want to keep it simple so will start with 3 strings. This is just the sort of info I've needed. Can't wait to try a few but it's 200 miles to L. A. to a gathering. May have to bit the bullet and go as I want to get one that "feels good" in my lap and tot the touch, and sounds sweet and pretty. Any other input is welcomed !!! Thanks again!, Todd
I received this email today from Howard Rugg and perhaps it can shed some light on our conversation:
'Hello Genevieve
D100S is Solid mahogany sides and back with a spruce top. About the value, I am unable to help and don't know who can. Try Google
Howard"
What do you think? See photos too. I hope they are clear enough. Thanks again, Gen
Thank you for responding so quickly! The dulcimer model no. is D100S not 1000...probably just a typo. I doubt it, but would that have made any difference in your answer?
Thank you Ken.
As a 76 year old complete starter I shall sit quietly in the background gaining knowledge but I do have a lot of questions.
Yes, aware of how McSpadden has all of their craftsmen sign. Still, it was great to meet Richard when I was there. I believe he’s in his early 80’s and still working his craft. And I do have a few of the Folkcraft ancestors: a Capri-Taurus by Howard Rugg, a Rugg & Jackel Folkroots, and I also have a David Marks older teardrop walnut Folkcraft. Those two makers, McSpadden and Folkcraft, make great instruments. Of course there are other nice makers as well. I’ve never heard a Blue Lion but understand they are very nice. Or a Warren May. I do have a new Ron Gibson hourglass, which I would recommend to anyone. Thanks for all the comments.
Aside from the fact that I've gotten some very nice instruments (and at pretty good prices too!), I've really enjoyed researching the history of these various dulcimer makers. I play them all, sometimes each one every day. Going to Mt. View to meet the folks at the Dulcimer Shoppe was great fun. The new one I bought there was signed by Mr. Richard Stolz. Richard also signed the McSpadden I initially bought dated 2000. I got to meet him and he said that he'd been there since 1975 or 76. We took a Facebook photo together. The McSpadden I have on order - I asked that Richard sign that one too. Since I have all the Folkcraft "ancestors" maybe I'll get a new Folkcraft later this year.
Hey, Ken, I appreciate that. Yeah, I've been a few places over the years. I just posted my question in the forums. Thanks.
Between $300-$700 would be my budget. I'm not experienced enough to retool an inferior instrument so I'm okay with paying as long as I know for sure I'll be getting a quality product and supporting the builder. Thank you for any insights you can provide!