Hi Peter, thanks for filling me in on your dulcimer! I've seen the acoustic jam model on the website and wondered how it would sound. I have two Blue Lions and love them both. My first is a Style II with rosewood and my newest one is the Jean Ritchie Model in Walnut/Redwood. I'm blown away by the JR model...its very balanced and has a sweet ring with just the right amount of sustain to allow nice note separation. I've been nothing but surprised by how well I enjoy the JR model for both fiddle tunes and finger-style playing! It has much more volume than the Style II as well, although I have not played it out with the string band yet. It would probably sound great on a possum board.

Wow! You've got an original CapriTaurus! I had no idea they were making them again. I would love to see what Mr. Rugg is building these days.....I'm sure they are or will be superb instruments!

Peter, I really enjoy your music! I just learned La Marianne from one of your recordings and made a fingerstyle arrangement of it, which I'll record on the JR dulcimer in the next couple days (with credit to your video, or course). I hope I do it justice! Thanks for bringing all the great French tunes to us...they are such a pleasure to hear and play.

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

You know your Blue Lions! It's a custom Blue Lion rosewood "Acoustic Jam" model. It's kinda special because it has stainless steel frets. I ordered these because, for all intents and purposes, they just don't wear out. I've been playing it hard in lots of sessions and for contra dances for 3 years now, and there's no sign of wear--which makes me very happy! Great full and loud sound, clean, crisp and well balanced. It's loud enough (when I play it on top of my possum board) that I can pretty well be heard by fiddlers, banjoists, etc. in an Old Time or Irish session. I also play in a traditional French dance band, which includes hurdy gurdy and bagpipes. It's not as loud as these for sure, but I'm also not drowned out. Check out my video here on FOTMD in which I'm playing with my contra dance band, "Peak Nouveau." I'm playing this Blue Lion in it.

Another wonderful dulcimer for playing fiddle tunes (which you do, if memory serves) is my CapriTaurus, made in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. Mine is from 1978, and I absolutely LOVE IT! It just almost plays itself! CapriTaurus stopped making instruments in the mid 1980's, but has just started back up again. For more info and photos, contact Howard Rugg. I believe he's an FOTMD member and is also on Face Book.

Have enjoyed your videos!

Best,

Peter

Peter, Looks like you are playing a lovely Blue Lion dulcimer? Which model is it or did you have it custom built?