(What kind of wood did he use for the top on yours? )
American Black Walnut with Sassafras top.
What is the one you have like?
He used American Black Walnut with a Wormy Chestnut Top. I've played mine a lot, and so some of the finish has worn down underneath some of the strings in between the frets. It has a beautiful sound to it. I love it and wish I had one or two more of them! What year did he make yours? He made the one I have in Clearwater Florida in 1985. I've included a picture you might like to see. I don't know the date it was taken unfortunately.
I am sorry about your grandpa. I hope you still have his dulcimer, instruments, like art share a part of the artist/builder in them.
I did not know anything about Sam Carrell or his dulcimers till I picked up one of his 5 string fiddle-shaped about 2 months ago - made in August '84. Sounds like shortly before he moved to Fla. I had many questions and learned a lot about his dulcimers from the members here. there are several who have one of his dulcimers. I had questions and posted several in the Forums about his history, the shape & info on getting wooden pegs to hole.
Welcome to this site and yes, I wouldn't mind you telling us what ever you would like on your grandpa. There is a discussion already on Sam Carrell but you could start your own.
I'm attaching my Sam Carrell, it has 'weeping hearts', 'trailing hearts' or 'crying hearts' sound holes - do you know anything about this choice for a sound hole? Look forward to your post. I have the dulcimer with 4 strings, tune DAA & love the tone, a beautiful instrument and I am very happy to have it.
He often used the weeping heart sound hole because he just liked how they looked, although he also played around with several other designs. What kind of wood did he use for the top on yours? His wood of choice was Wormy Chestnut, he really really liked how it looked and sounded. He made noters out of walnut, and they were usually about 3.5" in length and were simple rectangular sticks basically. For his picks (he very rarely would finger pick a dulcimer) he would take an old milk jug and cut a simple pick shape out of the bottom section. It doesn't work that good anymore, the milk jugs have gotten so thin now...
Hi guys and gals, thank you for all the warm welcomes! My name is Samuel Ryan Carrell (I go by Ryan, because my Grandpa went by the name Sam), I'm 25, and live in Knoxville, TN. As you've already seen from my member info, my Grandpa was Samuel Albert Carrell, and he used to make dulcimers and a few other instruments in Townsend, TN, back in the 1970's and 1980's. I'm sorry it has taken a while for me to get on here after I joined, work has been crazy busy and for some reason my phone doesn't like to play well with this forum. I'm in the process of putting together a short biography of my Grandpa, and if it's alright with y'all I'll start a new thread for it when I'm finished with it. I also have some old pictures of him and his shop that I'll include to, if that's alright. I have one of his mountain dulcimers and two of his hammered dulcimers, one is a two string and is completed, the other is a three string that still needs to have bridges made for it. I'll get some pictures of them on here shortly, please be patient with me as I try and figure out how to work this forum :) Have a wonderful evening, and thanks again for the warm welcome!
Hi Ryan, 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.
I am sorry about your grandpa. I hope you still have his dulcimer, instruments, like art share a part of the artist/builder in them.
I did not know anything about Sam Carrell or his dulcimers till I picked up one of his 5 string fiddle-shaped about 2 months ago - made in August '84. Sounds like shortly before he moved to Fla. I had many questions and learned a lot about his dulcimers from the members here. there are several who have one of his dulcimers. I had questions and posted several in the Forums about his history, the shape & info on getting wooden pegs to hole.
Welcome to this site and yes, I wouldn't mind you telling us what ever you would like on your grandpa. There is a discussion already on Sam Carrell but you could start your own.
I'm attaching my Sam Carrell, it has 'weeping hearts', 'trailing hearts' or 'crying hearts' sound holes - do you know anything about this choice for a sound hole? Look forward to your post. I have the dulcimer with 4 strings, tune DAA & love the tone, a beautiful instrument and I am very happy to have it.
(What year did he make yours?)
August '84.
I also think the sound is so nice. Who ever had the one I got must have not played it since it looks new, no wear marks.
Hi Ryan- please see your INBOX for my private message. Thanks!
(What kind of wood did he use for the top on yours? )
American Black Walnut with Sassafras top.
What is the one you have like?
He used American Black Walnut with a Wormy Chestnut Top. I've played mine a lot, and so some of the finish has worn down underneath some of the strings in between the frets. It has a beautiful sound to it. I love it and wish I had one or two more of them! What year did he make yours? He made the one I have in Clearwater Florida in 1985. I've included a picture you might like to see. I don't know the date it was taken unfortunately.
(What kind of wood did he use for the top on yours? )
American Black Walnut with Sassafras top.
What is the one you have like?
I am sorry about your grandpa. I hope you still have his dulcimer, instruments, like art share a part of the artist/builder in them.
I did not know anything about Sam Carrell or his dulcimers till I picked up one of his 5 string fiddle-shaped about 2 months ago - made in August '84. Sounds like shortly before he moved to Fla. I had many questions and learned a lot about his dulcimers from the members here. there are several who have one of his dulcimers. I had questions and posted several in the Forums about his history, the shape & info on getting wooden pegs to hole.
Welcome to this site and yes, I wouldn't mind you telling us what ever you would like on your grandpa. There is a discussion already on Sam Carrell but you could start your own.
I'm attaching my Sam Carrell, it has 'weeping hearts', 'trailing hearts' or 'crying hearts' sound holes - do you know anything about this choice for a sound hole? Look forward to your post. I have the dulcimer with 4 strings, tune DAA & love the tone, a beautiful instrument and I am very happy to have it.
He often used the weeping heart sound hole because he just liked how they looked, although he also played around with several other designs. What kind of wood did he use for the top on yours? His wood of choice was Wormy Chestnut, he really really liked how it looked and sounded. He made noters out of walnut, and they were usually about 3.5" in length and were simple rectangular sticks basically. For his picks (he very rarely would finger pick a dulcimer) he would take an old milk jug and cut a simple pick shape out of the bottom section. It doesn't work that good anymore, the milk jugs have gotten so thin now...
Hi guys and gals, thank you for all the warm welcomes! My name is Samuel Ryan Carrell (I go by Ryan, because my Grandpa went by the name Sam), I'm 25, and live in Knoxville, TN. As you've already seen from my member info, my Grandpa was Samuel Albert Carrell, and he used to make dulcimers and a few other instruments in Townsend, TN, back in the 1970's and 1980's. I'm sorry it has taken a while for me to get on here after I joined, work has been crazy busy and for some reason my phone doesn't like to play well with this forum. I'm in the process of putting together a short biography of my Grandpa, and if it's alright with y'all I'll start a new thread for it when I'm finished with it. I also have some old pictures of him and his shop that I'll include to, if that's alright. I have one of his mountain dulcimers and two of his hammered dulcimers, one is a two string and is completed, the other is a three string that still needs to have bridges made for it. I'll get some pictures of them on here shortly, please be patient with me as I try and figure out how to work this forum :) Have a wonderful evening, and thanks again for the warm welcome!
Hi Ryan, 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
Hey Ryan, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.
Welcome, Ryan, to this little corner of dulcimer heaven. Hope you enjoy it here.
Rob
I am sorry about your grandpa. I hope you still have his dulcimer, instruments, like art share a part of the artist/builder in them.
I did not know anything about Sam Carrell or his dulcimers till I picked up one of his 5 string fiddle-shaped about 2 months ago - made in August '84. Sounds like shortly before he moved to Fla. I had many questions and learned a lot about his dulcimers from the members here. there are several who have one of his dulcimers. I had questions and posted several in the Forums about his history, the shape & info on getting wooden pegs to hole.
Welcome to this site and yes, I wouldn't mind you telling us what ever you would like on your grandpa. There is a discussion already on Sam Carrell but you could start your own.
I'm attaching my Sam Carrell, it has 'weeping hearts', 'trailing hearts' or 'crying hearts' sound holes - do you know anything about this choice for a sound hole? Look forward to your post. I have the dulcimer with 4 strings, tune DAA & love the tone, a beautiful instrument and I am very happy to have it.
Welcome to FOTMD, Ryan. It's good to have you aboard.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."