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Location: Morgantown WV
Country: USA

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images: 3

events: 1

My wife, Norma has been playing and acquiring dulcimers for about ten years. I make musical instruments as a creative activity, and play DAA Noter Drone, ukulele, U-Bass and concert and hand percussion.

Latest Activity

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@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Stradivarius Effect":

"Thanks for the information on "reverse capos." I'll definitely give that a try."

@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Stradivarius Effect":

"Ken Longfield said: "A notable feature of the scheitholt is that under the second string at the fourth fret there is a hook which you can slide the string..."

@wally-venable • 3 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Stradivarius Effect":

"Wikipedia sez: Zithers are typically played by strumming or plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum . In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification..."

@wally-venable • 5 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "The Stradivarius Effect":

"If DAD is Dulcimer Acquisition Disease, then DAA can be Dulcimers Always Accumulate."

@wally-venable • 5 days ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Bad string?":

"If you want a top level dulcimer and can't do repairs yourself, you should consider buying directly from the builder. It may be cheaper in the long run. I..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Thrift Auction: Early Paul Pyle Dulcimer with Tail Damage":

"I agree with Ken that it is good to have posts which include information about historic dulcimers and builders. Along that line, perhaps the one you first..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Thrift Auction: Early Paul Pyle Dulcimer with Tail Damage":

"Early bids on ShopGoodwill are no indication of what the price will eventually be. We often see Mcspadden and Folkcraft instruments starting at something..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on Noter effect on strings?:

"String diameter will have some effect because larger strings need more tension to play the same note. Longer VSLs will also require more tension. I don't..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Bad string?":

"There can be a bad string, but with modern wire it is unlikely that you will ever encounter one. It would almost certainly be because of a bad winding at the..."

@wally-venable • 2 weeks ago • comments: 7
Posted a new Comment on Varsoviana:

"It is a nice arrangement in waltz time, but it is a stretch to call it "a traditional Viennese waltz." ========================= Varsoviana /..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 32
Posted a new Comment on Suggestions please for buying a first dulcimer:

"I have happily purchased a number of dulcimers from ShopGoodwill. I can offer some advice: 1. Always check the shipping costs! About $30 is reasonable, in my..."

@wally-venable • 3 weeks ago • comments: 16
Posted a new Comment on How to lower the action on a mountain dulcimer:

"It certainly looks to me that you have an Applecreek Model 100 series dulcimer. I've owned or worked on about 20 of them. In any case, it is a "flat head"..."

@wally-venable • 4 weeks ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "An Icelandic instrument - the langspil":

"Last night we watched the full program from which the langspil video on YouTube was taken. The program is about contemporary "classical" music in Iceland...."

@wally-venable • 4 weeks ago • comments: 12
Posted a new Comment on Just starting out, have a question:

"Ken said " Some folks tuned all the strings to the same note; unison tuning which was good for fiddle tunes. ..." The Galax, VA style is all on the same..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "An Icelandic instrument - the langspil":

"I suggest it is misleading to say that the Langspil is a "relative" of the dulcimer. The world has many three-stringed instruments which are plucked or..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Fret Rocker":

"I measured the 3-fret distances on my old Folkcraft dulcimer and then made the triangular Fret Rocker shown from a piece of scrap aluminum I had on hand. I..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Changing from pegs to machine tuners":

"If you are selling them as musical instruments, the first concern should be how do they sound. If the sound isn't better than a cardboard one, they're not..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Luthiers, Builder question on finishes":

"From a web search: Where to buy pure, 200-proof food grade ethanol in California? Buying 200 proof food grade ethanol in California is quick and easy from..."

@wally-venable • one month ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Fret Rocker":

"A "fret rocker" can be any straight edge which spans 3 frets, but not 4. The "special tools" sold for the purpose are metal plates with 4 sides of different..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Equal temperamant V Just intonation":

"Actually, it should be the distance of each fret from the nut, not the spacing between the frets. Otherwise an error at one fret throws all of the higher..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Equal temperamant V Just intonation":

"With regard to your tuners vs. your dulcimers, remember that each tuner design uses a mathematical model when making pronouncements. Few, if any, tell you..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 0
Posted a response to "Equal temperamant V Just intonation":

"I just took another run through the linked video. If you primarily play in isolation, this may be something you want to consider. If you play with others,..."

@wally-venable • 2 months ago • comments: 16
Posted a new Comment on Northern WV Dulcimer Doings:

"Mountaineer Dulcimer Club Spring Convention Saturday April 25 , 2026 Central United Methodist Church, 301 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont WV 10:00 – 12:00 – Learn..."

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Liquid Electrical Tape

Posted: Saturday November 25 2023, 9:30 PM
By: @John C. Knopf

Looking for a Small Dulcimer

Posted: Wednesday October 26 2022, 11:06 AM
By: @Tom McShane

Comments

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01/15/22 11:49:34AM @strumelia:

Wally, thank you SO much for your very thoughtful donation to FOTMD! It is deeply appreciated. sun -Strumelia

11/25/19 02:27:14PM @wally-venable:

The photo shows my first dulcimer project and my third.

The design of the first was based on a cardboard body instrument Norma borrowed for her first dulcimer class.

The third is an octave dulcimer tuned DAA, but an octave above the usual set of notes. It is short enough to fit in an airline carry-on bag.

Both have fingerboards made from 1x2 lumber, with most of the body constructed from 1/8" and 3/32" birch plywood.

02/19/19 08:26:15PM @richard-streib:

Welcome Wallyvenable to Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Glad you joined. Sounds like a great event you will be attending. Best wishes on your musical journey.

02/18/19 02:08:20PM @wally-venable:

I'll be at the Gardner Winter Music Fest this Saturday. http://www.gwmf.org

I'm playing with the DAA Strummers and OLLI Orchestra.

The GWMF has a lot of room for mountain dulcimer player or wanna be's. We enjoyed it last year. You can't beat the registration fee - FREE if you bring an instrument.

02/18/19 05:43:39AM @benjamin-w-barr-jr:

Hi Wally, 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

02/17/19 08:54:20PM @jim-fawcett:

Hey Wally, welcome aboard. Glad ya found us.

02/17/19 07:37:53PM @ken-longfield:

Welcome to FOTMD, Wally Venable. It is good to have you aboard. Look for West Virginia players under Groups and join that group.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."