Date: Fri, 4 May 2012 10:59:32 -0700 (PDT) From: "Matt C.M." To: atxhs-discuss@googlegroups.com Message-ID: <22280647.1216.1336154372499.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynjn3> In-Reply-To: <62912.1371.1336020937222.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynei5> References: <62912.1371.1336020937222.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@ynei5> Subject: Re: dulcimer MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----=_Part_1214_19226348.1336154372497" ------=_Part_1214_19226348.1336154372497 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_1215_8055028.1336154372497" ------=_Part_1215_8055028.1336154372497 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Looks awesome, how much did the parts cost, all together? On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 11:55:36 PM UTC-5, David Mitchell wrote: > > > I got my dulcimer all put together and have been having so much fun > playing with it that I haven't bothered to put a finish on yet. Thanks so > much to Danny for the awesome resaw, thickness planer, and patient help > teaching me how to use them. > > In only a couple days I've gotten less than horrible, and have nearly made > it to just sucking majorly. It will probably be a few more days before I'll > even subject my wife to a few minutes of it. > > The laser was awesome to have for getting the shape of the top & bottom to > match exactly and the sound holes cut and located precisely. next time I'll > use it for making the fret groves too (this time I cut them by hand with a > jeweler's saw, not-parallel on purpose). > > A thin engraved band around the outside edge of the top, and all the cut > edges make for nice decorations. I could do something ridiculously complex, > but my style sense seems to be happiest with simple and clean. > > The combination of resaw, thickness planer, and laser cutter is pretty > amazing. I got away without a jointer because I could get a plank wide > enough for my needs. > > After putting the proper-weight strings on, it sounds OK. but I made lots > of mistakes on it purely (I think) due to not having another one on hand to > compare against, and never having really played one before. (like putting > the strings so closely together at first that I couldn't fret just 1 string > without touching its neighbors). Also, I will use the lightest-weight > (thinnest) frets next time - its very easy to press too hard on the strings > which makes the tone vary enough to make my terrible playing sound even > worse. > > -David > > > > On Wednesday, April 18, 2012 1:55:09 PM UTC-5, Amishacker wrote: >> >> Huh, >> During an impromptu music night on the east side I got a chance to >> play with a strumstick, which I understand borrows the fretboard and >> string layout from a 3-string mountain dulcimer. It was extremely fun >> and easy to play. >> >> I'm interested to see how this turns out. >> >> >> On Apr 17, 2:21 pm, David Mitchell wrote: >> > (posted to my blog at: >> http://everhack.blog.atxhackerspace.org/2012/04/17/the-mountain-dulci... >> > ) >> > >> > Back in the late 50's and early 60's, my dad started building and >> > playing Appalachian (mountain) dulcimers. Being the teacher and >> > playful maker he is, he soon wrote a pamphlet on the subject that he >> > shared with his students and anyone who wrote to ask about it. >> > >> > Here's a copy of his 1962 (second edition) pamphlet, "The Mountain >> > Dulcimer, how to make and play it (after a fashion)", which he has >> > generously given me permission to post here for public consumption. >> > >> > This pamphlet is the basis for the 1965 Folk Legacy book & album of >> > the same title, but there are many differences between the two. >> > >> > The Mountain Dulcimer, 2nd ed. >> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16333218/TheMountainDulcimer_1962_pamphlet.pdf >> > >> > I had a nice long chat with Caroline Paton (of Folk Legacy Records) >> > and she has generously given permission for me to publicly share a PDF >> > of the Folk Legacy book, "The Mountain Dulcimer - How to Make it and >> > Play it (after a fashion).". This is a significantly revised and >> > lengthened version of the pamphlet, with a wonderful companion >> > recording. >> > >> > The Mountain Dulcimer - Part 1 >> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16333218/FolkLegacy-MountainDulcimer-Book/The... >> > >> > The Mountain Dulcimer - Part 2 >> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16333218/FolkLegacy-MountainDulcimer-Book/The... >> > >> > The CD is still available from Folk Legacy's website at: >> http://www.folk-legacy.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=58 >> > >> > The books, CDs, and original LPs are also pretty easy to find on eBay >> > and Amazon. >> > >> > The pamphlet focuses on the 3-string dulcimer and has quite a few more >> > specific measurements than the book. The book mostly covers the >> > 4-string dulcimer, but discusses a number of variations. >> > >> > Enjoy and share with the blessings of Howie and Caroline and myself. I >> > just love the way he encourages experimentation and presents the >> > topics in such a clear and light-hearted fashion, it should appeal to >> > most anyone with a creative streak, even if you never plan to actually >> > make, or play, your own dulcimer. >> > >> > I recommend both! >> > >> > regards >> > David > > ------=_Part_1215_8055028.1336154372497 Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Looks awesome, how much did the parts cost, all together?

On Wednesd= ay, May 2, 2012 11:55:36 PM UTC-5, David Mitchell wrote:

I got my dulcimer all put together and have= been having so much fun playing with it that I haven't bothered to put a f= inish on yet. Thanks so much to Danny for the awesome  resaw, thicknes= s planer, and patient help teaching me how to use them. 

In on= ly a couple days I've gotten less than horrible, and have nearly made it to= just sucking majorly. It will probably be a few more days before I'll even= subject my wife to a few minutes of it.

The laser was awesome to ha= ve for getting the shape of the top & bottom to match exactly and the s= ound holes cut and located precisely. next time I'll use it for making the = fret groves too (this time I cut them by hand with a jeweler's saw, not-par= allel on purpose).

A thin engraved band around the outside edge of = the top, and all the cut edges make for nice decorations. I could do someth= ing ridiculously complex, but my style sense seems to be happiest with simp= le and clean.

The combination of resaw, thickness planer, and laser = cutter is pretty amazing. I got away without a jointer because I could get = a plank wide enough for my needs.

After putting the proper-weight st= rings on, it sounds OK. but I made lots of mistakes on it purely (I think) = due to not having another one on hand to compare against, and never having = really played one before. (like putting the strings so closely together at = first that I couldn't fret just 1 string without touching its neighbors). A= lso, I will use the lightest-weight (thinnest) frets next time - its very e= asy to press too hard on the strings which makes the tone vary enough to ma= ke my terrible playing sound even worse.

-David



On We= dnesday, April 18, 2012 1:55:09 PM UTC-5, Amishacker wrote:
Huh,
During an impromptu music night on the east side I got a chance to
play with a strumstick, which I understand borrows the fretboard and
string layout from a 3-string mountain dulcimer. It was extremely fun
and easy to play.

I'm interested to see how this turns out.


On Apr 17, 2:21 pm, David Mitchell <gossip...@gmail.com&= gt; wrote:
> (posted to my blog at:http://everhack.bl= og.atxhackerspace.org/2012/04/17/the-mountain-dulci...
> )
>
> Back in the late 50's and early 60's, my dad started building and
> playing Appalachian (mountain) dulcimers. Being the teacher and
> playful maker he is, he soon wrote a pamphlet on the subject that = he
> shared with his students and anyone who wrote to ask about it.
>
> Here's a copy of his 1962 (second edition) pamphlet, "The Mountain
> Dulcimer, how to make and play it (after a fashion)", which he has
> generously given me permission to post here for public consumption= .
>
> This pamphlet is the basis for the 1965 Folk Legacy book & alb= um of
> the same title, but there are many differences between the two.
>
> The Mountain Dulcimer, 2nd ed.http://dl.= dropbox.com/u/16333218/TheMountainDulcimer_1962_pamphlet.pdf
>
> I had a nice long chat with Caroline Paton (of Folk Legacy Records= )
> and she has generously given permission for me to publicly share a= PDF
> of the Folk Legacy book, "The Mountain Dulcimer - How to Make it a= nd
> Play it (after a fashion).". This is a significantly revised and
> lengthened version of the pamphlet, with a wonderful companion
> recording.
>
> The Mountain Dulcimer - Part 1http://dl.= dropbox.com/u/16333218/FolkLegacy-MountainDulcimer-Book/The..= .
>
> The Mountain Dulcimer - Part 2http://dl.= dropbox.com/u/16333218/FolkLegacy-MountainDulcimer-Book/The..= .
>
> The CD is still available from Folk Legacy's website at:http://www.folk-legacy.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=3D58
>
> The books, CDs, and original LPs are also pretty easy to find on e= Bay
> and Amazon.
>
> The pamphlet focuses on the 3-string dulcimer and has quite a few = more
> specific measurements than the book. The book mostly covers the
> 4-string dulcimer, but discusses a number of variations.
>
> Enjoy and share with the blessings of Howie and Caroline and mysel= f. I
> just love the way he encourages experimentation and presents the
> topics in such a clear and light-hearted fashion, it should appeal= to
> most anyone with a creative streak, even if you never plan to actu= ally
> make, or play, your own dulcimer.
>
> I recommend both!
>
> regards
> David
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