Posted in Fun on Dec 22nd, 2009
Many of my friends know that I have chosen two possible epitaphs for my tombstone that I feel succinctly sum up certain aspects of my life: “No One Said There Would Be Math” “He Played The Hammered Dulcimer But Never Made A Christmas Album” In light of the second possibility I would like to share [...]
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Posted in Tools on Dec 19th, 2009
To start off I would like to say that it is my firm belief that nothing is perfectly flat, straight or in tune. Everything on earth seems to always be a little bit off. This includes myself from what I have been told. That being said, hand-planing the thin stock used for dulcimer tops, backs, [...]
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Posted in Dulcimer, Lutherie, Tools on Dec 13th, 2009
The full title of this book is, “Field Book Of American Trees And Shrubs: A Concise Description Of The Character And Color Of Species Common Throughout The United States, Together With Maps Showing Their General Distribution.” I guess they were into long titles in 1915! Woodworkers and luthiers could not do what they do without tress. This [...]
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Posted in Dulcimer, Lutherie, Tools on Dec 9th, 2009
My shop used to be a bedroom, a small bedroom. It is what a realtor would describe as being “cozy and intimate.” I work primarily with hand tools so most of my time is spent standing or sitting by the bench. I tend to multitask so there are several things in the works in this [...]
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Posted in Lutherie, Music on Dec 1st, 2009
Musical bows are most likely the original stringed instrument. Some are played in a fashion similar to the Jew’s harp; the player’s mouth is used as a resonator and by changing the shape of the mouth different harmonics are emphasized to produce melody. Some musical bows are designed to allow defining notes by fingering the [...]
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