I first learned of the sape while watching a documentary about Borneo many years ago. As both a dulcimer and clawhammer banjo player I am fascinated by this beautiful instrument and its music. Listening to the music of the sape and observing the techniques of playing it have helped me grow as a musician. The [...]
Category Archive for 'Dulcimer'
I consider every component of a dulcimer to be integral to the instrument’s sound, playability, beauty and structural integrity. The choice of wood, the thickness of the top, back and sides, bracing and other structural elements are unique to each dulcimer I build. I adjust each component as the dulcimer is constructed to bring them [...]
I was in a funk today and needed to snap out of it. I love making dulcimers but making dulcimers is also one of my jobs and I needed a break from working so I decided to go for a drive. I ended up at an antique mall. My definition of an antique mall is [...]
I came across this book while doing research on varnish-making: The title alone provides a good read – “Valuable Secrets Concerning Arts and Trades: or, Approved directions, from the best artists : for the various methods of engraving on brass, copper, or steel. Of the composition of metals, and varnishes. Of mastichs and cements, sealing-wax, [...]
Audacity Great for sound recording and editing. Runs on most operating systems. ABC Navigator Converts ABC notation to standard notation, plays files as midi, etc. Windows. Weird Metronome My favorite metronome. Windows. Fretcalc Calculates fret spacing for any scale length offering many options. Windows and other systems. Shrinkulator Calculates wood movement based on species, temperature [...]
I started making dulcimers on my parents’ kitchen table when I was 17 . When I left home I worked out of a few different shops, houses and apartments. Sometimes where I lived and worked were the same place and occasionally the same room. I was young and the world was mine. I stopped making dulcimers when I [...]
Dulcimerville is going to be wonderful! Though it is only the first year of the festival it is being presented by Lois Hornbostel and Lois knows what she is doing! Lois has been organizing well-known, fun and successful dulcimer gatherings for almost 25 years. I am usually somewhat frantic the day before a road trip. [...]
Since I make dulcimers primarily using hand tools almost everything takes place on the bench. The rest of my small shop contains mostly tools and wood that get used on the bench or stuff that is drying or curing between visits to the bench. Here are a bunch of pictures I took during the past few months of various [...]
I have mentioned before that my shop is very small, what realtors would describe as “cozy.” I have enough room to comfortably work on three dulcimers at a time during the primary steps of construction. As the dulcimers come closer to completion I work on each one individually until it is time for the finishing [...]
As I end the day my hands show traces of shellac and oil varnish. This makes me happy. The subtle fragrance of a relatively non-toxic finish drying on a cherry dulcimer fills the air. Like many who appreciate and practice historic methods of work I read historic books on the subject. Paul N. Hasluck was [...]
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- I'm about to put binding on a dulcimer and will start making the peghead while the glue dries. Lutherie multitasking! 1 day ago
- Making sawdust. 2 days ago
- Just got back from a trip to the sawmill. I came home with some beautiful quartersawn cherry and walnut. 3 days ago
- I have a pile of odd dulcimer tops, sides and backs left over from resawing. None match the others. I'll make a patchwork dulcimer someday! 4 days ago
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