I have been busy building several custom-ordered dulcimers but will soon have some other dulcimers up for sale as well.

Here is a sure sign that I have been busy working in the shop:

A place for everything and everything is everyplace!

As I have said before, my current shop is what a realtor would describe as “cozy.” I may move my shop into a larger space in the not-too-distant future but for now I work in tight quarters.

As long as there is room for me behind the bench I am happy!

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 two tunings I have heard of are either similar to 1-5-5 or open tunings based on a major chord. The sapes I have seen in pictures and videos commonly have four strings but I have also seen a few with three.

The strumming technique using the thumb is similar to strumming a dulcimer yet also reminiscent of clawhammer banjo.

The sape is a quiet instrument. Contemporary players often play electric sapes and often one sape player will be accompanied by another.

If a picture is worth a thousand words these videos should be worth much more!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-EvbJIReag

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKOJPWo8LZk

And a sape lesson!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np2Cpz4DvzE

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 into harmony.

Though every part is integral to the final result I consider the fretboard to be the heart of the dulcimer. The fretboard transmits the music within the musician to the body of the dulcimer.

The fretboard is the primary soundboard brace.  It also acts as a bridge and transfers the vibrations of the strings from every fret directly to the soundboard. By altering the material, weight, and mass of the fretboard I can adjust  volume, tone and sustain.

The choice of wood for the fretboard is as critical as the choice of wood for the soundboard. The fretboard needs to be resonant, stable and strong enough to carry the tension of the strings.

I treat the hollowing-out of the fretboard, the carving of the strum-hollow and the shape of the tail-end of the fretboard in a similar manner to shaping the internal braces, thicknessing  the sides and graduating the top and back.

This process takes time but it brings me great joy.

I ended up at an antique mall. My definition of an antique mall is “a museum where you can handle the objects and buy them if so inspired.”

I was “so inspired” today.

It is easy for me to spend time tweaking and tuning up wonderful old tools. Tools are functional objects of beauty and each will have a unique personality to contribute to my work.

Perhaps my relaxing hobby is exploring the history, form and function of the tools I use in my work.

Today I came across three tools that talked me into taking them home.

The first was a Stanley type 11 #8C jointer plane in very good condition. Yes, I have a #8 but it isn’t a type 11. Now I have one that matches my type 11 #7. That must be important, right?

The second tool to not only jump off a shelf but  follow me down the aisle was a Ohio Tool Company wooden jack plane that just needs a little cleaning and sharpening. I have another similar wooden jack plane but the mouth on it is so tight I use it as a smoother. This one will be dedicated to rougher work.

Then an unmarked plumb-bob caught my eye as I walked by. I politely asked it to give me my eye back but it said it would only do so if I took it home. I thought it best to go along with its wishes. I have no actual need or use for this plumb-bob nor do I have a need or use for the other 3 or 4 I own. I tend to hang them from things around the house so I always have a reminder of where the floor is.

I usually end up selling , trading or giving away tools as I find some I prefer to what I have been using but sometimes that process takes a while. It is always hard when they leave the nest.

Did I really need any of these tools? No. Did finding them and thinking of the joy of working with them make me feel better about life, the universe and everything else. Yes!

The cost of these tools was very reasonable and much less than what I would have paid for a good massage or any other therapeutic intervention.

Time to get back to work and make dulcimers! Yay!

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, &c. Of colours and painting, for carriage painters. Of painting on paper. Of compositions from limners. Of transparent colours. How to dye skins or gloves. To colour or varnish copper-plate prints. Of painting on glass. Of colours of all sorts, for oil, water, and crayons. Of the art of gilding. The art of dying woods, bones, &c. The art of moulding. The art of making wines. Of the various compostions of vinegars. Of liquors and essential oils. Of the confectionary art. Of taking out all sorts of spots and stains.” (1795)

I love this stuff!

Learn methods of work from the past!  Amaze your friends!

Download your copy courtesy of The Internet Archive  -  Valuable Secrets Concerning Arts And Trades (1795)

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 and humidity. On-line.

Inch2Metric

Converts from inches to metric and the reverse. No one said there would be math! Windows.

I stopped making dulcimers when I was in my mid-twenties. I was traveling  a lot  and moving fairly often so I focused on performing rather than dulcimer making. I missed dulcimer making but it just wasn’t practical to have a shop during those years.

I had stopped at dulcimer #78 in the Winter of 1983. 78 dulcimers with my name in them made between 1975 and 1983 are out there somewhere. The only one in my possession is the dulcimer currently in the photo at the top of my web page. It came home a few years ago and it was built in 1981.

Some internet sleuthing brought up another dulcimer I had made in 1981 that was up for sale. No, I didn’t buy it but I downloaded the pictures. During that time I used variations on a lute rose pattern as soundholes on several dulcimers. I also used  teardrop or flame style f-holes on quite a few instruments back then.

Here are two pictures of dulcimer #50 from the listing I found:

I remember making this one for a woman in Vermont. I made several dulcimers with sympathetic strings. On this dulcimer the sympathetic strings ran over the soundboard on the bass side of the fretboard. From the picture I can see that the sympathetic strings as well as their tuners and bridges are no longer present. It also looks like the peghead had been broken off and repaired with wood screws.

Speaking of the peghead; I must have thought the shape of this peghead was a good idea at the time. What was I thinking! I was young and didn’t know any better!

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. And there is the extra frantic episode that usually takes place on the day I actually leave.

I promised myself that I would learn to have some time to relax before I travel. I had almost succeeded this time.

After having copies made of the hand-outs I’ll be using I realized I had left out a page. No problem; I had plenty of time to make more copies. The dulcimers I am bringing are ready to go. The car got an oil change today. My clothes are in the dryer. Reservations are made. All is well with the world.

Since I almost ready with time to spare I wondered what to do with myself this evening. “I know,” said a little voice, “You can fix up that used dulcimer you’ve been meaning to do something with!” “You can bring it to the festival!” “You have plenty of time!”

Yeah, right.

So here it is, 11:00PM and I just about have that used dulcimer ready to go. And as long as I was in the shop I figured that I may as well rub-out and burnish the varnish on a recent dulcimer to a bit more of a satin finish. And while I’m doing that I may as well restring another dulcimer, and I could also………

The good news is that I don’t have to leave till late tomorrow afternoon!

Here’s hoping that I don’t forget anything!

Our home is a 100 year old farm house with what is called a Michigan basement; a simple basement with stone and mortar walls that leak like a sieve.

I had just ripped a set of dulcimer sides to height and noticed this little critter next to me on the floor.

I ran upstairs for the camera and took this picture. The little critter did not like that and with each click of the camera it lunged at me.

Fortunately for me this snake was only about 7 inches long!

As an afterthought I wished I had put my six-inch ruler in the photograph but now I can brag and tell fish stories about the  snake I found in the basement.

After catching him and letting him go in a nearby field I did some research and I think it was an Eastern Milk Snake.

Time to get back to work!