Folkcraft History In The Making

April 3, 2026

Hey Guys - Happy Friday!

I heard back from Richard this morning (Wednesday, April 1st) and he told me that while the finish line is in sight, it'll still be a little while yet before the UP is home for both the Ash family and Folkcraft Instruments. I'm sure Richard will have lots of stories - and photos - to share with us once the sawdust settles.

So, today we're re-featuring an "In The Shop" from almost-Spring 2023. Richard was waxing eloquent on all that Folkcraft founder, David Marks, had done starting a company from scratch out of his garage. You know how Richard loves history. He's currently making some new history right now - relocating his family and business "way Up North."

I'll keep you all posted, 'kay?

Toya-Folkcraft-newsletter-editor-who-has-often-wished-she-could-tag-along-on-one-of-those-trips-to-Michigan-because-that's-where-she's-from-too

(March 10, 2023)

Good Morning, Y'all!

I had someone actually call me out on using "y'all" in an earlier newsletter. Born in Michigan, lived in a few northern states (Ohio, Montana, Indiana) since 1981...

But I spent most of my grade school - and high school years - in Arkansas. So my "y'all" is legit, y'all, not an affectation. So there!

I talk about Folkcraft's history quite a bit. I'm enthralled with what Folkcraft founder David Marks was able to do - starting a company from scratch (in his garage) back in the early 70s. We have tools and fixtures, dating to that period, which we still use here every day.

Here's a tool from a while back - 25 years ago - which I just "retired" earlier this week. This tool is made of corrugated paper and held a nice protective layer of sawdust in its depths.

a cardboard box holding various sizes of sandpaper cylinders

It is just a cardboard box, but it seems to fit the "If you can't make something better, leave it alone" philosophy. This box did a remarkable job holding various-sized cylinders of sandpaper. For over 25 years!

How do I know this? Look closely at this photo of the side of the box:

close up of the address on the side of the box containing the sandpaper cylinders

This box was mailed from Helen, GA, to the Folkcraft shop in Winsted, CT, in October, 1998 - according to the postage label.

Yes, it is an old box. But most of us have older boxes in our attics and garages. This box, though, stood the test of time, with daily use in a working wood shop.

Yesterday's UPS delivery brought me a 1992 Folkcraft dulcimer for some maintenance. It's 31 years old, but still in great shape. It just needed some new frets and a bit of minor TLC to play like new again.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with using a tool, box, or dulcimer until it can't be used any more. I often sell unused tools that are too good to throw away and don't hesitate to put a box in the dumpster. But an older dulcimer? Definitely keep it going!

New dulcimers have some benefits - generally more power and projection, fresh and shiny finishes, modern pickup systems. But the older instruments have their charm, too.

What's your oldest dulcimer? Not one hanging on the wall, but one which you still use? Tell us about it, and I'll feature an instrument or two in next week's newsletter! (a photo would be great, to go along with any stories your old dulcimer can tell...)

Thanks for reading, y'all - have a great weekend!

Richard Ash, luthier-who-enjoys-working-with-old-tools

FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: JUNE DAY

Folkcraft Player Patty Curtis

Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?

June: I was first introduced to the mountain dulcimer in 2014 while on vacation in Tennessee. My husband and I decided to explore the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, a series of shops and galleries along an 8-mile loop just outside of Gatlinburg. I had never even heard of a mountain dulcimer before, but there was a shop there that made them. We walked up to talk with the gentleman at the counter, and he said, “I can teach you to play this instrument in five minutes!” I was intrigued and tried it out, and amazingly I could play that mountain dulcimer in just a couple of minutes! But I decided against getting one on that day because I was concerned it may be just a vacation whim, and I didn’t want to play it for just a couple days and then stick it in a closet somewhere. But after returning home, I couldn’t get that instrument out of my mind. Months later, my husband gifted me with a mountain dulcimer for my birthday, and it quickly became an enduring passion of mine.

Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?

June: After playing that first dulcimer for a couple years, I had figured out some specifics that I would want in an “ideal” dulcimer. So, in 2016, my husband and I took a trip to visit several dulcimer shops in the Midwest to pick out a new dulcimer. Folkcraft was one of those shops, and I fell in love with the sound, beauty, playability, and quality of the Folkcraft dulcimers. After spending a couple hours in the shop with Richard Ash, we custom-ordered one that had all the features that I wanted. I named my new dulcimer "Bonnie" because she's so pretty with the heart vine design and because I love Celtic music. She's got walnut back and sides, butternut top, ebony fretboard, the modern headstock, and...

FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!!!

We don't have a new Folkcraft player to feature this week, sadly. We were really on a roll there for a bit - which was awesome! But we are still happy to re-feature June Day, who's had her first Folkcraft dulcimer for a full decade now. Hope you and Bonnie are still making beautiful music together, June! There's still plenty of room in the family, folks! Maybe we could feature you and your Folkcraft dulcimer(s) next week?

Who's Going To Write In Next? Keep The Family Growing?

It really is super-easy to join our online dulcimer community. Just three easy steps:

1) Send an email to: newsletter@folkcraft.com

2) With the answers to the four questions below

3) Attach a photo of yourself with your Folkcraft dulcimer(s)

We look forward to receiving your submission & featuring you in our newsletter real soon!

1. How long have you been playing the dulcimer?

2. When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?

3. Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?

4. What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing dulcimer?

WE'RE OFFERING A $25 FOLKCRAFT GIFT CARD TO ANYONE WHO ANSWERS THE FOUR EASY QUESTIONS LISTED ABOVE, AND SENDS IN A PHOTO (OF YOU WITH YOUR FOLKCRAFT DULCIMER). IT'S REALLY SO EASY TO DO!
WE JUST LOVE HEARING FROM Y'ALL!

This Week's Featured YouTube Video:

Let’s do some fun moving between "D" and "G". You need the 1.5 fret for this (but don’t 'fret' - next week we’ll do it sans that extra fret). You can do it! Click on the image below to listen & learn.

We have a slew (that's a fancy luthier word for "bunch") of videos for you to watch on our YouTube channel. Click here to see the full list. Be sure to comment on a video, and subscribe to the channel - either action helps us a LOT with YouTube's suggestion algorithms.

MASTERING VARIATIONS - Volume 1 & 2

by Aaron O'Rourke

Each volume contains lessons so you can learn rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic variations for 7 common tunes that are likely to be played in dulcimer clubs and festival jams. Aaron O'Rourke arranges each tune into four variations: Rhythmic, Melodic, Harmonic, and All-Put-Together. A basic version of each tune is also provided to help get you started.

This book is published by Fingers Of Steel, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.

Mastering Variations Volume 1 by Aaron O'Rourke