It's More Than Just A Job
Good Morning, Y'all & Happy Friday!
We're getting all kinds of things done in the shop this week.
Pam has been coiling strings (Did someone post that May was "change-your-dulcimer-strings month"?), since we've shipped so many string sets the past couple of weeks. We're practically out of some sets! But no worries - we buy dulcimer strings by the gross and then package them into sets for Y'all. Of course, Pam's been making cases and straps, too.
A string, coiled, and ready to place inside the labeled envelope.
We sell all of our strings individually (100+ varieties), as well as by the dozen (coiled in a plastic bag), and as string sets. This particular string (pictured above) is going inside a baritone dulcimer string set.
What's Cheyenne been doing? Making dulcimers, of course! Assembling heads, in particular. Dad makes the flat part that holds the machine heads, then Cheyenne does most of the fitting and sanding after that. Cheyenne's also been gluing up bodies (fretboard to top, then sides to head and tail blocks, then top to body, then head to body, then back to body), and sanding fully-assembled instruments.
A walnut flat head and bottom block. I love the grain in the bottom block!
What has Richard been up to? I've been spraying lacquer, and rubbing out lacquered instruments (after it dries for a few days, of course!), and "setting up" instruments - nut, bridge, strings, machine heads. I even did a few instrument repairs! (Like the one in the photo below)
A 1967 Homer Ledford dulcimer
This Homer Ledford instrument came to us in seven pieces. The top was in two pieces, the side was in four pieces, plus there were some extra "parts" (never a good thing for a dulcimer!) for the top. Purchased in 1967 - serial number 1411. A piece of dulcimer history, for sure! (I'll tell Y'all more about this instrument repair in next week's newsletter.)
Homer Ledford, if you're interested, was a bluegrass musician and instrument maker - who specialized in dulcimers - from Winchester, Kentucky. He was active from the 1960's into the 2000's, and made 6,000 or so instruments in his building career.
Dad has been catching up from making cardboard kit fretboards last week, and making heads and fretboards for "customer instruments" - dulcimers that Y'all have ordered - for Cheyenne to assemble next week.
A walnut fretboard for a walnut FSH Series dulcimer - which will be paired with the head that Cheyenne is finishing off this week.
Why do we do this day in and day out? It is more than a job, that's for sure. We could all go and work for a big corporation, and probably have larger paychecks. We make instruments (and cases, and string sets) because we enjoy it. We are all "hands-on" people - here at the shop and in our homes. We create things because it is a part of our nature. We create dulcimers because we like the instrument, and because we like our customers.
Now you know.
Thanks for reading, Y'all - have a great weekend. Go for a walk in the woods before it gets too warm. Then go home, and make some dulcimer music!
Richard Ash - luthier-who-is-surrounded-by-happy-music-makers-every-day
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: RHONDA HAYES
Rhonda Hayes and her Folkcraft LAP-JO
I have wanted to be a musician all of my life. But after unsuccessful guitar lessons as a kid, and a series of banjo lessons as a young adult (which were equally unsuccessful), I decided that I didn’t have what it takes to be a musician.
Fast forward a few decades and I impulsively bought a dulcimer at Dollywood, but it ended up staying in the closet for a couple of years. As I was preparing to retire I decided I needed a retirement hobby, so that dulcimer finally came out of my closet. Then I found the great Kathy Wilson, who patiently taught me how to play the dulcimer.
When I saw the Folkcraft LAP-JO, I had to have one because...
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF RHONDA'S STORY AND ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE RHONDA & YOU!
HELLO FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!
We don't have a new player to add to our online global dulcimer community this week, but we are still glad to re-feature community member, Rhonda Hayes. "How're you and your LAP-JO getting along these days, Rhonda?"
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!
This Week's Featured YouTube Video:
This week we'll take a look at finger positions in two different ways. First, when we are chording, then when we are playing individual notes. You'll learn how finger positions can really make you a much smoother and faster player. Have fun! Just 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.
EASY MUSIC THEORY FOR DULCIMER PLAYERS
by Pixie Wright
This is an "easy-to-read" question and answer book with information that every mountain dulcimer player should know. Written by a highly-experienced (over 40 years) music teacher, with students of ALL AGES in mind, this is the book you've been looking for! Divided into eight sections, Pixie will teach you about Tunings, Time Signatures, Reading Tablature, Chord Structure, and more! (47 pages)
TOPICS COVERED:
The Basics
Sharps, Flats, Naturals, and Tuning
Time Signatures
Tablature
Major Keys and Scale Notes
Chord Structure
Minor Chords and Keys
A Brief Introduction to Modes
NOT AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM