Mango Dulcimer Demo
Good Morning, Y'all - Happy Friday!
I hope you've all had a great week. I was thinking about each and every one of you while I slaved away in our workshop, setting up dulcimers for you. This might sound a little like "he's joking," but it's actually mostly true. I know a lot of you personally, and when I make an instrument that's going out to one of your laps, I think about what I can do to make an instrument "just right" for you. When a "stranger" orders an instrument (we'll have to work on that part!) I think about how Richard Ash (that's me) would enjoy the instrument.
It makes setting up instruments more fun, and probably helps me maintain higher standards.
This week, we shipped a few customer instruments (we're gaining on the backlog, really!!!), and I got a few more instruments finished off for our showroom/website. Here's one that was just finished yesterday (Wednesday). I made a demo video today (Thursday). Hopefully some of Y'all can watch the video tomorrow (Friday)! (Just click on the photo below to watch)
Here's a link for the new mango dulcimer on the Folkcraft.com website:
Playing this dulcimer was a "wow!" moment for me. So much warmth, and clarity, and sustain. The hat trick of dulcimer-making, for sure! Watch the video, let me know what you think? You can comment on YouTube, I'll see what you say there.
We shipped this dulcimer (pictured below) earlier this week. It has an East Indian rosewood body paired with an Engelmann spruce top. This is the first of the instruments with the full "blueberry vine" sound holes:
No video on this one, though. I was super-focused on getting it packed for our UPS pickup.
We're working on an all-poplar (not to be confused with popular) dulcimer - an FSH Series instrument - that has the cool compass sound holes. I like the green and white variations in the top!
This one (pictured above) will be up on our website this weekend, with photos coming early next week.
So much to do!
Thanks for reading, Y'all - Have a great weekend!
Richard Ash, luthier-who-isn't-a-big-fan-of-mango-fruit-but-who-IS-A-HUGE-FAN-of-mango-lumber
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: ANGELA MARTIN
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Angela: I started playing the dulcimer in November 2018.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Angela: My husband ordered a custom hourglass dulcimer for me in October 2020. Since then, I have added a LAP-JO, a teardrop, and a baritone.
Folkcraft: Where do you enjoy playing your dulcimer?
Angela: I like playing at home for my husband. My friend Carla and I play together once a week. I have joined Carla playing at several local schools, retirement homes, and festivals.
Folkcraft: What other hobbies or interests do you have besides playing dulcimer?
Angela: I like traveling with my husband and being around...
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF ANGELA'S INTERVIEW AND ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE ANGELA & YOU!
HELLO FOLKCRAFT® PLAYERS - WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!
We are very happy to add Angela Martin to our online global dulcimer community this week. Welcome to the family, Angela!
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:
Capo Free Zone. This week, Mandy shows you how to play in the key of A! You’ll learn your 1,4,5 chords in the Key of A and how to play them all in one area of your fretboard. We don’t always “have to" use capos to play in other keys. 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.
TUNES AND TECHNIQUES - CRIPPLE CREEK
by Aaron O'Rourke
When a renowned dulcimer player puts out instructional materials (small books, with audio samples, for example) the dulcimer community takes notice. Nothing new here, except that the renowned player in this case is Aaron O'Rourke. He's created six books, each one using a "core" old-time tune as the vehicle for teaching some fundamental (and some advanced) dulcimer techniques.
Check Out All Six "Tunes and Techniques" Books
Learn to play better, and have more fun, while studying with one of the best teachers and performers to be found anywhere! (21 pages)
This book is published by Fingers Of Steel, and is made available here as an authorized, licensed download.
