New Dulcimers Showcase
Good Morning, Y'all & Happy Friday!
It's finally feeling like summertime, now. We've had a pretty cool, late spring/early summer here in Indiana, but we actually hit 80+ degrees for a few days this week. The vegetable garden is doing well, but it could be farther along, for sure. But the cooler weather isn't all bad. We've saved a lot of money on our electric and gas bills. The moderate temperatures mean less cooling, and less heating!
This week I'm going to show you a few - five total - of our latest creations. These dulcimers are all destined for our website and showroom, since they are for "us," not for customer orders. Customer orders come first, of course, but we do try to maintain a regular stock of completed instruments, too. Here we go:
1. FolkRoots H Series - walnut body, butternut top, ebony fretboard veneer. Classic F sound holes, 25" VSL, $1195, includes case, free shipping.
2. FolkRoots H Series - Honduras mahogany body, butternut top, ebony fretboard veneer. Vine/Blueberry sound holes, 27" VSL, $1105, includes case, free shipping.
3. FolkRoots H Series - Honduras mahogany body, Sitka spruce top, ebony fretboard veneer. F Heart sound holes, 25" VSL, $1195, includes case, free shipping.
4. FolkRoots H Series - Walnut body, butternut top, ebony fretboard veneer. NT-11 magnetic pickup (you can see the slot in the fretboard between the lower sound holes where the pickup will be placed when this instrument is strung up). Shamrock sound holes, 25" VSL, $1490, includes case, free shipping.
5. Folkcraft Custom Series - East Indian rosewood body, Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood fretboard (no veneer). Compass sound holes, 25" VSL, $2205, includes case, free shipping.
It seems like there are a lot of FolkRoots H Series dulcimers this week, doesn't it? Next week might be "all Folkcraft," though, so it does balance out. Of the five instruments featured above, the first and fourth instruments have been fully-sanded and lacquered. Numbers two, three, and five still need their sanding, then their lacquering.
Any of these dulcimers can be shipped within a week or two, and any can be set up as standards (DAD high octave), baritones (AEA or ADA middle octave), or basses (DAD low octave). And they all can be set up with either three strings, or four strings.
So much potential for great music. If you see one you want, call me (317-539-1855) or send an email (reply to this newsletter) and I'll set it aside for you!
Thanks for reading, Y'all. Since I usually show something going on in our wood shop, it was fun showing you a few instruments that are farther along in the process of being finished.
Have a great weekend - go play some music!
Richard Ash - luthier-who-loves-lacquering-and-setting-up-a-dulcimer-just-as-much-as-using-glue
FOLKCRAFT® DULCIMER PLAYER OF THE WEEK: JACQUIE CARAVELLO
Folkcraft: How long have you been playing the dulcimer?
Jacquie: I started playing about 12 years ago, but life got in the way. Then, during the pandemic, I dusted off my old dulcimer and decided to get serious about it.
Folkcraft: When did you get your first Folkcraft dulcimer?
Jacquie: Three years ago I ordered my first Folkcraft in walnut with a butternut top, ebony fretboard and 25" VSL. A couple of years ago my husband made me a walnut chromatic dulcimer from a Folkcraft kit. He has since made 15 more dulcimers and learned to play!
Jacquie: I play weekly with our group Sugar River Dulcimers at the local library. I also enjoy playing at home, at church, at senior living facilities and especially outside.
Folkcraft: What other hobbies, or interests, do you have besides playing the dulcimer?
Jacquie: I also enjoy camping, road trips, gathering with friends and spending time with our critters (horses, mule, and that goofy guy in the photo).
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OTHER FOLKCRAFT PLAYERS LIKE JACQUIE & 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, Jacquie Caravello. "How's life been treating you, Jacquie?"
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 will learn how to use a capo to easily play with other instruments or in different keys. 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.
TUNES AND TECHNIQUES
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 a total of five books, each using a "core" old-time tune as the vehicle for teaching some fundamental (and also some advanced) dulcimer techniques. This book focuses on "Old Grey Cat on a Tennessee Farm."
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.
