Question Of The Week: Any Crazy Enhancements To Your Instrument?
Being that all of us here at Folkcraft are a mix of artists, engineers, woodworkers, musicians, and other misc. titles we care to give ourselves, you shouldn't be surprised to see that we're willing to try new things when it comes to our craft. People come to us all the time with new ideas for an instrument. Knowledge and experience helps us say "yes" or "no" to the challenge, and we always try to make our friends happy with a resounding YES.
So this week we take a look at the uniqueness of each individual instrument out there and ask...
Have you ever had any crazy enhancements done to your musical instrument?
Tell us about it! Whether you did it yourself or hired a professional, let us know what makes your instrument even more unique. It could be something with the wood, the hardware, the strings... whatever!
This one took some planning. You can't just walk in and expect this one to be on the shelf!
A few more fun examples are at the bottom of this page.
Was it for visual purposes only? Did it help you play better? Were you happy with the results? No wrong answers, we just want to hear what you've got to say!
Have you ever had any crazy enhancements done to your musical instrument?
Your Answers
Have you ever had any crazy enhancements done to your musical instrument?
Name: Mike Anderson
Location: Jacksonville, IL
"Not my idea, but a really cool thing Folkcraft did when they installed my new pick-ups."
Name: Wayne Anderson
Location: k
"Yes, had the artists and good folks at Folkcraft make me a Folkroots teardrop Hickory and Spruce...they decorated it with a military badge (I wore on my uniform for many years) attaching the badge to the tuning head. In the strum hollow they placed a button from the breast pocket of my first issued uniform and the fret markers are the symbol for the Ancient Mariner representing the airforce and maple leafs for the sound holes. Yes it has the Keane setup on the strings."
Name: Tom McConnell
Location: Muncie, IN
"Crazy enhancements? No, I don't think so! My 1999 walnut Folkcraft has been pimped a bit, but I sure don't think of it as crazy. Those wonderful folks at Folkcraft added an under-bridge pickup, a 1 1/2 fret, and installed a souped-up nut and bridge, but those were enhancements with a purpose. And you warned me I might cry when you had Steve drill a hole in the tail block, but I was so excited about getting electrified that I never felt any pain whatsoever! Now... if you can get me an electric blender attachment so I can mix up a margarita while I play under a tree on the beach... that would be awesome!!"
Name: Bill A
Location: Greencastle, IN
"I like to build my dulcimers with a theme. I wanted to do something a little different on the last one I built, so I inlaid a chicken on the back. The sound holes also have a chicken shape to them. This one is made of black walnut."
Name: JohnH
Location: Bristol, England
"Nothing really crazy, but on occasion have managed to carve a few vine leaves here and there on an instrument or two ! (in fact, am doing that now on a look-a-like LAS D3 which has something similar, in English Yew ?"
Name: Docterry McGrath
Location: West Chester, Pa.
"So I asked Richard about this one first, as it does not pertain to Dulcimers or the like...but my favorite performance enhancement occurred in 2013, when a great friend, Chris Dwyer, gave Dante and I these LED gloves to add a light show to our HANG playing... the clip can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QbSXymLxXM In memory of my Folkson, Dante Bucci 1980-2014"
Name: Chris W.
Location: Rochester NY
"I didn't add anything, but I have a six string dulcimer. I bought it that way. It adds a lower A and D which, in effect, adds a baritone dulcimer. I love the fullness it adds, and the options for finger picking."