This has been a GREAT week!
Good morning, Folkcraft people!
A lot has happened in the shop this past week - we got a huge load of utterly beautiful walnut in on Tuesday - here's a photo of one of the planks, cleaned up just a bit:
If you're not used to looking at unfinished walnut lumber, then just trust me - this'll be gorgeous when it gets sanded and lacquered.
Later in the week I finished off a new sound hole - here's a test of the upper and lower holes in some scrap butternut:
I've come up with a creative, innovative name for this one. "Peace Turtle". Ha! Not creative at all. I'm open to suggestions. You can't order a dulcimer with this sound hole online yet - I still have to edit the design tools to include this choice. But it is available on phone orders, so no worries - you CAN have this sound hole on your next dulcimer. Just give Hayley a call with your request!
Featured video
This week's featured video is for the intermediate players. Mandy shows us how to "spice up the basic melody". Very helpful, since most tab books have the fundamentals of a tune, and leave it up to the player to "doctor things up". Enjoy!
Here's the page at Folkcraft.com that has a link to the video. This video is presented without accompanying tablature - you'll be using your eyes and ears on this one.
The response to our "Featured Folkcraft Player" newsletter segment has been OFF THE CHARTS! We've gotten submissions (photo and bio) from a slew of dulcimer players - thank you! (You don't have to be famous like Mike to submit your photo and bio - just reply to this newsletter with the photo and bio, and we'll put you on the Folkcraft Players page at Folkcraft.com, and also feature you in an upcoming newsletter.)
Featured Folkcraft Player: Mike Anderson
I have been playing since 1973. My first good instrument was a FolkRoots D-50 which I bought at the Spruce Tree music store in Madison, Wisconsin in 1975.
I have played FolkRoots ever since at festivals, libraries, historical events, my classroom, and every other place that asked me.
My current working dulcimer is a 1978 Koa/spruce which is in need of a refretting. Besides dulcimer, I play guitar, banjo, ukulele, jaw harp, bones, and nose flute.
Mike's bio continues on his page at Folkcraft.com. Click here to see all of our submitted photos and bios.
Featured PDF download
We now have many of the most in-demand artists' catalogs available for download at DulcimerDownloads.com! Bing Futch, Steve Seifert, Larry Conger, Aaron O'Rourke, and many, many more. (we're working on Linda Brockinton's books, and also on Dave Haas's books - so they're on the way!)
This week's feature is a "beginning mountain dulcimer" instruction book. But... It is really best used for existing players looking to fill in the gaps of their dulcimer knowledge. Written by the incomparable Bing Futch, this "beginning" book has more content than nearly every dulcimer instruction book you'll find anywhere.
The author of this book, Bing Futch, is one of the most amazing dulcimer players you'll ever meet. Talented for sure, but also smart, friendly, and down-to-earth. A lot of our newsletter subscribers already know Bing, but if you don't, I'll suggest that you go to YouTube, and do a search for "Bing Futch" - hundreds of great videos you're sure to enjoy!
As always, thank you for your continued support of Folkcraft Instruments. We've been making dulcimers since 1968 - 53 years - and YOU are the reason we still make them.
That's all for this week - thank you for reading!
Sincerely,
Richard Ash