Ukuleles On Sale, New Books, More!
Good morning, Folkcraft supporters!
So much good news this week, so I'll jump right in...
I found a small batch of ukuleles (and a dulcilele) that Steve made back in 2011. They are now on the Folkcraft.com website. Here's a link:
These instruments are brand new, but shelf-worn (not badly, but they are mostly not pristine). They're discounted at least 50 percent, and up to 75 percent. I want these gone, and soon - our new production of ukes will be out this year, and I'm cleaning house of the old instruments. Here are a couple of photos:
The first photo is of one of our dulcileles - a hybrid of two instruments - a ukulele and a mountain dulcimer. The second photo is a beautiful padauk body/spruce top ukulele.
We did get a couple of mountain dulcimers finished this week, too. Here's the prettiest one (to my eyes, of course) - East Indian rosewood body. Mmmmm....
Rosewood (for a dulcimer body) is fast becoming my favorite wood. It looks great, and has a super combination of warmth (even more warmth than walnut) along with plenty of clarity and volume. Usually a warm-sounding instrument gives up too much volume, but rosewood seems to be the exception to that rule. I have two (personal) instruments that see regular use - one is Honduras mahogany, which is loud, clear, and powerful. The other has a rosewood body, which is not quite as loud, but has a much warmer tone.
Enough about dulcimers for the week, though.
About eight years ago, I started, when funding allowed, having books written by some of the best players and teachers available. Bing Futch has written us several books (Folkcraft * DulcimerDownloads), Steve Seifert got us a couple (Folkcraft * DulcimerDownloads) and Neal Hellman wrote us a great songbook just last year (Folkcraft * DulcimerDownloads).
Recently, one of the greatest dulcimer players of all time decided to sell his catalog (of over a dozen dulcimer-specific books), and Folkcraft was lucky enough to be in a position to buy his catalog.
So now you can get nearly the entire Aaron O'Rourke book collection from Folkcraft Instruments. We've purchased the catalog from Aaron, and we're selling both print copies (at Folkcraft.com) and PDF download versions (at DulcimerDownloads.com) of over a dozen of his books. Classic instructional books like: "Faster, Cleaner, Better!" and "Secrets To Successful Flatpicking". Plus a slew of other amazing instruction books.
He has an amazing catalog, and I'm exceedingly proud to have it printed and available under Folkcraft's publishing arm Fingers Of Steel. Thank you to Aaron for letting us keep his books in print for everyone to enjoy. (And yes, Aaron's health is fine - he's spending all of his non-performing time going back to school - you'll still see him at festivals all over the country!)
Next Friday, February 28, 2020, I won't be sending out a newsletter. Aly (my dulcimer-playing wife of almost two years) and I will be attending the Florida Gulf Coast Dulcimer Retreat in Homosassa, Florida. It was two years ago today that I proposed a marriage to Aly at this festival. I actually interrupted the opening jam to offer her a ring - this is a link to a live Facebook video stream, recorded during the jam. Luckily, she said yes.
On a side note, it was just right about ten years ago that I met Aly at a different dulcimer festival, also in Florida. All I can say is "Bachelors, go to dulcimer festivals - that's where you get the best wives."
Even though I'll be gone, my dad (Jim), along with Pam, Aaron, Bonnie, and Hayley will be keeping the shop going. Orders will ship, the phone will be answered, and instruments will be made.
I'll take plenty of photos at the Retreat, and share them with you in the March 6, 2020 newsletter.
As always, thank you for your continued support of Folkcraft Instruments - we've been making dulcimers for a LONG time now, and YOU are the reason we continue making them.
That's all for this week - thank you for reading!
Sincerely,
Richard Ash
Shop Folkcraft: Mountain Dulcimer Tab Books