Folkcraft Shop Blog
Your Answers: Your Favorite Jam Tunes
Last week I asked you what your favorite jam tunes were. Here are your replies! Name: Janet D. Location: Ashland, KY "Chinese Breakdown, because it has a different sound from...
Your Answers: Your Favorite Jam Tunes
Last week I asked you what your favorite jam tunes were. Here are your replies! Name: Janet D. Location: Ashland, KY "Chinese Breakdown, because it has a different sound from...
Making Parts: Slicing Side Sets
About half of the labor that goes into our instruments is pure hand work - sanding, scraping, and polishing. I do the scraping and sanding on the raw wood, then...
Making Parts: Slicing Side Sets
About half of the labor that goes into our instruments is pure hand work - sanding, scraping, and polishing. I do the scraping and sanding on the raw wood, then...
Your Answers: Musical Items On Your Bucket List
Last time I asked you if you had any musical items on your bucket list. Here are your replies! Name: Mac Location: Eastern US "I have fingers in many pies,...
Your Answers: Musical Items On Your Bucket List
Last time I asked you if you had any musical items on your bucket list. Here are your replies! Name: Mac Location: Eastern US "I have fingers in many pies,...
Putting A Crushed Dulcimer Back Together
Last week I had two older dulcimers come through the shop for repairs - one from 1986 and one from 1998. One of them was a Folkcraft dulcimer that had...
Putting A Crushed Dulcimer Back Together
Last week I had two older dulcimers come through the shop for repairs - one from 1986 and one from 1998. One of them was a Folkcraft dulcimer that had...
Your Answers: How You Picked Your Favorite Dulc...
Last time I asked you how you picked out your favorite dulcimer... here are your replies! Name: Yvonne M. "My favorite dulcimer as far as appearance is still the first...
Your Answers: How You Picked Your Favorite Dulc...
Last time I asked you how you picked out your favorite dulcimer... here are your replies! Name: Yvonne M. "My favorite dulcimer as far as appearance is still the first...
Your Answers: Your Favorite Woods
Last week I asked you about your favorite woods. Here are your replies... Name: Alan Location: Chicago "Padauk - just because" Name: Art Location: Lake Suzy, Fl "There is lots...
Your Answers: Your Favorite Woods
Last week I asked you about your favorite woods. Here are your replies... Name: Alan Location: Chicago "Padauk - just because" Name: Art Location: Lake Suzy, Fl "There is lots...
Slicing Ebony & Using Controlled Woods
This morning, one of my jobs was to "very carefully" slice up some ebony. The reason to be extra careful is that ebony is very expensive. The lumber we buy...
Slicing Ebony & Using Controlled Woods
This morning, one of my jobs was to "very carefully" slice up some ebony. The reason to be extra careful is that ebony is very expensive. The lumber we buy...
Midwest Uke Fest Recap
Last weekend was a very busy time at Folkcraft as we hosted the Midwest Uke Fest. For instructors we had Lil' Rev, Stu Fuchs, Bing Futch, Wendy Songe and Richard...
Midwest Uke Fest Recap
Last weekend was a very busy time at Folkcraft as we hosted the Midwest Uke Fest. For instructors we had Lil' Rev, Stu Fuchs, Bing Futch, Wendy Songe and Richard...
Question Of The Week: What Gadgets And Improvis...
My brother sometimes uses an iPad to display his music. My Dad has a small piece of steel rod that he uses as a partial capo (see picture below). I've...
Question Of The Week: What Gadgets And Improvis...
My brother sometimes uses an iPad to display his music. My Dad has a small piece of steel rod that he uses as a partial capo (see picture below). I've...
Back To Solvent Lacquer & Owl Tone Holes
A few weeks ago, Richard put some information on Facebook about switching to a water based lacquer. After doing some testing, he has decided to switch back to the old...
Back To Solvent Lacquer & Owl Tone Holes
A few weeks ago, Richard put some information on Facebook about switching to a water based lacquer. After doing some testing, he has decided to switch back to the old...
Your Answers: How You Handle Stage Fright
Last week I asked you how you handled stage fright. Here are your replies! Name: Don H Location: Deep Run, NC "I always have something funny to start off with....
Your Answers: How You Handle Stage Fright
Last week I asked you how you handled stage fright. Here are your replies! Name: Don H Location: Deep Run, NC "I always have something funny to start off with....
Your Answers: Your Musical Inspirations
Last week I asked about your musical inspirations. Here are your replies! Name: David Scott Location: Westerville, OH "I bought my first dulcimer after Robert Force performed at a coffee...
Your Answers: Your Musical Inspirations
Last week I asked about your musical inspirations. Here are your replies! Name: David Scott Location: Westerville, OH "I bought my first dulcimer after Robert Force performed at a coffee...
Designing Custom Tone Holes
This first thing really doesn't have much to do with music, but it is still kind of cool. I have to admit that one of the reasons the newsletter is...
Designing Custom Tone Holes
This first thing really doesn't have much to do with music, but it is still kind of cool. I have to admit that one of the reasons the newsletter is...
Your Answers: Your Favorite Tone Holes And Deco...
Last week I asked you about tone holes and decorations on your instruments. Here are your replies! Name: Dianne H Location: Penn Laird VA "So happy to see you have...
Your Answers: Your Favorite Tone Holes And Deco...
Last week I asked you about tone holes and decorations on your instruments. Here are your replies! Name: Dianne H Location: Penn Laird VA "So happy to see you have...
The Coke Crate Dulcimers Are Finished
Two weeks ago, I showed pictures of the coke crate dulcimers in progress. Last weekend John and Karen Keane were here for the Second Saturday Clinic, and those dulcimers were...
The Coke Crate Dulcimers Are Finished
Two weeks ago, I showed pictures of the coke crate dulcimers in progress. Last weekend John and Karen Keane were here for the Second Saturday Clinic, and those dulcimers were...
Artist Spotlight - Dave Haas
The first time I met Dave was several years ago at the Ohio Valley Gathering. He was smiling and friendly - which is something you get a lot of from...
Artist Spotlight - Dave Haas
The first time I met Dave was several years ago at the Ohio Valley Gathering. He was smiling and friendly - which is something you get a lot of from...
Your Answers: Where You Go To Relax And Play
Last week I asked where you go to relax, unwind, and play your instruments. Here are your responses! I will throw in that on a personal note, I want Ruth's...
Your Answers: Where You Go To Relax And Play
Last week I asked where you go to relax, unwind, and play your instruments. Here are your responses! I will throw in that on a personal note, I want Ruth's...
What Makes Curly Wood Curly
A piece of curly walnut The picture above is an exceptional piece of Claro Walnut with a ton of deep curl. I'll be using a piece of this wood to...
What Makes Curly Wood Curly
A piece of curly walnut The picture above is an exceptional piece of Claro Walnut with a ton of deep curl. I'll be using a piece of this wood to...
Artist Spotlight - Neal Hellman
I have yet to meet Neal Hellman in person. I've talked to him on the phone, heard his music on CDs and even seen him in a movie (" Hearts...
Artist Spotlight - Neal Hellman
I have yet to meet Neal Hellman in person. I've talked to him on the phone, heard his music on CDs and even seen him in a movie (" Hearts...
Building Coke Crate Dulcimers
For those of you that follow us on Facebook, this may be old news, but one of the projects I've been working on this week has been a pair of...
Building Coke Crate Dulcimers
For those of you that follow us on Facebook, this may be old news, but one of the projects I've been working on this week has been a pair of...
Artist Spotlight - Bing Futch
This week I'm adding a new feature to our newsletter... the "Artist Spotlight". Most of you have met some of these artists at festivals, seen them on stage, or had...
Artist Spotlight - Bing Futch
This week I'm adding a new feature to our newsletter... the "Artist Spotlight". Most of you have met some of these artists at festivals, seen them on stage, or had...
Your Answers: Playing Music With Other People
Last week I asked you if you had opportunities to play with other people - here are your responses! Name: Wayne Anderson Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada "Almost every day for...
Your Answers: Playing Music With Other People
Last week I asked you if you had opportunities to play with other people - here are your responses! Name: Wayne Anderson Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada "Almost every day for...
Your Answers: Do You Have Instrument Acquisitio...
Last week I asked you if you suffered from IAS (Instrument Acquisition Syndrome). Here are your responses! Name: David Location: Westerville, OH "I dont think so. I only have 11...
Your Answers: Do You Have Instrument Acquisitio...
Last week I asked you if you suffered from IAS (Instrument Acquisition Syndrome). Here are your responses! Name: David Location: Westerville, OH "I dont think so. I only have 11...
Courting Dulcimers, Stick Dulcimers & Old Crates
Usually when I'm building instruments in the shop, I try to do batches of similar instruments. This week I do have several regular mountain dulcimers, but I also have a...
Courting Dulcimers, Stick Dulcimers & Old Crates
Usually when I'm building instruments in the shop, I try to do batches of similar instruments. This week I do have several regular mountain dulcimers, but I also have a...