Folkcraft Shop Blog
Dave Haas Second Saturday Clinic
I have an apology to make. Last week's newsletter mentioned how DulcimerDownloads.com had overtaken Folkcraft.com in sales. I should have been clear that the "overtaking" was for one day only....
Dave Haas Second Saturday Clinic
I have an apology to make. Last week's newsletter mentioned how DulcimerDownloads.com had overtaken Folkcraft.com in sales. I should have been clear that the "overtaking" was for one day only....
Dulcimer Downloads Wins!
Well, it has happened. I figured it was probably going to happen one day, but was kind of planning on a year or two in the future - not May...
Dulcimer Downloads Wins!
Well, it has happened. I figured it was probably going to happen one day, but was kind of planning on a year or two in the future - not May...
Dulcimer Repair
I did another dulcimer top repair a few weeks ago and wanted to share the process with you, as well as how it turned out. This one was pretty straightforward,...
Dulcimer Repair
I did another dulcimer top repair a few weeks ago and wanted to share the process with you, as well as how it turned out. This one was pretty straightforward,...
CDs Versus Downloads Results
Every once in a while, I ask for your thoughts on something. The responses have varied from "tepid," to me thinking "I'm going to get a call from my email...
CDs Versus Downloads Results
Every once in a while, I ask for your thoughts on something. The responses have varied from "tepid," to me thinking "I'm going to get a call from my email...
CDs Versus Downloads Survey
I've spoken to a couple of shoppers this week who asked about audio CDs for books they had purchased. In both cases, the artists had discontinued the CDs that used...
CDs Versus Downloads Survey
I've spoken to a couple of shoppers this week who asked about audio CDs for books they had purchased. In both cases, the artists had discontinued the CDs that used...
Wendy Songe Clinic
As I'm writing this on Tuesday morning (April 11, 2023) all of us here at the shop are still basking in the glow of our first Second Saturday Clinic of...
Wendy Songe Clinic
As I'm writing this on Tuesday morning (April 11, 2023) all of us here at the shop are still basking in the glow of our first Second Saturday Clinic of...
Banjo Scoop
We get a lot of requests for customizations on the dulcimers we build. I suppose that's one of the advantages of custom-ordering an instrument, rather than buying "off the shelf"...
Banjo Scoop
We get a lot of requests for customizations on the dulcimers we build. I suppose that's one of the advantages of custom-ordering an instrument, rather than buying "off the shelf"...
Padauk Dust
Last week I added a fret to a dulcimer which was set up originally as a DAA-tuned instrument. An instrument without the "extra" frets like 6.5 or 1.5. The new...
Padauk Dust
Last week I added a fret to a dulcimer which was set up originally as a DAA-tuned instrument. An instrument without the "extra" frets like 6.5 or 1.5. The new...
Folkcraft Affiliate Program
This is going to be a quick advertisement for a feature we added to the Folkcraft.com website a couple of years ago. A feature which most of you probably don't...
Folkcraft Affiliate Program
This is going to be a quick advertisement for a feature we added to the Folkcraft.com website a couple of years ago. A feature which most of you probably don't...
1970s Folkcraft Dulcimer
It is starting to get warmer here. It's been in the 50s a few times this week, and barely below freezing - even at night. Is that a sure sign...
1970s Folkcraft Dulcimer
It is starting to get warmer here. It's been in the 50s a few times this week, and barely below freezing - even at night. Is that a sure sign...
Old Sandpaper Box
I had someone actually call me out on using "y'all" in an earlier newsletter. Born in Michigan, lived in a few northern states (Ohio, Montana, Indiana) since 1981... But I...
Old Sandpaper Box
I had someone actually call me out on using "y'all" in an earlier newsletter. Born in Michigan, lived in a few northern states (Ohio, Montana, Indiana) since 1981... But I...
Homosassa Wrap Up
So last week's newsletter went out without me seeing it ahead of time. That tells you something about the quality of my newsletter editor, Toya. I wrote the "in the...
Homosassa Wrap Up
So last week's newsletter went out without me seeing it ahead of time. That tells you something about the quality of my newsletter editor, Toya. I wrote the "in the...
Instructional Videos
One of my goals for 2023 is to provide you with more "How-to" dulcimer videos. Mandy Tyner gave us 50+ videos in 2021 and 2022, so now I'm hoping to...
Instructional Videos
One of my goals for 2023 is to provide you with more "How-to" dulcimer videos. Mandy Tyner gave us 50+ videos in 2021 and 2022, so now I'm hoping to...
Dot At Fret 5
Dots at fret five? This is a boring treatise on fret-marking dots. Really. (You've been warned). Position dots on a diatonic (not chromatic) mountain dulcimer. Where (at which frets) do...
Dot At Fret 5
Dots at fret five? This is a boring treatise on fret-marking dots. Really. (You've been warned). Position dots on a diatonic (not chromatic) mountain dulcimer. Where (at which frets) do...
Fabulous Folkcraft Players
I am going to keep this paragraph really, really short. Not rambling and wordy, as I often tend to get. This page of the Folkcraft.com website is feeling neglected (click...
Fabulous Folkcraft Players
I am going to keep this paragraph really, really short. Not rambling and wordy, as I often tend to get. This page of the Folkcraft.com website is feeling neglected (click...
Working In The Shop
Y'all One of the things we do in the shop every week is work on things that will help us make our instruments. Not actually "making instruments," but making fixtures...
Working In The Shop
Y'all One of the things we do in the shop every week is work on things that will help us make our instruments. Not actually "making instruments," but making fixtures...
2023 Second Saturday Clinic Instructors
Y'all Many of you know that I have a background in music education. My first career (pre-dulcimer) was as a school music teacher. Technically, I'm "qualified" to teach all areas...
2023 Second Saturday Clinic Instructors
Y'all Many of you know that I have a background in music education. My first career (pre-dulcimer) was as a school music teacher. Technically, I'm "qualified" to teach all areas...
Dulcimer Friends
Last week, I asked y'all to share your stories about friends you've made because of your dulcimer playing. It seems to be the same story over and over. You sit...
Dulcimer Friends
Last week, I asked y'all to share your stories about friends you've made because of your dulcimer playing. It seems to be the same story over and over. You sit...
Tom McConnell In The House!
A few weeks ago, my friend Tom McConnell stopped by the shop for a visit - and for some maintenance on a couple of his Folkcraft dulcimers. Tom is a...
Tom McConnell In The House!
A few weeks ago, my friend Tom McConnell stopped by the shop for a visit - and for some maintenance on a couple of his Folkcraft dulcimers. Tom is a...
What To Build Next? Survey Results
Here at Folkcraft, we're buckling down to work, getting books and strings shipped, and instruments made. It is a nice feeling, knowing that what we do makes you happy. In...
What To Build Next? Survey Results
Here at Folkcraft, we're buckling down to work, getting books and strings shipped, and instruments made. It is a nice feeling, knowing that what we do makes you happy. In...
Making LAP-JOs
What a cold day it is here in Woodburn, Indiana. The forecast for this weekend is a "high" temperature in the single digits. Brrrr. Some of you might scoff at...
Making LAP-JOs
What a cold day it is here in Woodburn, Indiana. The forecast for this weekend is a "high" temperature in the single digits. Brrrr. Some of you might scoff at...
Purpleheart Sawdust
It has been a busy month in the shop. We've been finishing off lots of instruments, and getting them shipped. And making parts for next month's instruments. And cleaning up...
Purpleheart Sawdust
It has been a busy month in the shop. We've been finishing off lots of instruments, and getting them shipped. And making parts for next month's instruments. And cleaning up...
Tired Arms From All That Flying
I think one of the neatest things about being a dulcimer player is getting to meet other dulcimer players. Folks from all around the globe. They'll come visit the shop...
Tired Arms From All That Flying
I think one of the neatest things about being a dulcimer player is getting to meet other dulcimer players. Folks from all around the globe. They'll come visit the shop...
Handmade Answers
We took last week off from the newsletter. The staff had Friday to spend with family, and we figured that y'all not getting something to read on a Friday morning...
Handmade Answers
We took last week off from the newsletter. The staff had Friday to spend with family, and we figured that y'all not getting something to read on a Friday morning...