#lap dulcimer

[archeogeist]

Just got a dulcimer what should I learn to play.

Other than "put a banana in your ear"

[willoftomorrow]

[willoftomorrow]

[mygrassisblue-blog]

[willoftomorrow]

Massive dulcimer originally from an estate in Ripley, Ohio. Inside the dulcimer there is a hand carved inscription that reads "Made Dec 25 1939 J.H. Lee." The metal portion of the tailpiece is made from a bent bottle opener! Unfortunately there is a new fretboard, which was added by Homer Ledford in the 1980's. The original fretboard is still present due to the fact that the scroll, original fretboard, and tailpiece are all made from one solid piece of wood! This is an incredibly interesting instrument that comes with a million questions.

Pictured alongside the J.H. Lee dulcimer for size comparison is a dulcimer made by Mike Slone of Hindman, KY in 2013.

[willoftomorrow]

Found this at an antique store in Louisville, KY. It is what appears to be the peg head for a pre-revival dulcimer or possibly even a scheitholt (German predecessor to the mountain dulcimer). I say that because it has four pegs and appears to have been very narrow. Though there are examples of narrow pre-revival dulcimers with four strings, most had three. However, there are quite a few more examples of scheitholts with 4+ strings. I have no idea where this may have originated, but it is definitely a piece of a 19th century instrument. I wish I had more of the parts.

[willoftomorrow]

I was fortunate enough to be asked to help curate an exhibit of mountain dulcimers for the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming this weekend in Hindman, Kentucky. Builders included in the exhibit are:

James Edward Thomas, Jethro Amburgey, Morris Amburgey, Art Stewart, Bob Young, Homer Ledford, John D. Tignor, Warren A. May, Douglas Lindsey, Mike Slone, and a few early unidentified instruments, one of which is an early Virginia style dulcimer with "1812" carved on the inside of the instrument.

If you are in or around Eastern Kentucky this weekend (November 6-9, 2014) please stop by and visit the Hindman Dulcimer Homecoming. This is a wonderful event put on by a whole crew of amazing people! Don't forget to stop by the workshop and pick up one of Mike's dulcimers or Doug's guitars!

[willoftomorrow]

Acquired an old scheitholt today. These things were brought over by German settlers and are believed to be the precursor to what we now recognize as the mountain dulcimer. Here I have photographed it alongside my 1915 Ed Thomas dulcimer and an old minstrel era banjo from my collection.