Show me your mountain dulcimer

[Larrivee4me]

A year or so ago I ran into a deal on a very nice hammer dulcimer that I could not turn down.  It's been a lot of fun and now having gone to a few dulcimer festivals / workshops,  I've also been exposed to the mountain dulcimer.  Some of the dulcimer players I've heard are just amazing.  The music they create from such a simple instrument blows me away.  I've been keeping an eye out for a nice mountain dulcimer and ran across this one.  It's koa with a rosewood fretboard.  Furman Thornton from northern Georgia built it about 10 years ago.   I can't wait to play it.
Got a dulcimer story or pics to share??


Here you can see some flame in the koa


It took me a while to realize what these were...

[ncognito]

I had the opportunity to meet an older couple in their home a few years ago through a mutual friend.  I noticed that on the wall in the living room hung in a prominent spot was a very nice mountain dulcimer.  I complimented them on it, and was told that in front of their old colonial used to stand a beautiful oak tree.  The arborist who took the tree down built this lovely instrument for them from that tree.

        DAVE

[unclrob]

dulcimerdude is a wonderful dulcimer player from tradtional to jazz.I know he's taught at many festivals.He's got a great CD maybe PM him,he's out of town right now but check him out.Aaron O'Rouck.

[Daysailer]

Nice find.  Love the Hummingbirds.

A few years ago I built a mountain Dulcmer from a semi kit
I found on Ebay for under $60.   Fun, simple build.  
Black Walunt everywhere.  Sounds pretty cool to me.
Sound holes and headstock decoration, my designs.


       

Same insturment, very different lighting when I took these.
Bought my Seagull Folk guitar shortly after building this.    

[Larrivee4me]

The birds in flight design is very cool! Nice ! Playing an instrument you built has to be pretty satisfying, whether it's a guitar, dulcimer or whatever.  I see several builders offering kits online.
My wife and I spent a long time at the dulcimer shop in Mountain View AR where McSpadden dulcimers are made.  This was years before I had an  interest in dulcimers.  It was just a real neat place to spend an afternoon.  What initially drew us to the area were the very excellent motorcycling roads.  What keeps us going back is the folk culture like the dulcimer shop and the Ozark cultural center nearby and most especially the open air jam sessions that happen all around the public square nearly any evening weather permitting.  

[cc407]

Roselle Dulcimer, by Merv Rawley, Roselle, IL.
Myrtle and Vermillion woods, and another I can't recall. Tuned dadd

[Larrivee4me]

Vermillion is one I'm not familiar with.  Sure looks nice.  Have you always played in DAdd? 

[cc407]

Yep, I think it was dadd when I got it. I have no idea what is "normal".

[unclrob]

Thats the tuning most people use.

[Larrivee4me]

Thanks for the info, it all helps.   My wife and I have signed up for dulcimer classes (both types) at the Buckeye Dulcimer festival March 11-13.   I've gone to the evening concerts in years past but this will be our first time there as students.  Can't wait!

[robw95]

Ok, now I'm off to research mountain dulcimers and probably end up joining another forum to while away the day! Seriously tho, they look like great fun and it might be kinda cool to build one from a kit.

Rob