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Dulcimer/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Dulcimer Appraisal | 11/15/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have a Dulcimer hand made by Homer Ledford of Ky that I would like to get an appraisal on. It was ... A: That is a really tough question -- Homer made nearly 6,000 dulcimers in his lifetime, and I've ... | ||
| tuning a 5 string dulcimer | 10/23/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have a five string dulcimer that my father bought in 1973 from John Maxwell. It's been hanging on ... A: Well, Larry, a five-string usually is tuned with the two top strings and two bottom strings to the ... | ||
| Green River Dulcimer | 10/20/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: not to long ago a friend of mine gave me her father's Green River dulcimer, I looked at a tag on the ... A: Don't have much - I understand that Bill was killed, and found the following, which may help you ... | ||
| wannab a dulcimer artist | 10/13/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I really don't know enough to even ask an intellient question, however I just heard a lovely sound ... A: Ahh, yes, that siren song grabs some people, every time. It certainly grabbed me. I would suggest ... | ||
| farina email | 7/29/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I just looked for tunings for Farina songs and found this email--possibly it was in answer to my ... A: Hey, Martha (one of the tunes I've been working on lately is the Allman Brothers Little Martha) ... | ||
| 100 yr plus dulcimer | 5/9/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: i recently brought home for my inlaws what i believe to be a dulcimer it is 3 ft by 18 in with 9 ... A: Yep, I saw the photos and emailed you back - to me, this looks like a zither of some sort -- and ... | ||
| 100 yr plus dulcimer | 5/3/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: i recently brought home for my inlaws what i believe to be a dulcimer it is 3 ft by 18 in with 9 ... A: Well, Stephen, that's pretty hard to know from the information you provided....sounds like a lot of ... | ||
| How to tune a 12/5 Harvey Prinz Dulcimer | 4/14/2011 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: I purchased a Harvey Prinz Hammered Dulcimer #58 in 1978 for my wife. It has 12 Treble courses and 5 ... A: Jim, I'm not able to find a tuning schedule for this model. However, it has been my experience ... | ||
| dulcimers | 4/9/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: My husband has a number of mountain dulcimers. Church, courting etc. He passed away recently and I ... A: I can probably help you with that, Eleanor -- do you know the makers? (usually look inside the sound ... | ||
| John Blosser tabs? | 3/26/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I've just heard your album "Coyote Dulcimer" and fallen in love with it! I wanted to ask you if you ... A: Hey, David, thanks for the early morning ego boost! LOL -- there are no tab books out there, but I ... | ||
| add a 6 1/2 fret | 2/26/2011 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have borrowed a handmade dulcimer from friends who thought they had art hanging on the wall until ... A: Shouldn't cost that much - I'd say $50 tops - and any competent luthier should be able to do it -- ... | ||
| value | 12/26/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: Having several friends that play in bands they talk about guitar values. I have a M-12W McSpadden SN ... A: Well, Jim, if it was a Sunhearth or a Simerman, or any dulcimer by a dulcimer maker who is no longer ... | ||
| Dulcimer, strings and tuning | 11/23/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: I just acquired a 3 string dulcimer..made by Leonard Glenn Of sugar Grove N.C. In ... A: Well, Mike, if you can get up to Manitou Springs, my good buddy Bud Ford would get you set up all ... | ||
| Converting dulcimer music to guitar tab | 10/1/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: I am trying to find out if there is a way to convert dulcimer music to guitar. Do you know if there ... A: Hey, Casey: I did a little digging around for you --here's what I came up with - hope this ... | ||
| String sizes | 9/12/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: Do springs sizes have to be changed when one wants to change the tuning mode? A: Springs? LOL -- don't have any springs on my dulcimers, last time I checked. OK, seriously-- no, ... | ||
| Laurel Mountain dulcimer | 8/30/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: do you know anything about Laurel Mountain dulcimers? They look beautiful on the web page. Thanks A: Hey, Luther sorry it took so long - I've been without a computer for several days. I'm afraid I ... | ||
| Green River Dulcimer Kit | 7/25/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: I bought this kit back in the early 80's from someone & I don't know how old it was then. It is ... A: Questioner: Larry Country: New York, United States Category: Dulcimer Private: No Subject: Building ... | ||
| green river dulcimer | 6/27/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: i have never owned a dulcimer and do not know anything about them. i am looking for one built in the ... A: Never heard of them - however,I found this stuff on some dulcimer websites: " I am the sister of ... | ||
| dulcimer bone nut | 4/19/2010 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: Good evening sir, I am at present building an hourglass m/dulcimer. Need to whittle me some bone for ... A: back away from the cat : ) I'm going to recommend that you pose this question to the builders forum ... | ||
| Simerman dulcimer | 4/15/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: I just saw the OCT 19, 2009 question about the Simerman dulcimer. I too have what I think is one of ... A: Sorry to take so long answering this one, Eunice, but I've been at the Wanee Festival and having a ... | ||
| vintage hammer dulcimer | 1/17/2010 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: I have had this hammer dulcimer for years and have just never done anything with it. I believe it ... A: Very nice David ! I've seen pieces from this period sell in the $100 - $200 range. Original,sound ... | ||
| dulcimers | 1/14/2010 | John Blosser |
| Q: I live in the Boise,Idaho area. Are there any mountain dulcimer makers near by? A: Not that I know of, BJ -- however, you might check listings such as www.gilamountaindulcimers.com or ... | ||
| Tuning a Five String Dulcimer [ 2-2-1] | 12/31/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I've been looking online for information on tuning a five string dulcimer and have found a ton of ... A: sorry it took me to long to get back to you. You can tune the bass string to D, the middle and top ... | ||
| sringing | 12/20/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I purchased a hand-made mountain dulcimer last year at a Civil War re-inactment and played it for a ... A: Probably because you're playing it upside down - most dulcimers are strung for right-handed players, ... | ||
| sringing | 12/19/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I purchased a hand-made mountain dulcimer last year at a Civil War re-inactment and played it for a ... A: Kate! Well, lets see -- generally speaking, if you are playing in Ionian mode, you would tune the ... | ||
| Simerman Mountain Dulcimer | 12/16/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have a Simerman Mountain Dulcimer #717 2003, with an Ebony Fingerboard. What is the estimated ... A: Wow - good question. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this - I've been out of the ... | ||
| Kurt Simerman - dulcimer | 10/19/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I recently bought a Kurt Simerman dulcimer. It's an hourglass with f note holes. It's signed inside ... A: Interesting - A Simerman dulcimer is my main instrument right now - I think I actually got the last, ... | ||
| Stringing my dulcimer | 9/28/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have a 3-string mountain dulcimer made by Homer Ledford. I'd like to re-learn how to play it, but ... A: Well, Pat, that all depends....I string up with two .013s on the high side, a .014 in the middle and ... | ||
| left hand strings | 8/25/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I'm just learning With my left hand do I press down all three strings to play or do I just press ... A: All depends on what you want to play, Penelope. Old-timers played just the first string, with the ... | ||
| learn to play mountain dulcimer | 8/17/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I live in Lakeland, Florida. I bought a mountain dulcimer a couple of years ago. I have been ... A: Off the top of my head, no -- but I'm searching around for you, and will let you know as soon as I ... | ||
| hammered dulcimer appraisals | 6/30/2009 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: I have two hammered dulcimers built by James Jones in the 1990s.One is a 2/17/16 purchased used, and ... A: neither of these 2 models are in production any longer. James has replaced several of his earlier ... | ||
| Bill Davis | 5/23/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I have a signed Bill Davis 5 string Dulcimer which I purchesed directly from him in the early 70S ... A: Marilyn, I generally stay away from questions about sales of dulcimers. I've seen inexpensive ... | ||
| what is my dulcimer worth? | 5/6/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I HAVE A DULCIMER SIGNED BY LARRY MCSPADDEN. IT IS A BARITONE M12. 13,494 IS THE SERIAL NUMBER. ... A: Paulette - for some reason, I didn't get your message, so this has taken me awhile to get back to ... | ||
| a 5 String thank you | 4/30/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: first thank you for answering all the questions you have, i read these and will be following a bit ... A: I'm not sure of your skill level, Whitey, but you might try just two top strings, one middle, one ... | ||
| lap dulcimer pick ups | 4/24/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I'm playing my mcspaddens in a small string band and occasionally we play plugged in gigs. The ... A: there are as many answers to this question as you can imagine. Everyone has their favorites. One of ... | ||
| Antique Stringed Instrument Information | 4/13/2009 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: I purchased a unique large footed stringed instrument many years ago. I have been told it could be ... A: I would indeed like to have a photo of this instrument, as well as the accessories you mention. ... | ||
| 5-string dulcimer | 4/3/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: My father, built me a 5-string in a 2-1-2 configuration.(I noted that you replied in 2006 to a ... A: Well, Brian, that all depends -- if you are strung 2-1-2, and want to play in Ionian mode (the usual ... | ||
| antique dulcimer | 3/29/2009 | Joseph Eisenhart |
| Q: I have an old instrument, which I think is a dulcoimer (no hammer), all wood. On the inside piece ... A: What you have is a member of the Zither family of German instruments. This group are the ... | ||
| DAD vs DAd | 3/14/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I see the tuning notation DAD and DAd. Is there a difference, and if so, how is this actually ... A: well, lets see -- in DAD, the bottom AND top strings, i.e., strings 1 (or 1-2 if doubled) and 3 (or ... | ||
| DAD vs DAd | 3/14/2009 | John Blosser |
| Q: I see the tuning notation DAD and DAd. Is there a difference, and if so, how is this actually ... A: Yes, there is a difference....with an electronic tuner, tune your bottom string to a middle D, the ... | ||
John Blosser
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
All questions pertaining to the playing of mountain dulcimer, acquisition of dulcimers, books, CDs, etc., how to play, how to learn, WHY to play, where to get a good dulcimer, what books are most helpful to beginners, etc.
Experience
Teacher/performer: French Creek (Pa.) dulcimer symposium Teacher/performer: Sunshine State Music Camp, 2000 Teacher/Performer -- NGFDA Fall Festival, 2000 Performer - various venues for the past l0 years. Current Florida dulcimer champion, 2000.
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