Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?

Subject: Tech: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:01 PM

Can anyone provide info on who makes a good courting dulcimer? I'm also looking for a dulcimer set up for playing bowed style. Thanks for any help.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:22 PM

Spaw is the man for unique courting dulcimers.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 09:59 PM

I'd guess I'd be surprised if anybody made courtin dulcimers on spec. Next time you see me (September Meeting?) talk to me about Phil Holcomb (WV).

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 12:00 AM

A quick Google on "Courting Dulcimer" turns up:

Gila Mountain
Stoney End
Twin Oaks
Keith Young
Whale Music
Best Little … In Texas

All offer a "standard model" Courting Dulcimer, and apparently keep them in stock, or will build to your specification.

In addition to makers, there are quite a few dealers listed - mostly offering the Gila Mountain or Stony End models. "Apollo's Axes" indicates normal shipment on the Stony End within 2 weeks.

John

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: Carly
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 10:03 AM

This may be drifting the thread a bit, but I have Howie Mitchell's fourcimer; four fretboards, soprano through bass, set two across from two. I have never seen another one. Does anyone know if any others have been made?

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 11:01 AM

Homer Ledford's been known to make some.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: KateG
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 11:18 AM

See my post in the "Learning to Play the mountain dulcimer" thread. The folks on the dulcimer chat list will be able to give you lots of info on courting and bowed dulcimers.

I tried bowing my McSpadden. Interesting experiment, an unworldly sound, despite my technical failings. However, I really needed to put the dulcimer on a stand. With it on my lap, I couldn't get a good angle for both fretting and bowing, my body kept getting in the way. The folks who are seriously into bowing use a slightly curved bridge so they can move between the strings.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 11:25 AM

Oops. Ledford makes courtin' dulcimers, not fourcimers. Meant to respond to the initial question, not Carly's post. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: fretless
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 12:43 PM

Doug Berch made the one I gave to my wife as a wedding present. Played well then; plays well now 22 years later. He's in Ohio last I heard, but I don't have a current address/contact info.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 01:37 PM

Walking Eagle

The second request, for information about bowed dulcimers has been pretty much ignored. My question would be whether you have considered a psaltery - somewhat more adapted to bowing, and still a very "trad" instrument. In the common smaller (cheaper) sizes, they can be rather shrill, which may account for their "selective" popularity; but larger ones are available that sound quite mellow.

Not a recommendation, but brief info is at Bowed Psaltery Info Page, or for more commercial info, Unicorn.

For instuction, or just to get an idea of what playing one would be like, I'd likely trust Greg Schneeman's video at Lark, not from having seen the video, but from conversation with Greg a few years back - and hearing him play.

The common dulcimer shapes don't give very good clearance for a bow, and an arched "bridge," which would probably be helpful for bowing, doesn't lend itself well to transmission of the sound. In a typical dulcimer, most of the sound gets into the box through the fret you're using at the moment - NOT through the "bridge." Of course, with a bow, you have "unlimited input" available, so maybe that's not a real problem. The suspicion is that if it worked very well, there'd be a lot folk around doing it that way.

John

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 01:47 PM

Thanks for all the help.

W.E.

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 11:07 PM

In Kentucky the man is Homer Ledford. 125 Sunset Heights, Winchester, KY 40391. He makes a lovely, sweet-toned dulcimer (both 'courting' and 'still-single' kinds). He has a webpage, "Homer Ledford and the Cabin-Creek Band." He has been nominated for the 2003 National Heritage Award. A beanpole of a person, friendly and talkative, a fine, sensitive, quiet and non-aggressive musician. Just a short introduction- meet Homer Ledford!

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 03:02 AM

For those who don't want to search:


Homer Ledford and the Cabin Creek Band

Also interesting:

About Homer Ledford

John

Subject: RE: Who makes a good Courtin' Dulcimer?
From: GUEST,mombear
Date: 15 Jul 03 - 04:30 AM

Whether he is still around or not, I couldn't say, but 20 years ago, the most exquisite custom work could be found in Dennis Dorogi (sp?) in western NY state. A fantastic craftsman who knew his stuff.