Rick Thum / Dusty Strings or Masterworks ???

[gypsy]

Oh yeah, and Michael is super nice. When i thought i wanted to be a luthier when i grew up, he offered to apprentice me. Great guy, and very nice dulcimers.

[Dick Glasgow]

Ha Ha Chad, Gypsy, You guys must be reading my mind, cause I'm actually sorting out a deal right now with Michael, for one of his 15/14s! ;D

Yes, it looks like by this time next month, I could be playing a Cloud Nine.

Aye, I noticed Kendra plays one of his & so does Ray Brooks

Check out this Video: Ray Brooks

[ceadach]

Very cool!!! If I had the money to buy a new dulcimer today, he'd be the first guy I'd talk to. Again Masterworks, Rick Thum, and James Jones all make super instruments and I have great respect for their work. Yet, there is some about the tone of the Cloud Nine dulcimers that really speaks to me, and to paraphrase Chopin "gives me the sound I want without having to work too hard for it."

As far a durablilty goes, years ago I met Robert Almblade and Carolyn Cruso who traveled from one end of the earth to the next with their Cloud Nine Dulcimers. Here were people who knew how to give a dulcimer a really workout! They related to me the many horrors of traveling with a pair of chromatic dulcimers,(oy!) and swore by Micheal's instruments. Sadly, I understand that Robert passed on a couple years ago.

Yes, young Ray Brooks certain plays in a vigorous style! Reminds me of the reaction of a certain pianist I know upon hearing Cimbalbom player Richard Grimes "SO!!... that's what (Franz) Liszt was doing wrong!!...He was using a keyboard instead of just hammers!!!" ;D
Funny, that pianist's last name was "Kettlewell" and he's from the U.K. too... www.amademusic.com/aboutus.html, Hmm..

Chad

[dulcimike]

One thing about Rick Thum dulcimers I haven't mentioned is that Rick plays Old-Time - fast fiddle tunes. That's all he plays. As he has been known to say, he "doesn't do 'pretty'". So, his dulcimers are designed for playing fast fiddle tunes, and hence have less sustain than a James Jones.

But it sounds like you have your sustain problem solved, eh, Ptarm? So, we'll be seeing you behind the old Oakwood still.

[gypsy]

Man, what a tough choice! But am glad you are getting one of Michaels dulcimers, they are really nice, and he is just great with answering questions long distance. O'course, he will be closer to you than Russell or Dusty Strings, so that might help a wee bit with freight. Best of luck! Can't wait to see the pictures.

[Dick Glasgow]

Well Gypsy, the fact is that ye olde "fat man" aint singin' quite yet, if you know what I mean!

You see, I've just learned that a good friend is heading this way soon & if things work out, they have very generously offered to bring my new H-D with them! ;D

However, this new piece of the puzzle has meant that my choices are now reduced to one, but as luck would have it, this happily coincides with my first choice of H-D, so I'm a happy bunny right now.



I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I can sort out the money transfer in time, but all being well, I should be hammering a new Dulcimer by the end of August ..... yippeee

[ceadach]

Hi Dick,
Check your PM if you haven't today.
Thanks,
Chad

[Dick Glasgow]

Thanks Chad

[dulcimike]

Ah, well, since you've bought your Rick Thum, I thought I'd let you know what I think of it - your particular dulcimer, that is.

Christie got back with it, and I played it yesterday. Hope you don't mind. It was just sitting there all nice and pretty and calling my name to play it. You know how that is.

Anyway, it's got a nice tone over the whole range. And the extra notes you have on it would be helpful to me, I know - some are the same as I have on my James Jones. A high C# and D#, as well as a high G# and Bb, D and E. And in the lower range, you have low G, and a mid-range F (below middle C), and a low Bb (below middle C), as well. Nice stuff. As I said, I would find use for those notes as well as the high ones.

And it's got a good volume to it. I know I was in Christie's house, which is somewhat live, but it was not hard to get a good sound out of it. It will be good in sessions - stand up to those loud fiddlers, you know.

So, I'd say you have a fine instrument there. Looking forward to playing with you, with you on it, next Spring.

Congrats. Now you'll just have to sit on your hands until it gets there. Not that I want to increase your impatience to receive it.

Cheers.

Regards to Mrs. Ptarm.

[Dick Glasgow]

Ha Ha Great stuff.
I'm delighted you took her for a spin Rick.
Even more so because you reckon it's OK . ...... phew!

I must admit, I was a little worried too that it might not be up to scratch for Christie, for her to use in her classes in Belgium, but from what you say, it sounds like she might be able to use it all right, after all, which is a relief.

Yes, I am of course really looking forward to getting my grubby little paws on it, but I'm quite happy to practice away on my Oakwood for the next four weeks & yes, it's going to be fun having a Duelling Dulcimer Session in the Smugglers with you, next Spring.

Marquess of Queensberry rules will apply .... of course!

Cheers
Dick

P.S. Will it fit around the table in Tom's, do you think, or should I get the side wall moved out a little?

[catty]

ceadach said:

Not to make you choice any harder but another American maker you might consider is Michael Allen, I think he is one of best kept secrets. www.cloudninemusical.com/CloudNineMainFrame.html I have been deeply impressed by the sound of his dulcimers, and his prices are very reasonable. I believe Kendra Ward plays one of Allen's dulces.
Chad

Hey Dick (et al.),

As you know from ED where I posted, I purchased a 1993 Cloud Nine last month. I've restrung it and it is most beautiful--I love this dulcimer. Michael Allen promptly responded to my inquiries and gave me some detailed info about his instruments. He said Kendra's first two HDs were this early model 15/14 -- he said she still has them. Just wanted to heartily recommend the Cloud Nine.

[Dick Glasgow]

Fair play Catty.

Yes, I've only heard good things about Michael's Dulcimers.

Why not send us a link to a sound file of you playing your new Cloud Nine, so that we might enjoy listening to it too Catty?

Cheers
Dick

[catty]

That technology is beyond me..

[dulcimike]

Howdy, Ptarm!

One thing that has been discussed on the forum here that might affect the sound of it for you is the hammers. Christie got some heavy hammers from me to use when she teaches in Belgium. I never use them anymore, but she's tried them out and seems to think they'll work nicely.

Yes, it's the never-ending story - boy buys dulcimer, new dulcimer requires new hammers, which requires the hammer search. Then there's the larger hammer bag, and soon boy will have to go back to his wee green beastie of a vehicle to carry it all.

BTW, not to get off-subject, I just got back from playing Old-Time tunes with some local fellows for about 3-1/2 hours at a local music store, Mountain Music. Nice tunes - most of which I didn't know. and I was in such a rush getting away to play, I didn't even get my iPod and mic attachment to take with me. Ah, well, I'll get some recordings later. Love those crooked tunes!

But they seemed to like the dulcimer (no it wasn't your dulcimer, it was mine - but that _would_ have been a good test of it, wouldn't it? - See back on subject!), so that was good.

Cheers

[Dick Glasgow]

Speaking of New Hammers Rick, you might like to check out my latest post on the Hammers Thread

A 3 & 1/2 hour Old Time Session eh .... now I'm GREEN ;D

Cheers
Dick