FolkRoots Travel Dulcimer Reissue

[SteveA]

One big difference between our travel dulcimer and the dulcimettes is the tuning. By default, we'll do the standard DAD and if I remember right the baritone dulcimette is in AEA. Plus with the choice of solid Honduras Mahogany (a very "soft" hard wood) and the very counter-intuitive bracing design, we're able to get a small instrument that sounds much bigger than it is. Plus, the Ruggs did a great job of maximizing volume in the body when they designed the original FolkRoots travel dulcimer 30 years ago.

[frets alot]

Hey folks. I just corresponded with Richard at Folkcraft and will be a "tester" myself. Perhaps we can all interact a bit after we gain access to the dulcimers.

Sounds like a good idea.

[Dusty Turtle]

One big difference between our travel dulcimer and the dulcimettes is the tuning. By default, we'll do the standard DAD and if I remember right the baritone dulcimette is in AEA. Plus with the choice of solid Honduras Mahogany (a very "soft" hard wood) and the very counter-intuitive bracing design, we're able to get a small instrument that sounds much bigger than it is. Plus, the Ruggs did a great job of maximizing volume in the body when they designed the original FolkRoots travel dulcimer 30 years ago.

It definitely sounds interesting. I must admit that I really like my baritone dulcimette, but since I generally tune it to A or G, I can't play with other dulcimers most of the time.

[WriterMom]

Thank you so much for posting this thread! I corresponded with Richard and signed up to test one of these, too.

[airin]

Does anyone know whether Folkcraft is accepting more folks for the auditon? I would like to compare their folkroots instrument to the "Youngster" to see if their travel dulcimer has a bigger sound for its size.

[folkfan]

Does anyone know whether Folkcraft is accepting more folks for the auditon? I would like to compare their folkroots instrument to the "Youngster" to see if their travel dulcimer has a bigger sound for its size.

The travel dulcimer is already in production. And it would have a bigger sound than the Youngster as it's overall length is 27 1/4" with body size of 24" x 6" x 2", and a VSL of 22". To me the only hang up would be the length for carrying on an airplane. A 27 1/4" instrument wouldn't fit in my carry on bag.

[fortytwo]

A Ginger measures almost 31" in it's case. I've carried mine in check baggage several times. To do carry-on the dulcimer - any size - will have to be your "personal item". That does leave you at the mercy of which side of the bed the cabin attendant got up on!

The term "travel dulcimer" is widely (mis) used. Maybe we need Richard to do another definition of terms essay .

[SteveA]

Does anyone know whether Folkcraft is accepting more folks for the auditon?

We'll end up working everyone in that asks - just drop an email to Richard at sales@folkcraft.com.

For airplane carry-ons, I researched that before I started building these travel dulcimers. They are well under the FAA limitations for carry-on luggage, but each airline has its own restrictions. I know we don't fit in the restriction for American Airlines as a carry-on (would have needed to knock off another several inches in length), but we do for their limit on "personal" items. Also, the airlines are supposed to exempt musical instruments from the carry-on limitations, but that comes down to the fight attendant. Just be the nice, cheerful person that we all know that every dulcimer player is, and most flight attendants would let you bring anything you could carry...

[folkfan]

Does anyone know whether Folkcraft is accepting more folks for the auditon?

We'll end up working everyone in that asks - just drop an email to Richard at sales@folkcraft.com.

For airplane carry-ons, I researched that before I started building these travel dulcimers. They are well under the FAA limitations for carry-on luggage, but each airline has its own restrictions. I know we don't fit in the restriction for American Airlines as a carry-on (would have needed to knock off another several inches in length), but we do for their limit on "personal" items. Also, the airlines are supposed to exempt musical instruments from the carry-on limitations, but that comes down to the fight attendant. Just be the nice, cheerful person that we all know that every dulcimer player is, and most flight attendants would let you bring anything you could carry...

Unfortunately your comment on "most flight attendants would let you bring anything you could carry" hasn't been my experience on most of my or my family's recent flights. Too many people were bringing on anything and everything which meant that the last to board had to have their carry on luggage checked. That's how loaded the overhead bins were.

Also depending on which seat you have the size of the bag that you can place under your seat will vary. This under the seat article is suppose to be your personal item. I've seen many an "under the seat sized" bag have to be placed in the overhead bin as the foot room under the seat in front was not a single space. Window seats frequently are much smaller as to foot room or under-seat storage due to the way the seat in front is attached to the flooring.

On my last flight to England, items fell out of the one of the overstuffed overhead bins. Other carry on pieces were roughly slammed into the bins and shoved around trying to get them to fit. We had several very angry flight attendants that trip as there was just too much luggage being brought on, with many people expecting the flight attendants to assist them in getting their heavy bags into the bins. Which isn't the attendants' job according to the information given in the section on carry on luggage on the web site of airline I was flying. It just gets to be too much for the attendants to tote, lift, and carry over the course of a loading.

Our take off was delayed because of the luggage problems. The flight attendants were dragging bags up and down the aisles trying to find a place to put them. The "No room in the bin" situation caused some very harsh comments by passengers as to how their luggage was being slammed and crammed into bins not meant to hold what had been allowed to be carried on. And the types of items that were being carried on such as soft shopping bags, etc. that spilled all over the place. "Be careful with that" was a common cry as one passenger forced his or her bag on top of someone else's case. What a mess.

(I'm editing this to say that due to most flight attendants letting the first boarders bring anything they could carry on, the last boarders ended up with overcrowded bins and angry/upset flight attendants.)

[fortytwo]

Are ya gonna have a cardboard version? Now that would be a real travel dulcimer - one you wouldn't shed a lot of tears if it took on a new shape during transit, well at least if it was on the way home .

[airin]

Does anyone know whether Folkcraft is accepting more folks for the auditon?

We'll end up working everyone in that asks - just drop an email to Richard at sales@folkcraft.com.

.

Thank you! I contacted Richard and am now on the list to audition the Folkcraft travel dulcimer - stoked!

[SteveA]

Are ya gonna have a cardboard version? Now that would be a real travel dulcimer - one you wouldn't shed a lot of tears if it took on a new shape during transit, well at least if it was on the way home .

I hadn't thought about that, but there's no reason why we couldn't. I could basically redesign our current cardboard kit to be a short scale length and make a small body. Wouldn't be much cheaper to make, but would be easier to haul around. On the plus side, the way the bodies of our cardboard kits are done, they are almost impossible to crush (don't take that as a challenge).

Speaking of crushing - many of you have met me, but for those that haven't, I'm a very big guy. With the combination of the small body and the bracing on the travel dulcimers, I can stand on them without damaging them...