Howie Mitchell's '62 booklet on Making & Playing MDs

[gossiphog]

My dad gave me a copy of his 1962 (second edition) pamphlet, "The Mountain Dulcimer, how to make and play it (after a fashion)", and has generously given me permission to post it here for public consumption.

This pamphlet is the basis for the 1965 Folk Legacy book & album of the same title (which you can still find used copies of on Amazon), but there are a number of differences between the two.

TheMountainDulcimer_1962_pamphlet.pdf

The Mountain Dulcimer - how to make it and play it (after a fashion) - 1962 version

(3.82 MiB) Downloaded 592 times

The later book has of course the great accompanying album with songs, additional playing information & tunings, and details on several varieties of dulcimers and experiments that the earlier pamphlet does not.

The pamphlet has quite a few more specific measurements which he later removed so as to serve as more of a "guide" than a "instruction manual."

I recommend both!

regards
David Mitchell

[Frimp]

This is a treat! Looks like old-fashioned Mimeograph copies I knew in school, back in the sixties.
I noticed that the suggested fretting pattern is unusual, in that the frets aren't installed perpendicular to the "staff", or fretboard, length.

Thank you, David, for posting this "blast from the past".

One of the prettiest melodies I play on my dulcimers is "Dipper of Stars", credited to your dad. I've often wondered if he ever wrote words to that beautiful tune? I learned it from the "Golden Ring" LP, and its a crowd-pleaser. And it almost puts them all to sleep, as well!

[gossiphog]

Dipper of Stars is a nice one for sure. There are no lyrics to the tune per se, but I believe the name came from a poem. I'll ask him about it when we talk next.

Regarding the unusual fret pattern, he would determine the positions manually by stringing the dulcimer BEFORE installing frets, then determining the "ideal" position for each fret on each string by hand, moving a small nail around and plucking the string to find the sweetest note (he's a big fan of meantone tuning). Talking about it last weekend, I think he feels that the true reason for such crosseyed fret angles was due to a combination of high action and varying string weight. He describes this process more thoroughly in the later edition of the book instead of just showing the resulting pattern.

Perhaps another builder on the list can chime in here? Otherwise it seems like a fine idea for some experiments.

-David

[KenH]

David - give your father a big round of applause and heartfelt thanks from all of us who read and followed his writings!
His was the first dulcimer "construction book" and I practically memorized it before building my own first instrument. I have no idea why he angled the full width frets like that unless it was an attempt to "compensate" for the heavier middle and bass strings...

One interesting thing I note is that in 1962 (and thus even earlier) he incorporated what we today call the 6+ fret -- he just numbers it #7 of the layout. However he did not include the 13+ fret...

I've never seen a dulcimer made in shape #3 shown in his Figure 1 sketches of top shapes. I just might have to try that one.... The tight radius curves could be done several different ways...

Thanks Howie!!!!!

[gossiphog]

I found this interesting site that seems to confirm exactly the notion above, that the combination of string height (action), weight, and desire for accurate intonation (i.e. frets placed by ear to sound "sweeter") require frets to be placed out-of-parallel.

Check out the wild fret shapes in the photos..

http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php

And more info in the FAQ section..

http://www.truetemperament.com/site/ind ... go=4&sgo=0

"What�s wrong with straight frets?

Standard equal tempered fret spacing is calculated from one single piece of information about the instrument - the scale length (the theoretical speaking length of the open strings). A divisor constant is used to determine the locations of the frets. The scale length divided by the constant gives the position of the first fret. The remaining length after subtracting the first fret, divided by the same constant, gives the position of the second fret, and so on.

...

The model assumes an "ideal" or "perfect" string - one which only exists in theory, not in the real world. It assumes, firstly, that the strings have no stiffness. Secondly, it assumes that all strings behave identically, regardless of their thickness, whether they are plain or wound, and the material they are made of. Thirdly, it assumes zero string height - and completely ignores what happens when the strings are pressed down on the frets!

...

The strings themselves vary considerably in diameter and construction (plain or wound), and thus react differently to being fretted. One single adjustment per string at the bridge ("intonation") cannot possibly fully compensate for all these parameters at once, as they all vary in different degrees on different strings.

The only way to fully compensate for all these parameters is to adjust each and every string-to-fret contact point on the fingerboard separately, until each and every note plays the target frequency exactly. This, which is impossible on a guitar with traditional, one-piece, straight frets, is exactly what we do with Dynamic Intonation�, and Curved Frets�.

"

[mrchips]

Thanx...

He also did one on Hammer dulcimers. I have that one and Ive been sorta looking for this one. Good stuff for anyone wanting to make either from scratch.

[gossiphog]

Interesting, it was so obvious, I didn't even notice earlier. The 1962 pamphlet I posted above covers 3-string dulcimer only.

The 1965 Folk Legacy book and playing information covers 4-string (both really). It really should be reprinted.. Next time I talk to Caroline Paton I'll ask her about it. Sure would be nice to either have the book reprinted or get permission to post online like this one if they don't plan to reissue the book.

-David

[rendesvous1840]

I remember this book from the copy our local library had years ago. I took it out after I assembled my first kit dulcimer, and started learning to play from this book. Thanks for the memories!
Paul

[KenH]

David - if the publisher balks at re-publishing hardcopy or posting it on line. You might suggest that they publish it as an on-demand e-book...

[gossiphog]

My dad sent me an old book recently, titled "The Cheerful Cherub," by Rebecca McCann, published in 1929.

It's a cute collection of witty and poetic observations about life, illustrated with cute little cherubs.

Anyhow, it turns out, within is the origin of the name of the tune "Dipper of Stars":

THRILL

I went out to a well one night.
Soft darkness hid all daytime scars
I held some water to the light.
And drank a dipper full of stars.

[KenH]

Neat bit of poetry. Now someone please post a sound clip of Howie's melody so I can learn to play it!

[Frimp]

Ken,

Howie Mitchell's "Dipper of Stars" tune can be found on the old LP entitled "Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends for Making Music"
put out by Folk-Legacy Records, Inc. (FSI-16). Side 1, Cut 6. That's where I learned it. I don't know if it's available in any other format.
It's a quiet and peaceful tune that almost puts folks to sleep!

John