Owner's Comments

Name: Jim Tromater

 

Email: "Rolling T" <rolling-t@escapees.com>

 

We found the tones of each of the six other models we were considering just didn't sound right to us.  I much prefer my J&K Concert Grand  to the James Jones 12/11and the Masterworks 16/15 I had been using. The bass bridge notes are perfect matches for the same note on the treble bridge, something I had not found on other dulcimers.  Now it sounds right to play the music where it is written.  It was definitely worth the extra time to find what we enjoy listening to and playing.     Great job!!

 

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Name: Audrey Nowak

 

Email: anowak@new.rr.com

 

My name is Audrey and I'm a professional musician.  I am SO amazed at the

sound I get out of my J&K dulcimer.  The dynamic range has so much more

depth than I ever thought possible.  This instrument is alive.  I mean it.

When I hit the notes they speak back with such life.  I am doing a solo with

a symphony here in Wisconsin and it involves tons of fast runs THAT SOUND

CRYSTAL CLEAR! No more muddy-sounding fast notes.  I am learning to play

with much more emotion because the instrument responds to me.

 

I am overwhelmed at  how breathtakingly beautiful it is.  It is a work of

art. Anyone who happens to see it stops whatever they are doing and stares

at it.  Kathy took a lot of time on  the engraving and it shows.    You will

never regret having a J&K.  You will only wish that you had found it sooner.

 

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Name: Judy White

 

Email: judmat@webtv.net

I totally love my J&K Dulcimer! I had a dulcimer from another builder for about 8 yrs. but when I heard Jim perform at Evart I knew I had to have one. I'm not a professional nor do I play a lot of jams. This dulcimer has such a beautiful sound and is "lovely to look at". I would highly recommend one to anyone who wants a great instrument! And no, this is not a paid advertisement - just a very pleased hammerer!

Name: Sylvia Kosalko

 

Email: skosalko@yourinter.net

How can I ever thank you enough for the most beautiful instrument in the world? It is not only a great privilege but also a great joy to be able to own such a work of art. The beauty is only overshadowed by the ethereal tones it produces. Kathie, your engraving is meticulous. There hasn't been one person who has seen or heard this dulcimer that isn't awed by it.

Name: Betsy Codrea

Your craftsmanship is just drop-dead gorgeous! Thank you for such a fine sounding and beautiful instrument.

Name: Judy White

Email: judmat@webtv.net

I know this is my second post to the owner's comments but I just had to say how wonderful my dulcimer sounds playing Christmas songs! I was playing this morning and thinking what beautiful music comes from this instrument! Thanks Jim!

Name: Dianne McHugh

I am the thrilled owner of a spruce-top J&K dulcimer, a 16/16 Custom. I formerly owned a mahogany J&K and thought I had my dream dulcimer for life until I heard and fell in love with the siren call of this instrument. It took me completely by surprise, because I'm normally NOT a spruce-top fan: spruce sound boards on guitars and dulcimers have always sounded harsh and strident to my ear. But Jim's technology has rendered an instrument with a warm, clear, sweet, open-throated sound without any of the 'tinny' stridency that I so often associated with spruce.

It has a big, strong, happy, enthusiastic voice, which may daunt the uninitiated. But it is so responsive to different touches and/or hammer weights and surfaces that one can very easily modulate that voice in both volume and tonal quality. It is much more versatile than the mahogany model, I think.

If I were to compare the differences between the SOUND of a mahogany vs. a spruce-top J&K, I would characterize the mahogany as a mellow, sedate, HARP-like tone, and the spruce as a joyous, outgoing, BELL-like voice. It's all a matter of taste. You can't go wrong with either one.

The length of sustain is near perfect: enough to carry through slow airs and waltzes, but not enough to muddy up faster tunes. Just as importantly, the quality of the decay is pure -- no breaking up of the notes into disparate overtones as the sound fades.

Another feature of J&K dulcimers that this instrument demonstrates is a consistency of tone throughout its 16/16 range. No matter where you play on this instrument -- from the highest treble to the lowest bass -- the voice is consistently beautiful and pure -- not a clunker note anywhere.

The instrument also holds a tune extremely well, and except for the 2 or 3 lowest bass strings, also stays in tune with itself over extended periods of time. How nice for those of us who have limited practice time!

As for appearance, I have to quote another owner on this page: it is "drop-dead gorgeous"! This particular model has Kathie's "Roses" pattern around the sound holes, and "Vines" interweaving the pins on the pin block and end rails. The etchings are a rich, dark umber that tastefully compliment the blonde color and prominent grain patterns of the spruce top and the zebra wood rails.

So, there are my 'reasons' for loving my J&K. But the bottom line is simply this: I never get tired of this instrument. I can't wait to get home from work every night to sit down and play -- if only for a few minutes. The day just isn't complete or 'settled' until I have. And for what it's worth, my big cat, Jimmy, loves it,too. All I have to do is head for the 'music room' and Jimmy's in my lap purring (making playing very difficult, as you might imagine). If I pause for any reason, he nips at the hammers or rubs his face on the strings until I resume playing. So the J&K has a resounding endorsement from the feline community, too!

I sure hope you have an opportunity to hear and own a J&K.