1982 Stiver, bird's eye Maple A model mandolin #84. Built by Lou Stiver of Akron Ohio.
	1.  Jay's 1972 Martin D-28  Serial # 332448 Equipped with a custom dual source pick-up by Mark Swanson.   2.  Tom's 1995 Martin J40 guitar, serial # 554698 Equipped with Baggs double barrel pick-up. 3.  Tom's 1989 walnut dreadnought "Del's" guitar, #547, built by Del Langejans of Holland Michigan. Equipped with Baggs dual source pick-up. 4.  Tom's 1998 Martin ooo28EC guitar, serial #647210 Equipped with Baggs Dual source pick-up
	Upright bass:  1951 Kay Model C-1 Serial # 27393. Jay: "I've owned this bass since the mid 1970's and used it on the road with Grandpa Jones and many other artists.  It's currently outfitted with a K&K Sound Rockabilly Bassmaster Plus pickup system." Electric bass:  Fender Precision Lyte. Jay: "I've played electric basses through the years but only recently bought one of my own.  This one allows for great flexibility on stage and in the studio when song selections require an electric sound.  Its light weight and compact size is appreciated after years of hauling the upright bass."
	The hammered dulcimer is an instrument with a tremendously long history. This percussive instrument, played by striking the strings with hand held hammers, is believed to have originated in Persia several thousand years ago. The first known depiction of an instrument of this kind is in a Persian stone carving dated at nearly 700 years BC. Hammered dulcimers are known by many different names throughout the world. During the late 1600's in Europe, the hammered dulcimer is credited with inspiring inventors to create a keyboard mechanism.
Their tinkering led to the invention of the harpsichord, clavichord, piano forte, and eventually the piano. Hammered dulcimers came to America with the early settlers and have been used in a variety of musical settings from the lumber camps of the north, Henry Ford's orchestra in Detroit, and regional pockets of popularity throughout the United States.  Jay began performing with the hammered dulcimer in 1971 after seeing 81 year old virtuoso Chet Parker. Parker built his own dulcimer in 1904 and played it throughout Michigan for the next 70 years or so. He was asked to perform at the Newport Folk Festival during the folk music revival of the 1960's. Jay credits Parker with inspiring his own style of playing and was honored to perform on Chet's own dulcimer at Parker's funeral in 1974.  Jay's family built hammered dulcimers for nearly 30 years (Round Family Dulcimer Co. 1971-1998). While Jay has several Round Family Dulcimers, the one pictured above was made by Rick Thum in St Louis, MO.  Footnote: There is another type of dulcimer that is laid across one's lap and strummed. This instrument, commonly referred to as a "mountain" or "Appalachian" dulcimer, is totally unrelated to the hammered dulcimer. It is believed to have been invented in North America between 1750-1800 by Scottish immigrants who missed the sound of their bagpipes. It was eventually named "dulcimer", a word derived from Greek and Latin words for "sweet music" and "pleasant sound".