Congratulations, Dennis. If it sounds half as pretty as it looks, you got yourself a treasure!

I received the dulcimer yesterday. With anticipation I opened the box. The dulcimer is drop jaw beautiful. The carved wooden pegs go with the instrument so I tried to tune the strings. First thing I broke the bass string. I replaced the string and tuned the A strings. It was not to difficult to get them in tune. I went back to the bass string and tuned it to D. It may only be me but it seemed a little loose even after tuning. Next I started strumming. Wow what a rich sound. Now I am more confused then ever about changing it to D-A-D.I don't play in DAA so I will have to learn a few tunes and see how that goes. My wife has an Angel Wing Harp in DAA that you use dulcimer tab. We are going to practice the two instruments together and see how that goes. I might be expanding my music even though I did not think I was ready.

Thanks Joy, the soundholes and in particular the cutout in the knot attracted me as well. I am anxious to see it, strum it, fiddle with the tuners and in general become comfortable with it.

I bought an hourglass Warren May dulcimer from someone that had basically kept it in its case in a closet for more than 25 years. It has such a wonderful sweet sound. For me, the (very sensitive) wooden tuning pegs took some getting used to but I currently have this dulcimer tuned Aaa and love playing softer songs with a drone. You have a beauty there. I am particularly taken with the bird cut into the knot hole.

Nice to meet you too, Dana! You sound like quite the Warren May enthusiast. I'll be passing by there tomorrow on the way to Townsend TN, and it's always hard to not stop in. I think our greatest point of agreement is your last line, which is a shorter way of saying what I was going on about. Sometime when you're in his shop, ask him about moving the bridge for playing in Ionian mode. I'm sure you've seen his little stick showing the distance from the bridge to the 7th fret. He'll tell you to move it a little further (1/16 to 1/8 inch) when tuned to DAa or similar. It's all part of the charm of owning and playing one of his dulcimers.

Parker I've updated all my dulcimers with extra frets put in by Warren and I've never had any trouble with them.He does file them down but he usually won't let them leave the shop if there is anything wrong like a buzz.I do have the bridge at an angle the way warren put it i marked it on the side of the fret board with a awl mark just so I know where to put it back when I change strings. when he put the extra 6+ it did go across the fret marker but that doesn't present a prob. 2 of my dulcimers are special additions 10,000 and 15,000 he made in limited addition. But i bought them to play and don't intend on reselling them so it doesn't bother me and now I can play what I want on them. I'm not saying your not right just adding the frets was right for me and I haven't had any problems. By the way nice to meet you:) Everyone has there own opinions. But it would be good for Dennis to play it a little while before making the decision.

I have a Warren May hourdrop also, which came with modern tuners and an original 6+ fret. I also have two other dulcimers with 1+ and 8+ frets besides the 6+ which is almost standard today. However, I sincerely hope you won't modify this one before getting to know it for what it is. For one thing, the 6+ fret will have to be installed right on top of his fret marker (which he moved in later models). That would be really hard for me to do, but I know others have done so. Also, Warren often files his frets down quite a bit, so when more frets are added, they're are usually more difficult. And Warren's intonation is sweetened just a little, so placement is a little tricky. On the latter point, this is why he suggests moving the bridge very slightly to the right when playing ionian tunes from the third fret. I've tried it, and it really does sound better. Obviously it's your instrument, or you've at least become the lucky person to care for it for the future, and it's yours do with as you wish. But there is no going back to the classic instrument you have now after you start the mods. By the way, I started with DAd, but have found that I love playing in DAa, especially with the noter. One of my favorite dulcimers is purely diatonic, and this one could be the same for you. In any case, I hope you enjoy this great instrument. It will no doubt bring you a lot of enjoyment.

I think I saw this one on ebay didn't I. Just ended the other day?

Dennis i think you will love the sound when you get it, but it is worth the price to have it modified. I had 1 1/2 add to mine also. Warrens dulcimers are great but can be delicate. Be careful picking up around sound holes he reinforces them but i picked one up sideways close to one of the humming birds and split it. Warren fixed it and you can't even tell it was split but just be careful. I think the wood is a little thinner on his than on some other dulcimers. Might not be but feels like it to me. I think that is why his have such a good sustain and sound pretty. You will love the walnut. Make sure and post a vid when you get it so we can hear it.

I bought it from a seller by the name of Iran. He said that he was actually selling it for someone else but he did not give me a name. Gotta wait for it to come and play and see if I want to leave it without the 6+. I do not usually play in DAA. Everything I like to do is in DAD. If I left it in DAA than I would have to play it by myself as our group plays in DAD.

Thanks Dana, I live in Florida so I will have to ship it up to him to modify. I am pretty sure I am going to change out the tuners and add the 1+, 6+ and 8+ frets. We own two Yocky's, a McSpadden Teardrop, and I have a Bill Taylor all Cherry Chromatic + a David Beedy Eedy Beedy. I love playing myBill Taylor but I am hoping with the mods' I can make the Warren May my main instrument. I seem to ding up the Cherry as it must be a very soft wood. I am hoping the walnut will be able to take more of a beating.

Dennis if you go back to the first page of my photos you can see my cherry dulcimer, next page has my walnut one.

I have several dulcimers i swap off playing, just depends on the mood i'm in or the sound i want. I have 3 of warrens and my favorite is my walnut one it has a beautiful sound. The cherry is really mellowing out and i like it better now than when i bought it. I had 6+ frets added to all my dulcimers can't imagine playing without it. As for the tuning pegs the wood ones are pretty but the metal are so much easier to tune, if it were me I'd change them out and add the 6+ expeciall if you are going to play Dad and chourd style. I just live about 30 min from warren shop and run down every now and then just to visit. He is a very nice guy:) Hope I helped you.

Dana, do you use your Cherry as your main instrument? Does it still have the wooden pegs and/or a 6+ fret? I am thinking of having Warren May's shop modify my dulcimer and chnage out the tuners and add a couple of extra frets. I appreciated the comment.

Dennis

Beautiful i have a cherry like it.