A keyboard stand makes a decent alternative also. The height is adjustable. I used a small piece of shelving covered with a piece of shelf-liner on top of the keyboard stand. This works good, but isn't real handy if you are taking it out to play.
I also made my own stand a few years ago. I could post a picture and some measurements if you want to make your own, or have someone that could make it for you.
Congratulations!!! This is awesome!!! 
Hi Richard,
I have a keyboard stand that I have used for a long time - to stand while playing my dulcimers.
At first - I used 2 pieces of shelving covered with the rubber shelf liner.
The shelving was heavy, so I found some much lighter paneling and covered it with the shelf liner.
Once you have your "base" just adjust to the height that you are comfortable with, and Voila!
Works like a charm!
Keep strumming and smiling!
Cindy
Thank you Jan for your input, and I was really happy to see the response from Mark.
That must have been awesome to have Bill for a week-long class!
Sounds awesome!!!
Mark! Thank you so much for responding to this! I hope all is well with Bill and his family. It makes me very sad to know that he has stopped playing and stopped building dulcimers. I only ever had the privilege of meeting Bill the one weekend at the KADC retreat. He is a truly a wonderful person, and sooooo talented. The dulcimer I have is beautiful and has such a wonderful sound. One of the fun moments (one of many) from that weekend was when Bill played and sang "The Preacher and the Bear".
When you see him again - please tell him I said hi. He won't know who I am, but he made such an impact on me....I was pretty new to the dulcimer, and he showed me what the dulcimer community is all about!
Thank you again! And sorry for rambling.......
Does anyone here know if Bill Taylor is still building and/or playing the mountain dulcimer?
I have one of his dulcimers and I love it! Many years ago I went to a KADC (Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club) weekend workshop. Bill was a part of it. He is a wonderful person and a great player! It would be so nice to hear from him!
Thanks!
Wow! This is such a beautiful dulcimer!!! Can't wait to hear it 
Sorry to hear of Brian's struggles and his passing.
May he rest in peace.
This is so beautiful.....so heartfelt.......
Thank you so much for re-posting it!
If only the world had a few more Frans!!! 
John Henry, I am so sorry that I am so late with this, but I pray that God lifts you up and comforts you.
I hope you find your way back to playing music, and that it can bring joy in your life.
You and your family are in my heart and in my prayers.
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Marilyn, I just want to say you are wonderful!!!!!
Music soothes the soul - and what you are doing for these folks- this is just so heartwarming and touching!
I don't play a lot of DAA - so I am not being much help with your question, but I am so touched by what you are doing that I had to respond!
Keep strumming and smiling 
Cindy
One of my favorites is "Red Wing"
Nell, I thought I would add that Dr. Duck's Ax Wax is a little costly ( about $ 16 including shipping ) but it lasts a long time. I only use a few drops each time. It cleans and conditions the strings. Also, my fingers slide much easier up and down the fretboard with this great stuff. Again, just my 2 cents 
Hi Nell, another thing that seems to have an effect on the strings is finger oils and other things that "dirty" them. I use "Dr. Ducks Ax Wax" to wipe down my strings each time I play. I have been doing this for a long time, and this doesseem to condition them and help keep them sounding bright.
Just my 2 cents - or maybe just a penny
Good luck!
356 And a Happy Birthday to FOTMD and ALL the members - this is one of my favorite places
Hey Terry,
How about the Crawdad Song? We have a lot of fun with that one.
In fact, tomorrow I will share a pretty funny version (recorded last night when we were all way too tired) and my son-in-law madeup a special verseof his own justfor my mom. (Oh and yes there is a story behind it).
Stay tuned
Well Robin - while I haven't tried N/D yet, I sure have to be totally and whole-heartedly in agreement with you! Everyone here understands the passion and love for the dulcimer - in all its wonderful forms and varieties! I know for sure that FOTMD has certainly helped me and helped keep that passion alive!
I would like to add my 2 cents here regarding strings. I wipe my strings before I put my dulcimer away - I have been using "Dr Duck's Ax Wax and String Lube" for as long as I can remember. It's great alsofor polishingthe instrument, but seems to do a wonderful job of keeping strings clean and maybe I am crazy but I think they sound better longer. Slides andfancy things seem easier too. That's my story and I am sticking to it!
Thank you John! Thank you for looking and comparing, and for your input! I am so excited about trying to figure this out!!!
John, you have no idea how exciting this isfor me. I was really close to my dad, and with him being gone so long and topossibly figure this out means SO MUCH to me!!!
I can't thank you enough for your help!!!
John Henry said:
Cindy, the vid is taking forever to load, and I need to get to bed (will no doubt be up a few times In the night ) but I have just looked at your latest pics and I would be prepared to bet folding money on yours being a 'kissin cozin' to mine, almost certainly a hand made kit job !!! I don't know where Folkcraft are now, but they were in Winstead CT in '85, if they have moved then records may not have moved with them ?Will review things in the morning, if you think it worthwhile, contact me with a pm ? Exciting, ain't it !
John
Attached are a few more close up pictures of my treasure!
Attached are some close up pictures of my treasure!
Hi John,
WELL! I am getting excited - I will post pictures shortly! The small slot underneath the head(scroll) and at the heel end are EXACTLY as you described! Also, the head/scroll and the fretboard are all one piece, and the head/scroll is a very shallow housing for the tuners.
Hmmmmmm
Thank you so much for the details!!!!!
I will post the pictures - please tell me what you think!
Cindy
John Henry said:
Hi Cindy, as you see, John is making the same suggestion as I did in your earlier post "My Treasure" ! I am an absolute duffer when it comes to transfering info quickly on this infernal contraption, so do me a favour, look at (i) underneath the head(scroll) where it joins onto the body. Can you see a small horizontal 'slot', approx 5/8" x 1/8" ? (ii) and then look for a similar slot at the heel end of the instrument, where fingerboard joins body ?
Also, can you tell us/show us if the head/scroll is formed by just the simple flat extension of the fingerboard carried thro' and channeled to provide a very shallow housing for the tuners ?
I have a 1985 Folkcraft (Winstead CT) teardrop, T 39 W, sitting in front of me now and apart from a rather more complicated finish at the tail, it looks the same. The shape and position of the sound holes cetainly are !!!
On balance, it would seem to me that it was either a simplified kit version of the instrument I have, or your dad may have made a close copy of one he had maybe seen ?
I really feel this answer deserves a Deerstalker and a magnifying glass !!! Just hope this helps?
one of the other 'Johns'
Hi John,
Well,a couple of others have said the same thing. I emailed some pictures to Folkcraft but they didn't seem to think that this was the case. I do have to wonder if maybe they didn't have picturesor info going back that far, as I know the company has changed hands.
I am still thinking this may be a Folkcraft.
Thank you for your input!
Cindy
John C. Knopf said:
Cindy, it could be a Folkcraft teardrop dulcimer kit.
Hi Frank,
Do you still have the dulcimer? Just wondering if we could compare photos.
Thank you!
Frank Ross said:
back in the early 70's I bought a kit from the RemBranD Company (their spelling and format) in Newton, Iowa. They sold Appalachian and hammered dulcimer kits. I have searched the internet for more info on the company but find very little. I still have the assemmbly instructions and a 6 page brocureon how to play it.
I have a dulcimer that my dad built from a kit sometime between the mid-1970's and early 1980's. I don't know where the kit came from and I am not sure we could ever really figure out just when he built it, but I would love tofigure out where it came from. If anyone has any ideas about who may have sold kits I would really appreciate it. My dad passed away in 1991, so this dulcimer is truly a treasure.
Thank you
Wow that is beautiful!
Keep strumming and smiling!!!
Thank you for the links, friends.
I can't help but think how, in some ways, Pete Seeger was to the banjo what Jean Ritchie has been to the mountain dulcimer. If each had done nothing but help popularize those two instruments, it would've been a lot. They did much more. . .
I think of how many people have been encouraged to realize a dream of playing a musical instrument and have been helped along the way by folks both at Everything Dulcimer and here at FOTMD. Life can be just plain hard sometimes and making music or sharing music can help along the way.
