I agree with you, Nate, it does sound better with less water. Sounds great with no water, either. I'd bet a tricone-type set-up, and a spider bridge set-up would sound different, but, equally good.
I'm retired, so, until I run out of necessaries I don't need to go to town (except for a couple of doctor appointments I made well in advance of this current health issue). I also live in the country, so my contact with people is minimal. This is all good, because I'm at high risk health-wise.
Anyway, I hope everybody stays safe and healthy.
Never seen, played, or heard one, but, I suspect the amount of water in the pan would affect the sound quite a bit....something I'm sure you must've found out.
Heck, folks, it's YOUR dulcimer...play it any darned way you please!!! 
I have 3 banjos, none of which I play well. None have resonators, and, all have skin heads. I have a modern tonering banjo, a fretless mountain banjo, and a fretless tackhead minstrel-style banjo. Tried for years, but can't get the clawhammer or any down -picking style down, so I play a 3-finger style. Love the sound of instrument!
WOW!!! Thanks Robin!
A beautiful and unusual looking dulcimer, Gennaro! Congratulations! 
I never practice, I just play. Practice is work! Dull and boring repetition without context. Playing is fun, challenging, and interesting. I'd rather have fun.
I'm with Ken on this subject...To me, playing is a form of practice. And it's fun.
I've tried this with knitting needles.....to me, playing this way is about as easy as touching your nose with your elbow!
Me three...at Berea, where the wacky ones tend to gather...including Kenh and David!
Beautiful! Happy Birthday, John!!!
Real nice! Thanks, Robin!
Great interview, Redmando! I had the pleasure of meeting Kendra and Bob at the Traditional Dulcimore Gathering in Berea, Ky in May. Kendra brought some of the instruments she talks about...including the courting dulcimer, which she and Bob played. Great memories!
Thank you for your eloquent words, Salt Springs. I went to school with two people who were killed in the Towers that dreadful day.
I only play noter/drone style. I love the sound and also the "feel" of playing in this style. I also have, in the last few years, fallen in love with playing the traditional 3-string, diatonically fretted dulcimore, with staple frets under the melody string only (I have 3 of these instruments each tuned to DAC, DAA, DAD).
Great photo, Ken!.......No fire ants??!!! Kevin, you don't know what you're missing!
So, armed with my trusty dulcimores and my voice, I proceeded in wowing the Woodstock-like crowd with several operatic arias sung with my classically trained baritone voice, and my virtuoso playing........then I woke up from this dream, went outside on my porch and wowed the Woodstock-like crowd of fire ants with my rather less than virtuoso playing, and a voice only a frog would love! Had a Blast!!!!!
I'll be playing, but I live in the woods...nobody's gonna hear me 'cept the fire ants! 
Congratulations to all the winners!
I have no idea about the cost of these materials (I suspect less expensive than ebony...I could be wrong, but I think not) However, my big quibble about the use of such materials (if less expensive) is the price of the instruments using them has not seemed to come down any (and, yes, I'm well aware of the other costs involved in building instruments).
Thanks Ken for this link. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. and he was playing it soooooo cruz like. wow. It's a Stineway version of a thumb piano. I bet it is no easy picnicking to tune. aloha, irene
I don't know about this particular instrument, Irene, but to tune a kalimba, you need a tiny hammer. These hammers sometimes come with the purchase of the kalimba...if not, they can be found on ebay.
One needs to be the patient sort...they can be a real bear to tune and to keep from buzzing!
I have a 17 key kalimba....quite enough for me, folks!
Congratulations, Susie! Have fun with it, and make some music!
"Hard Times, Come Again No More" by Stephen Foster, especially the last verse. This song means quite a lot to me.
That's a nice one, John! Need more Singletons out there! Real nice meeting you at Berea!
Thanks, Ken! See you there!
He plays great, but kudos to the lady playing the spoons! Thanks, Rob!
Now, that's some playing!
Cute! I like the scalloped fretboard, John!
!!! Thanks, Robin!
