Welcome, Steven! We're glad to help. Yes, you should measure the distance from the inside of the nut (right edge) to the octave fret, which is usually the seventh fret. Double that, then add about 2 or 3 mm extra length to compensate for string stretch when you push the strings down to the frets. That should get you real close. DAD and DAA are very popular tunings for the dulcimer.
I agree with Ken. I like Thomas' birthday of March 19 (1850).
I've met Tom Fellenbaum several times over the years, and I know that he build excellent instruments. I bought one of his bowed psalteries years ago, and it was wonderful in craftsmanship and in sound. I don't know what he's up to now.
Ron, it could have been built by a home hobbyist, not a renowned maker. That seems more likely than a builder who is known by the dulcimer community. The number listed is small, unlike a "known maker".
Have a very happy and meaningful Thanksgiving Day everyone! Time to count our blessings.
The head design looks way off for an Amburgey. Jethro always marked his, as far as I know. It appears more "modern" than Jethro's work. And the fiddle edges are very wide. Maybe somebody's interpretation of his dulcimers, with differences added?
Wally's probably right about the body length being determined by the plywood sheet size. The same issue crops up when building Tennessee music boxes-- the wood pieces from the lumberyard are 48" long, yet the body length is something like 27" long. So either you "waste" half your wood or downsize your design to accommodate the size of the lumber.
Art, you can use loop-end strings on anything. Ball-end strings are hard to use on some dulcimers, but you could always break the ball out with heavy pliers, or run the free end through the ball to make a loop, though it doesn't look very good.
You could shop at www.juststrings.com for some great prices and quantities!
Yum-O! Tomatillo sauce is the spice of life, as they say!
Ken, "Perfection pegs" are made by Knilling. That's their brand name. And "Pegheds" are made by an different company. As are Wittner "Fine-Tunes", I believe.
That scroll design is unique in my experience. Looks as if a large hole was bored in the scroll, and a rounded-off plug of wood was glued into it.
Friends, I have the solution you crave for tuning multiple dulcimers for children: Use zither pins for tuners, and give tuning wrenches only to the instructors! Tune all of the dulcimers ONCE, and let the classes begin!
There's not a lot to go on here, Bridge. Doesn't instantly remind me of any particular maker. Dulcimer-building is all about putting one's own unique style and design to a piece. If you get any further photos they might help! Sorry.
Cardboard dulcimers can sound SURPRISINGLY GOOD!
I know I'm shooting myself in the foot when I say that, being a builder of dulcimers, but it's true.
Howdy, Steve! A warm welcome to you here!
That's a beautiful dulcimer you have.
We'll try to help and encourage you in your activity. Just let us know what you need, and we'll see what we can do.
¡Muchas gracias, amigo!
¡Acabo de disfrutar de un delicioso chile relleno después de la iglesia!
A new maple Galax dulcimore, built for a lady in Vancouver, Washington.
I'm so surprised at this sad news! I didn't really know John, but I corresponded with him when I built his electric dulcimer a few years ago. He seemed to be a wonderful dulcimer friend and player.
Rob, I've seen lots of different kinds of dulcimers and dulcimores, but I've never seen one like yours!
Thanks, Robin!
There's one somewhere here in my stack of poplar with your name on it (maybe?).
Each year we have the Berea Traditional Dulcimore Gathering, one of the founding members builds a dulcimore to be given away at the gathering. Two years ago, Bobby Ratliff of Grundy, VA built a traditional Virginia dulcimore out of 9 native woods. This year I built the giveaway dulcimore for the event. Actually there was a choice this year: the winner could select a J. E. Thomas replica dulcimore or a Will Singleton replica dulcimore that I built. Both of these were old Kentucky designs, but few have ever seen a Will Singleton dulcimore in person. The winning attendee, Diane Peacock, chose the Singleton. Here's a photo of the presentation.
I have not seen such a dulcimer before. It looks homemade, maybe of oak. I'm not familiar with the "HRC" designation. It's not TOO old, because the frets are made of guitar fretwire. The late John Tignor used the trefoil hole pattern, but I'm sure it's not one of his.
Nate, you could tape some silica-gel packets to a string, so she can pull them out of a soundhole when she gets it.
I've used super-glue to glue in frets, and it works fine. Should you ever need to remove a glued-in fret, just hold the tip of a small soldering pencil on the center of the fret, and the glue softens in a few seconds so you can pry it out..
And I'll be packing my illustrious J. E. Thomas replica Cumberland dulcimore, which will be won by an attendee! Plus a few other things of possible interest and/or sale. Should be a great few days, folks!
"The mountaineer 'follers (follows) pickin' it' by means of a quill".
The Spanish word for "dulcimer", according to the dictionary, is "dulcémele".
My mom's Christmas cactus got mixed-up and started blooming at Easter! Is that normal? At least it was the other Christian holiday...
Venni, that's sad. May God help you heal from this devastating illness very soon.
Eleven pounds, eleven ounces in the box. Probably 8 or 9 pounds? You can play it on your lap if you have a large lap.
Thank you, Lisa! That's the effect I was trying to achieve. I raced through the construction, only to be stymied at the end by the string attachment to the screw eyes! And finding a box big enough to send it in!
Doggone cool, John! The new owner is in for lots of fun playing this beauty!
Being from Tennessee I, also, just had to made a Tennessee Music Box. 
It was a fun project and have been asked to demo it on a few occasions.
This is a just-completed, all-poplar, authentic Tennessee music box. Really heavily built, but it sounds great, nevertheless! It has an amber shellac finish, and etched metal nut and bridge plates. Tuners are screw eyes from the hardware store, and the frets are fence staples! That's the way it was done in 1885. Enjoy.
Wendell, I have the same set of 2 DVDs that you have, but I don't recall ever getting a booklet with them.
Andi, your English is very good, and you write it well. Welcome to our dulcimer site!
We have something for everybody here, whether you like to play the dulcimer, want to learn to play it, or need help with dulcimer identification or wood identification. There are modern dulcimer players here as well as noter/drone players. And a few luthiers, as well! I build more than I play, but I do both. Have fun!
Those tuners look like planetary ones-- the best.
It's great to hear this news, Ken! Now we can both hike the Appalachian Trail from Canada to Georgia! (virtually).
As long as you promise to carry me all the way.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
VIRTUALLY, Ken. It's the only way either of us would survive it.
