I wouldn't do that, Dan. I'd rather learn the 'curve'. It was a different situation with my BD, which was built in 2006. Ken Bloom installed them for me. (And I got to see his Workshop. Woo-hoo!) But I appreciate your advice.
Dan, only a bad experience (Bowed Dulcimer- upgraded to Perfection planetary pegs). You make a good point. Still, I am intrigued.
My next obvious question is, what should I expect to pay for it if I can get it? I'd just like to recognize a deal, if there is one here.
I see what you see Phil. How about these? Same sail, maybe same maker... Raleigh NC, if that helps.
I'm seeing this dulcimer at a sale this weekend, and wondering if anyone recognizes it and who may have built it. I can look inside it when the sale starts, but I am hoping to have an idea before I go to the sale. This is the only photo I have. Thanks!
Get a tablet. Look at the Astro tablet made in CA USA for $79 on Amazon.com. I recently loaded all of my sheet music, for 4 local groups I belong to and my own collection, to my Android tablet. I couldn't be happier with this app. But go for the pro version, for an extra $4. I use Tiny Scan on my iPhone to scan sheet music on paper, load it to Dropbox, and then to Mobilesheets. If it's on the web, I just load it directly to Mobilesheets. Be sure to backup your library. I love the edit function while I'm learning a song, and the ability to erase my edits, once I have learned it. I make collections for each group, and one for "Practice" that contains my "backpack" songs.
Annie, Love the bag! It's beautiful.
Lisa, You may have invented a new shoe style. 
But seriously, this is a neat idea. I wish I had saved all the little percussion "toys" from when my boys were little...
Brian, Interesting, and good recommendation. If I can ever find plans for a guitar head dulcimer, I'll give these a try.
Ken makes a great point. It's not desirable to go around the post or peg eight or ten times.
I approach it a little differently than Ken, but we both get the same results. I trim the string before I even put it on- holding it over the instrument and trimming it to leave only about 2.5 inches for winding. Typically this means I'm trimming off about 6" from the original string length. The length from tailpiece to cut end will vary by an inch or two depending on which peg you are going to.
Once the string is on and tuned, I trim the little end at the peg to a short length and then I take a pocket-sized needle nose pliers and kink the cut end back on itself so it can't prick my fingers...or you can leave a half inch and with the pliers just tuck the cut end back into the hole out of the way. I hate getting stabbed while restringing! 
This is my method too, but I leave 3.5-4 inches for winding, because somehow, I always end up short. I like to go around the post 3-4 times. Looks neat, but holds well. My hand from pointer to pinky is 4 inches, so I just lay my hand over the post and cut the string there, then wind. I like to keep my face back from the instrument when I am tuning. If I do break a string, I won't end of with the nickname "Scarface". The more you change strings, the more comfortable you are doing it. And practice makes perfect. Isn't that what they say?
Nice, looking forward to hearing how it sounds. enjoy!
I'm thinking my next will be a HS F# mid-tone in walnut or ebonized walnut, with the turquoise.
Thinking about that too.
I'd like to jump in and suggest watching the instructional videos on the HS website. I found them helpful when I began my NAF journey. 
Lisa, Good good start on the pipe and drum. Is there any instrument you cannot, or will not eventually play? I see your calendar is full. 
Charles, a few people I know own twice as many. I think you should step it up.
I just got lucky enough to come into a Homer Ledford YP-1900, in great shape.
Lucky you! It's beautiful.
Better than Shark Week!
Fascinating. Thanks Robin.
Hi Stephanie!
Where there's will, there's a way. If only we could hear one of Stilley's creations.
Caleb, I have heard that's a good key for playing with md. I have also heard Am will sound good with md too.
Lisa, Great question! I saw a bowl of plastic tubing that was cut into about 1" pieces, next to the flutes. "What's this?" I said. A man next to me explained that we should stick them into the end of the flute we want to try, to solve the sharing issue.
There was a baby grand piano, a md, and a bunch of NAF's, but it seemed to me that a solo on any type of flute, or other instrument, would have been welcomed.
Thanks Lexie, I did not play any of the flutes with other instruments, as there were only flutes there. But a lady played a flute in the key of E while her sister accompanied her on the piano, and then we listened to a recording of the same song that was a flute and guitar. That said, I did try a flute made of Lagustrum in Bb and I really liked the sound.
A friend of mine gave me a Jonah Thompson flute in Am recently. My first NAF. The Raleigh NC area being the wonderful music community that it is, is home to the Neuse River Flute Circle.
I went to my first meeting yesterday, not knowing what to expect. It was hosted by a couple at their Raleigh home, she gives lessons, he builds flutes. There was a presentation on Taos musician John Rainer Jr., and we listened to some of his recordings. After that we went around the room and whoever wanted to play, played solo. I played the only song I know so far, Cherokee Morning Song. We had snacks, and tried out the many beautiful flutes on display. It was a fun afternoon, and I will be going to the next circle meeting.
I was expecting something more like our dulcimer jams, but there was no group playing. I had previously been focused on buying a flute in a key that sounds good with a md, but now I think I will get one I like the sound of, because I don't really see myself playing folk music on it at a md jam. I see it more played as a duet with an md, guitar, piano, etc. Anyway, I am hooked.
Ken, This is such good advice. I am going to 2 workshops within the next two weeks. I did exactly what you advise, but have been nervous that I 'overeached'. Your words have helped me. Thanks
Lexie, Your 'copy me' game sounds like a great way to learn to play by ear, with a willing friend or family member.
Hi Jan, I don't see a quarter note anywhere on the Audio page. I have a play button, which turns to pause after I click play. Here is a screenshot. Thanks
NOTE: I re-worded my instructions after I saw where your confusion was. Maybe we could get Strumelia to rename this page the "Audio Preview" page.
Thanks for asking your questions! It really helps pin down exactly where procedures are not clear.
So don't be shy!
But how do you create a playlist? On my 'Playlist' tab, under my name on my profile page, I have only one option which is 'set item order'. Shouldn't there be a 'plus' button or something to create a playlist?
Dusty, look on YouTube for Wintergatan and you'll find some videos on the construction of the machine. This is fascinating, thanks for sharing Strumelia.
I want to just play at home on my porch for an audience of birds, and get together with friends and other like minded dulcimer players purely for enjoyment and socialization.
Oh, those kind of sewers! 
Sewing is therapeutic, and it allows your creativity to show. Just think of the cloth possibilities. You'll be searching for coupons for Joanne's and hanging out in the fabric isles!
Copy and paste this URL into your web browser.
Click on Dan's link embedded in "Gun Case" I missed it at first too.
I like them both. I really like the solid surface on the folding stand. Like a portable table!
[quote="Dusty Turtle"]
... I seem to concentrate on a few at any given time and play those pretty often, but not playing the others just means I get a bit rusty when I do play them. I've already forgotten songs that I once played well and want to avoid that in the future. /quote]
Mine is Harvest Home, but I completely agree with Dusty, I have to remember to play it or I get rusty. I think I know it, then I get in the middle of it and forget something, and add lib. I know, that's okay, that's Folk, but I'm not where I can do that smoothly yet.
Glad to know you experienced players mess up. I thought it was just me. 
Interesting, can you share a photo of your stand with us?
