If this helps, here is an example of fine tuning beads used on a mountain dulcimer, a Keith Young built model (the instrument leaned against the back of the bench):
John, I hope you continue to feel better!
Jan, that is so nice you got to meet Cynthia! I always enjoyed her videos and her participation here.
Whoa, fifteen!?! This time next year, FOTMD will be looking forward to driving. 
John, your site looks good and easy to navigate! I saw pretty dulcimers when I was there. 
@dusty, thanks a bunch for the information!
@lorilee The Richard Fariña Dulcimer Book is available for purchase as download from Gourd Music here: https://www.gourd.com/Books.html
Thanks for sharing the photos, Ken!
Pete Seeger was a man of deep convictions and all his work seems to have sprung from those convictions. He and Jean were folk musicians who have had lasting influence on the lives and music of so many-- truly, gifts to us all.
What a moving, touching episode! Music has the power to touch us all in so many ways and on so many different levels. All the stories presented are heartening. And what is going on in Hindman KY will, I hope, continue to bring folks together for common purpose.
Thanks for letting us know about this, Dan, and thank you for your work with Doug and all at the luthier shop in Hindman! Was a treat to see Sarah Kate and Willow, too!
It appears it will be available on my local PBS affiliate at 9, too.
I'm glad Mark Brewer got back to you, KenL, with this advice! (I only know Rusty and he's on the radio side of things for WOUB.)
P.S.-A friend suggested you all may be interested in knowing Mike Seeger plays "Waterbound" on the episode with Elizabeth Cotton.
Rusty (at WOUB-- he's radio program director, I think) got back to me after my first query to let me know he thought just WOUB-area folks could stream the program. I asked him, then, specifically, if it would be somehow possible for others to watch. I'm guessing he may not even be able to check about it until Monday (tomorrow).
@ken-longfield and all, I messaged a guy who works at WOUB. I think he's going to check if it's possible for someone outside the WOUB viewing area to somehow view the episode.
In the Ramblin' piece, it was nice to see how many were in the audience to see Jean Ritchie!
I just finished watching-- a real gem!
Thanks, KenL and KenH, for the information which pointed me to where I could watch the program.
Way cool! We're members of Ohio University's WOUB-- it's located the next county south of where we are here in Perry County OH. 
On an unrelated note, though I have never lived in Athens County OH one set of my ancestors married there in 1818.
This fretboard design, though somewhat different, is reminiscent of Keith Young's:
A while ago on here I saw a dulcimer that had gap under the tail end of the fingerboard, with the string tension pulling it up from the box. The idea was that by having the tail end of the fingerboard (where the strings were mounted) detached from the box, the string tension would pull hard on the area with the string pins, lifting it so that it hovers a couple millimeters above the soundboard potentially increasing volume. Does anyone know what this feature is called, so I can look into it more?
Makes me think of Keith Young's fretboards. I think I don't have any photos of the end of the fretboard-- I used to have 2 of Keith's wonderful instruments.
KenL, if you didn't have time to make a recording, you should've taken a picture of your workbench to post for IADD! I believe you worked on the dulcimers yet photographic proof may be needed. 
I think I've listened to music from 4 countries on this International Appalachian Dulcimer Day. 
In addition to friends who shared audio or video here, there was more participation on Facebook than I might've imagined. The spread of the love of the Appalachian dulcimer around the world is, truly, a beautiful thing.
I hope y'all have nice weather for your 20 April music circle, Leo!
Happy International Appalachian Dulcimer Day, friends!
I just listened to the first offering to celebrate from @macaodha and it's a jewel. I haven't uploaded a tune yet, yet will soon.
Yay, @dusty! I hope lots of folks do the same, too!
We have an audio recorded and uploaded and will make it "Public" on IADD. 
In her HomeSpun instructional recording, Jean lists many names for the lap-held zither and says its names come from the parts of the country in which you find it. She goes on to say that for her lessons she's just going to call it a dulcimer.
I'm fortunate to own a dream dulcimer, a Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model instrument. Top is Western Red Cedar, sides & back are Walnut. I can't tell you the VSL off the top of my head-- I only play with a noter so VSL isn't much of a factor.
1 week from today is International Appalachian Dulcimer Day! 
Feel free to share any work you create (music, photography, embroidery, jewelry, poetry, etc.) which celebrates the Appalachian dulcimer and its spread around the world!
I like the sound of the wound bass drone with the doubled high drones a lot!
Some months ago, I was just messing around with string configurations. Doubled melody vs. doubled drone vs. 4 equidistant. It was cool to hear the differences.
Welcome,@robmachin ! Enjoy your McSpadden when it's made its way to you!
Could it be some sympathetic vibration is in play with the doubled strings-- especially since, as Randy indicated, one string is struck a tiny fraction of a second before the other?
In a related yet unrelated matter, I play a doubled high drone and a single melody string. (String array: wound bass tuned an octave below doubled high drones then a melody string tuned either a 4th or 5th above the bass.) If I just un-double that high drone and play the same style (noter) with 4-equidistant strings, the sound is just not the same. It is fuller with the doubled high drone.
It's a beauty, John, and Ohio is a nice place for that Galax. 
Thank you for sharing this cool video from '73, @ken-longfield ! I really like Mr. Nicholas's dulcimers and it was really something to see the other folks making creations of some type or another.
Thanks for the tag, @dusty -- except for brief times away at grad school, I've spent all my life in O-H-I-O.
Today, it's the first Saturday in March. The last Saturday in March will be International Appalachian Dulcimer Day.
Indeed, the last Saturday is 30 March and Easter is the following day. Perhaps some may wish to celebrate the Appalachian dulcimer on IADD with a hymn or two.
Tuning from the tuner is one thing. Sharpening a note when I use a noter is another-- noter pressure can do that. 
(me with my noter)
I think repertoire and whether or not one plays alone make big differences in what is "good enough".
For me, I use a Peterson tuner and Mark and I both try to be very much in tune with one another or we'll make our tunes even worse. 
When I'm playing by myself, I like to be in tune with myself or it can drive me a little crazy. 
@lilley-pad My experience is I play the mountain dulcimer with the sound I want to fit the repertoire(s) I want to play. Also, my experience is there is no Holy Grail. Depending on style of play and repertoire, one instrument may suit over another.
Bob Stephens is a member here at FOTMD and you can find his page by searching members. Here is a video of Aaron O'Rourke playing a prototype (so, an early model) of one of Bob's wonderful-sounding dulcimers:
https://youtu.be/EPClQt6v0Z0?si=0D_xkDv1OR9fTkH7
@nate Your perspective was one I hadn't considered-- I'm glad you wrote of it!
Colloquially, although my newer Jean Ritchie model Blue Lion has "extra" frets, I'll still call it a mountain dulcimer.
Happy strumming, y'all!
