I guess I need to add to the description of my "desired" HD that I would like to have the lower half of a 16/15 in order to get the deep tones - with a bottom rail of around 42 '', thickness of around 4'' but only half the height (so only around 8-9 '') - I called this "little" travel one (compared to the complete 16/15) which might be misleading.
I would be interested in a 9/8 hammered dulcimer - but starting with a D3 as the lowest string.
I already have a Dusty strings D45 and a TK O'Brian Travel and would like to have the "advantage" of a little travel one but with the wonderful low tones of a 16/15.
Do you know if there exist these kinds of hammered dulcimers or could you recommend a builder who could build it for a "payable" price?
Hi Kavik, just to have a more concrete idea of it - could you perhaps give me a sound sample for in a style that is similar to zither ?
I am looking forward to the tabs.
When I was at a concert of an Irish band (Geraldine McGowan and band) in 2004 I was so fascinated by the whistle player and the beautiful sound of especially the low whistle that I immediately had the wish to buy a whistle.
Since I have learned to play the recorder when I was a child and kept playing it all my life in recorder ensembles it was not difficult for me to learn how to play the whistle.
What was different compared to the recorder playing was the typical Irish ornamentation like cuts, strikes, rolls, crans and slides and to not tonguing every tone.
I started with a Clare high D and "worked" myself down to an Overton (Colin Goldie) low D.
Please find attached a picture with my whistle collection (from left to right):
high D: Overton (Colin Goldie), Mac Nic, Susato
high C: Mac Nic
high Bb: Tony Dixon
low A: Mac Nic
low G: Ian Lambe
low F: Tony Dixon
low D: Overton (Colin Goldie)
I love all of them and every one has its specific sound and need of breath.
The Mac Nics are very easy to play regarding breath and getting into the next octave - the Overtons need more pressure.
Since I have relatively long fingers I can play the low A, G and F still with my fingertips and need no piper's grip. This is in fact necessary for the low D from Colin Goldie and I had to get used to it for a little while.
I so much enjoy playing the whistles and it is nice to hear that there are a lot of other whistle players here on the forum.
Oh Bob - you made such a nice present to me with the upload of Tiny Tim-Tiptoe Through The Tulips!
I heard it when I was a child in the radio here in Germany and I loved it. It was played by a radio station (if I remember correctly every Friday) early in the morning when I had a homey (gemütlich) breakfast with my father before he had to go to work and I to school.
I have never heard it since then and never knew who sang it - and now it brings the best childhood memories back to me - thank you, thank you, thank you! I have tears in my eyes...
Scent and music can be very evocative 
Ariane
Congratulations, Rob - that is really great. Very nice pictures! 
Terry, I believe you were and are a good dancer too 
Have seen the dance groups in their precious and traditional costumes? And for sure you found the "Schuhplattler" in Bavaria quite funny...
Strumelia - I very much enjoyed these dances - one does not often see such sensitive, elegant and "musical" (musikalisch) dancers.
I am also a MD beginner and had problems with a high action of my dulcimer - after many detailed tips from very kind members here we took off the bridge, sanded it down approximately 2 mm (little by little - testing it repeatedly) and put on thinner strings which means 0.20, 0.12 and 0.09 - and it works much better now and still sounds good to me.
Since we have no dime and nickel here in Germany I took a 5 and 10 cent coin - but just as a kind of reference point. 
