Another source of boxes (if you can't somebody to give you one) is Uline packaging, online http://www.uline.com/BL_406/Long-Boxes. You have to buy a bundle of 10, but the cost of the whole bundle is cheaper than taking your instruments to a a commercial shipper.
Just another option....
This seems to be a pretty good explanation of what it means to "play by ear". There are folks who think that the term means a person has a "good ear for music" and has memorized hundreds of songs. 
Memorized? I can't even remember a phone number! But nearly everyone has tunes that they hum or whistle....tunes they never set out to memorize. I have never, yet, observed a person start to whistle and then stop and look up the music for whatever it was they were going to whistle........... 
Mine is a 1943 Wm. Kratt Co. "Mello-Chromatic Professional Harmonica" 10 hole that I got from my father. Still works just great!
Sheryl, that Boston Terrier "guard dog" is very necessary, since there are other dogs around as well as a wildcat that terrorizes everyone and everything! One of these days Dana will look up at one of the highest dulcimers on the wall and see that cat's head sticking out of a soundhole!
Colleen said, "I'm not sure what people with 10+ dulcimers do."
Here's one of Dana McCall's solutions:
Bob, I used to collect rocks and minerals. I would attend shows and buy lots of specimens of ones I didn't have. Then one day it dawned on me that I could NEVER own a specimen of EVERY kind of rock and mineral in the world.....and that's the day my R&MAD was healed.
Now, with dulcimers--after a bumpy start-- I finally have a better focus on what I want (and why)--and that focus is narrowing all the time! 
[quote="Sheryl St. Clare"]
I really like the old doorknob idea that someone posted photos of on FOTMD, and I am on the lookout for some at the Raleigh Flea Market.
I believe this was a reference to one of the walls at Dana McCall's home that uses antique glass doorknobs to hang part of her collection. Since the room's decor incorporates other antiques, this is a great way to show these instruments.
http://fotmd.com/dana-r-mccall/gallery/3974/dulcimer-wall
I've used the one Angela mentions http://www.blanksheetmusic.net/
I usually write the numbers on by hand and prefer to write them in the spaces instead of on the lines, as many computer tabulature programs do. So I'll often select "4 string", "bass", or "mandolin" from the choices. I've been able to create a sheet that only has the word "TAB" on the first staff, but can't seem to get rid of it altogether--I would prefer to use the tuning in that space. With that site, once you've tweaked it just the way you want it, you can save it.
I also have a wooden instrument stand (for dulcimer) made by Lee, the Bag Lady's husband, Doug Felts, who died not too long ago...so I'm not sure if anyone is making them to his specifications at this time.
The one I use the most, however is a dual stand that holds both your music and (when you get up for a break) your instrument in vertical position. I usually don't use the part for the music, however. I don't know why these people don't use the same sturdy design on their stands without the music rack, which are much less expensive. And I can't seem to locate the info on them, either! I bought one that they were selling on eBay a while back.
I also have instruments stands by Hamilton and by Hercules and I've been happy with them. With metal stands, however, it seems that the more sturdy they are, the heavier they are!
If you can, try the stands out first before you buy, since measurements don't always give you a true picture of how that stand is going to work with your dulcimer.
Hope this helps! ***ps Can you edit your title to say "dulcimer display stands" instead of just "stands", since most people think of music stands. There are also instrument stands to use while playing the dulcimer, that hold it for you so you can stand up and play. You don't mean those, either. This may weed out comments on music stands, at least.
Thanks for the laugh! My husband got quite a chuckle over your post, too!
I applaud your experimenting with your new dulcimer! It's always good to have a few extra backup plans. If you would like to use a good online calculator for determining straing gauge, I suggest Tom Strother's" http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.htm.
I was able to locate one instrument sold to someone in Midland Michigan, but I can't seem to locate a photo of the one you mention here (even though there are several comments about how great it looks!) so I can't compare by looks. The one in the log is #4815 and can be viewed online. I'm assuming this is NOT the one you have, since this entry is for a 4-string. This one is also one of his later ones, while it sounds like the one you have is one of his earliest.
Jan Potts (former Midlander, now resident of Lexington, KY...about 15 min. from Winchester, KY)
I had a lot of fun, too, Gail--just wish I had been able to jam more! Nina Zanetti posted a lot of great photos of this event on facebook, I believe. I really love getting to know these instructors better!
As Rob Lackey said, some folks collect dulcimers because of their history, who made them, what materials were used, the artistic quality, and the variety of tones, etc. Also, our tastes in a "go to" instrument (the one(s) we use all they time) changes over time... Some are more suited for using in a large jam than others. Some are great for recording purposes. Some have the easy playability that we need in an instructional setting. Some we want to travel with and some we want to be able to let other folks use and enjoy. So some of us lterally have a "village" of dulcimers!
I know what you mean about those smaller airplanes. When I fly across the country, the first leg of my trip is from KY to Dallas. On one side of the plane there are NO overhead bins, and on the other side there are very small overhead bins that will not even accommodate my very small "under the seat" carry on! This is a major airline (American Airlines), but even with major airlines, you do occasionally encounter these smaller planes being used. I have not tried taking any of my dulcimers on a plane since I know this is the kind of aircraft that will be used for the first part of the trip. I know they're supposed to allow it inside the cabin "if it fits", but even on a larger plane, I doubt they'd remove someone's roller bag to accommodate your musical instrument! I have, however, talked about "flying with instruments" to a number of guys flying out of Dallas with instruments (usually large guitar cases). They all pretty much say, "We just walk on with it, look the flight attendant in the eye and stow it wherever it fits. We've never been told to gate check them!" I think that has a lot to do with attitude, as much as anything....
I have used a Korg tuner in the past and own a bunch of Snarks and a couple "Snarkheads", as well....but my new favorite is a D'Addario NS Mini UNIVERSAL tuner. It clips on like a Snark, but the parts that pivot are designed differently and are much more user friendly and sturdy, in my opinion! And since the display will flip if you turn it upside down, you can even have your tuner clipped under your peghead and no one but you will see it. Nice bright display in a small package, too!
Lois, thanks for your photos of these practical instrument haulers! I love to see things being repurposed!
Thanks, also, Ken, for the photo of the Wonder Wheeler, which I also own. People who are hauling hammer dulcimers especially like these because you can slide it in one side and then use the mesh bag for the rest of your instruments. I like this one, too, because you can push it and because the big wheels handle curbs and steps pretty well. If I'm not hauling my hammer dulcimer, though, I prefer to go with something smaller. Something like a trash bin with swivel castors and storage on the outside. With a push handle!
I love this image, Dusty! And I've really always wanted a red wagon for myself, so I totally get that!
Dusty Turtle said:
And I've also used it to play for my daughter's class in school, when I cart in a whole bunch of instruments: a ukulele, a mandolin, an autoharp, a six- and twelve-string guitar, a couple of limberjacks, and, of course, a dulcimer. I have to admit I get a kick out of walking around the school with my cart of instruments like a modern troubadour.
I've seen a few people with these wagons and they are certainly handy and haul a lot. The issue with an event like Kentucky Music Week is that there are hundreds of people all changing classes at the same time, trying to navigate through the halls, needing a place to put instruments while they use the restroom, and needing a place to park their "haulers" while they're in class! So more and more, the bigger carts, wagons, etc. have to be stowed in the lock-up room during class and people only carry what they need for the next class or two. That's why the "footprint" becomes an important issue...which makes a tall-ish cart with a footprint that's 18" x 18" about as big as what's practical when you're in a crowded hallway changing classes. Also, you seem to have more control over what you're pushing ahead of you than what you're pulling behind you. Hammered dulcimers present a whole different set of problems with dimensions roughly 24" x 44". Thankfully, most of the HD classes are usually allon one hallway. 
I was wondering what ideas folks have come up with for hauling multiple instruments, heavy or unwieldy instruments, or instruments that might need special care.
I've heard of instrument carts made from old baby strollers and golf bag carts. Any photos? Anyone used a drywall/door mover, for instance,to move a hammered dulcimer?
One of my favorites over the years has been a Gator drum bag cart. It has a small footprint, stands upright on its own, the top unzips AND there's a zipper down the front, making it easy to load and unload, and there are pockets on the top, front, and both sides, which can hold folding stands for music andinstruments, and most of the stuff you'd carry in a daypack or purse. Interior straps hold your instruments securely. And if it's raining you can wheel it right out to your car and load it. It will carry 100 lbs, so it is very sturdy--and those nice big wheels go easily over curbs and up steps. Cons: it is heavy (steel frame), but until my shoulder problems got so bad, I could load it in the back of my van without having to take anything out--a real time-saver! Another con is that it works better being pulled than pushed. Also, it's quite expensive--around $200--the price has nearly doubled in the past 3 years. I've never seen a used one for sale.
That works fine for a couple dulcimers, a ukulele, a harmonica and a penny whistle. This summer at Kentucky Music Week, however, I'll need at least 3 standard-sized dulcimers (standard, baritone, and chromatic) plus music, a sweater, etc. etc. I know I could use my big Wonder Wheelie, but I'm thinking of going with the Versa Folding Utility Cart with a contractor size trash bag fora cover in case it rains. The advantage is not just the size, but also that (once the dulcimers are put in the car) I can fold it like an umbrella stroller and put it in the car with one hand.It weighs 9 lbs. And all the dulcimers and the cart, folded, will fit in either the back seat or the cargo space of my vehicle.
This cart also has steel frame, and holds 3.72 cubic feet of stuff up to 127 lbs. The front wheels swivel and if your load is light, you could probably push it with one hand. The dimensions of the bag are: 21"H x 17"W x 18"D, so the footprint is larger than the Gator cart, but less than a Wonder Wheelie.It's not really a good design for something like a hammered dulcimer.A big plus with this is the price in the $40--$50 range.
Letus know what you're using to haul stuff around--and the pros and cons!
This is an interesting topic to me, Lois, because I play in several different keys (D,G,C,A, Em and some others I probably don't know the name of) without retuning or using a capo.(I do, however, have 1.5 and a 6.5 frets).If other people want to retune or use capos, that's fine, and there will--I'm sure--be exceptions for me here and there. For instance, I use a capo for Reuben's Train. This all comes under the heading of "more than one way to play the dulcimer", I think.
For me, it's just been easier to leave my dulcimer in one tuning (DAd). The majority of the songs I play fall within those 5 keys. As I become more and more familiar with my fretboard, it's easier to try songs in a variety of keys. I do the best in D because that's what I started with, but I'm getting better all the time in switching to , say, G or C.
Until I took music theory classes, I didn't realize that I had always thought of the tunes spatially, or as a series of intervals. To further get the tune down, I thought of the individual notes as having a certain position in a scale (the first note, the fifth note, etc). I now know that these are referred to as "scale degrees" and each degree has its own name--but to keep it simple, they are often referred to by their numbers (with a caret mark " ^ " to show it is a scale degree). I don't know how to type the ^ over the number, however. Anyway, my point is that using scale degrees, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" will always start 1 1 5 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1, no matter which key you are in. Still, my brain is probably more aware of the long leaps, short hops, and going up or down step-by-step. The numbers just help me be specific in the path I am taking (without having to name the intervals between the notes --and, yes, they all have names, too).
In a way,tab iskind of like using GPS and the car's step-by-step directions for getting somewhere. My brain wants to see the whole map and then know that I will be making several quick turns at the beginning of the trip, then going a long way on the interstate, then making a couple medium length sections and one final turn before arriving at my destination--and then I put numbers on it so I know I go 3 blocks, then turn left and go 2 blocks, then go 138 miles on I-75, etc. The "big picture" stays in my brain and at any given time I know where I am on it.
That's what music is like for me.
So when someone asks me, "How manytunes do you have memorized?!!" it's kind of like asking me how many ways I have memorized of getting from point A to point B in my hometown. I don't get lost trying to find the public library just because I'm starting out at the post office instead of at my house! The "music map" in my brain is even easier to follow, however, because those intervals stay the same no matter what key you're playing in....you just start out in a different spot.
Good luck with your music journey! A big part of enjoying the journey is finding out how you learn and internalize music.
Jan
I'm sure there are lots of dulcimer players on here who have never seen this video on the people and music of Appalachia. Excellent sound and visual quality with sub-titles for those who might not be accustomed to the various accents. History, music-appreciation, instrument know-how, dance instruction, and the "heart for arts" that's in the blood of these people--all with a real "meet your neighbors" feel to it! You will, no doubt see folks on here you've either heard of or have had the pleasure to meet and hear in person (like Sheila Kay Barnhill Adams) Enjoy!
My experiences on eBay have been mostly good ones, and I buy a lot of different types of things on eBay. I have met many delightful, caring people who really value their reputations as members of the human race, not just as sellers on eBay. But I would certainly think twice, now, about buying an expensive instrument on eBay if I didn't know the seller or know someone who had dealt with them in the past.
Kenneth W. Longfield said:
Looks like you are reading this correctly Jan. As usual, buyer beware! It pays to know with whom you are dealing in these transactions. One of the reasons I have stopped buying off of eBay.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
eBay has just changed their refund policy to read:
Local Pick-up or Freighted Items. We updated the policy to clarify that items damaged during pick-up or shipping, or not delivered when the buyer has arranged pick-up or freight, are not covered under the eBay Money Back Guarantee. We refer buyers to work with the freight company in such instances.
Now, at first glance that might make sense
.....but in the world of buying and selling dulcimers, if the instrument arrives crushed because it wasn't packed adequately by the seller, then it's too bad for the buyer--because the freight company may say it wasn't their fault; it was a poor packing job, and the seller has your money and unless they just happen to be really great people (which most dulcimer people are), then you're out of luck. 
Up until now, the seller has had great motivation to spend the extra money on sturdy shipping cartons, adequate bubble wrap, etc. But now they can do minimal packing and then say, "Hey, if it was broken when you got it, that's not my fault."
If I'm somehow reading this incorrectly, let me know. But it REALLY offends me
that the seller wouldn't be held responsible for their packing of these fragile, expensive instruments!
I wanted to add that one of the products I used had been effective for eliminating the odor of a dead animal that was decomposing under a fellow worker's bed one summer (the place was using tents as a cost saving measure!). Everyone who shared the tent thought the guy had really disgusting body odor--but they were so pleased that the industrial strength hospital surface germ killer spray made living with him possible when used every 12 hours. They didn't discover the dead animal until the last day when they were packing up and breaking down the tent.
It wasn't me, but my brother Steveand my future husband, Craig, who shared the tent with this guy!
And, no, that spray didn't even begin to help this dulcimer! 
Hi Tumbleweed!
I had the same question because I had purchased an old dulcimer that just stunk to high heaven....I don't remember what I paid for it, but I figured it was worth the price to have it as a wall-hanger if nothing else because it was very attractive. It has a wooden case and the case had been "padded" with industrial carpet glued on and that had deteriorated and smelled really bad. I tore out as much of the carpet as I could and then set the case in my garage to air out....that was about 5-10 years ago and it's still out there somewhere....I was finally able to bring the instrument inside the house a couple years ago, but it's in some out of the way place....still haven't put it up ona wall where I might breathe the residual mustiness. Some people say they actually LIKE the smell of old musty wood, but I find it very offensive. At least I don't have to work on keeping out scorpions, as Kristi Keller mentioned! I have to say that I asked for advice here and I think I tried everyone's tips, but nothing except "airing it out" over a long period of time seemed to make any real difference. I hope you have better luck than I did!
Welcome to FOTMD! Lots of good folks here....and we're happy to have one more! 
Jan
Wow, Phil--this is a beauty! Great choice of woods, great workmanship, great artistry--and choosing the Phoenix bird rising from the fire, that is genius! You've both brought something very special into creation.
I just wish all of us could go at the same time--what a great jam that would be! How fortunate it is, Mandy that you now live so close.
I can't exactly answer this question, Mandy, since I don't do public concerts. I do remember, however, that at Stephen Seifert's premier with the Tucson Symphony (where he had an 18 min. solo)in Feb. 2012, he gave a little information about the instrument, which was new to most of the season ticket holders in attendance. He then asked for a show of hands in the audience for whoPLAYED this instrument and there was a collective gasp from the season ticket holders as hands went up ALL OVER! This Feb. concert had sold out back in August, as dulcimer players from all over the country tried to get a ticket if they could work out a way to get to Tucson. The afterglow and jam up north of Tucson that night was so much fun! I always love getting together and sharing music with people from different locales. I hope we can get together sometime!
Other options include putting something under your left foot (or both feet) to keep your lap level (there are lots of suggestions on this site, everything from Thistledew Acres folding footrest to footrests made from recycled plastic bags full of bags. My dulcimer doesn't slide off my lap because it's usually pushed up against the knee brace velcroed onto my left leg. I would think that any strip of material velcroed above your knee would accomplish the same thing...if you need something for the dulcimer to "push against" as you play, just fold over the top edge of the material like a cuff and your "dulcimer dam" will now be twice as high. Something adjustable like a belt or short strap might also work. you could put the strap/belt through a tube of material that would be soft and not harm your instrument and you could have different colors of tubes for whatever you were wearing. I'm thinking about something like a tube made from an old pair of jeans or a hand towel, etc. Be creative! I have never used either a strap or the shelf liner squares and haven't found them necessary so far. There may, however, be something out there that works like the shelf liner but doesn't affect the finish on your instrument...I'll let others address that. And, by the way , folks may have better luck with removing the marks with a product like Dr. Duck's Ax Wax which is good for cleaning and lubricating instruments and can be purchased online from music supply stores.
I think this is a great idea, James. I might even be inspired to sort of sing/hum along as I play...not as a "performance", as such, but much like you would hear if I thought you were busy in the next room and not listening to me as I noodled around on some Christmas tunes. I'm already making a list and checking it twice.....
Some eBay transactions work out; some don't...you have to know that going in. But when it does work out, you can meet some great people and get a really special instrument. The best folks, of course, are honest to a fault and will allow a return if the instrument is a disappointment when it arrives. I'm very thankful for eBay and Craigslist and other sites like them for making it possible for us to connect with sellers across the miles. I do agree, though, that it's probably best to work with folks on this site and Everything Dulcimer as much as possible. It's not a guarantee that nothing will go wrong, but it's a great place to start!
If you want to hear a dulcimer made by the fine luthier, David Lynch, check out my video. This is an all-cherry teardrop with an extra deep soundbox and a VSL of about 26", which means my fingers can stretch and find the chords better than one witha 28" VSL.
Just put "Jan Potts Oh Susannah" in the search box and at least one of the videos that come up should be mine! I'll post the link here in a second, if I can get it.
http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/video/boatman-noter-drone?commentId=3745489%3AComment%3A347114
I like to play Boatmen (or Boatman) because it has 3 sections with lots of variety. On this video Cheryl plays it quite fast--it is a fiddle tune, after all--but a lot of dulcimer players play it at a more moderate tempo, which works better for me, especially if I'm chording AND fingerpicking AND trying to sing the words!
