I would imagine that reference has already been made to this site
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/
and that old hands are familiar with it. I mention it now so that absolute beginners, like myself, are aware of its existence without having to read every post on FOTMD. "Wood from the trees" sort of thing 
I just thought I would weigh in and clarify a few things. I am a member here and I can always be found that way. I do not have a website at this time.
I am retired from my previous vocation of doing graphic design and can now spend my time being a luthier. I'm currently devoting myself to making dulcimers (even if a uke sneaks in occasionally). I'm not trying to be hard to find, I'm jumping up and down saying “I'm Here, I'm Here”.
I agree with John -- make a new nut & bridge and space the string as you choose. Keep the old nut & bridge and put them back if you decide to sell.
You could make a new nut and bridge, carefully knock the other ones out, and cut the new notches any way you want. This is assuming that you're handy with tools, measurements, etc.
I don't see how that modification would affect the historic value; you could always move the strings back to their original positions if needed. Enjoy it....
So, I very recently found this 1973, Bob Mize, 4 string equidistant, Just intonation, nice friction pegs. Looks like possibly "Wormy Chestnut" top. Great sound to it, a real beauty. I am considering modifying it only as much as so it will be strung in the more common, 2 drone strings close together, and move the 3rd so it is fingered like a "modern dulcimer, but also could still be strung the traditional way.
What do you think, I have some hesitation because of the "historic originality" factor. Believe it or not I found this on Etsy of all places. Never hurts to browse around!!
That "beautiful", "warmer" sound is coming from the large interior volume of the guitar body. Any dulcimer with roughly equivalent cubic inches will sound just as nice -- a Tennessee Music Box for example, or a Galax style dulcimer.
Interesting idea, but there are real "dulcimer solutions" rather than partially converting something that isn't a dulcimer. Last weekend the "Hindman in Exile" bunch visited the John Jacob Niles Center For American Music on the UK campus in Lexington, KY where we got to see and hold and measure some of the most unique dulcimers ever built including the one in the picture shaped like a cello.
I've had the pleasure of visiting Mr May's shop on a couple different visits to Berea.
Thanks for the posting, Stewart!
Lorraine, what I mean is, a single $5 donation for any single sale of something for $100 or higher.
Of course, if someone sells an $800 dulcimer through their FOTMD sale ad, it'd be awfully nice of them to make a donation of perhaps a little more than $5... but that would be up to them, as I only really request a $5 donation per sale.
If you are selling something like a CD or book, which are much less than $100, then I'd ask that you please make a $5 donation once (and if) you had sold $100 worth of them through an ad here.
I really enjoy listening to builders talk about their passion for the instrument, even after 40+ years!
Noticed that. Great idea Lisa!
Update: In addition to being able to see all your Followers from the "My Followers" TAB on your own profile page, I've also added a LINK in the dropdown menu when you hover over your name at top right of the site (when you are logged in). There you'll now see a link to Pending Followers followed by the number of any followers that are currently pending your Approval. It's a quick way to see if someone's waiting. :)
Hi Cheryl!
To send a message, please read through this thread- it has step by step instructions. Hope it's clear!
NOTE: the private message system on FOTMD is now independent of the "Follower" system. Members can now send PMs to any other member, regardless of whether they are 'following' each other. Yay!
I wanted you all to know that if I wasn't already scheduled to be out of state at another dulcimer event that weekend, I would, for sure, be joining y'all in Berea. Just a suggestion...if someone writes the John Jacob Niles Center at the University of Kentucky, you may be able to get permission to make a quick stop at JJNiles' home just outside Lexington, not far off I-75 at exit 104. It is private property, so I'm sure people don't want a bunch of cars parking in the driveway and poking around without permission--part of the building is still being used for storage and office space, I think. John Gribble and I visited the site when he was working on his JJNiles article for Dulcimer Player News in 2016. The house, which is right by the road, looks like it is partly in ruins, but if you stand in the center of the courtyard and look past the vines that seem to be covering everything, you will spot some treasure such as the small niche with the figurine of St. Francis of Assisi, beautiful handmade tiles inlaid in the stonework, and a leaded glass window. Not far from the house is the small Episcopal Church with the double doors that he hand carved. The pretty stone-walled cemetery behind the church has the grave of JJNiles and if you're lucky there will be some flowers and trees in bloom! The church caretaker lives across the road and can tell you more about why this beautiful small church is located in (seemingly) the "middle of nowhere."
Hi Linda, thanks for your inquiry!
It's surprising how most of the Groups associated with particular states tend to languish. Some I have actually deleted because of no interest for years, after an initial enthusiasm by a handful of members. Your suggestion was considered by several of the site moderators.
Rather than having a new group created, I suggest that you make a new discussion in the General mtn dulcimer forum, here:
https://fotmd.com/forums/forum/general-mountain-dulcimer-or-music-discussions
(click the plus+ button to start a new thread)
Put 'Maryland' in the title, and ask for others to chime in if they live near you. You might get a good response, and you can always continue the discussion there as long as you like, if others join in.
Thanks!
Linda, proposals for groups go to the site owner Strumelia and she discusses them with the Moderators. I'm sure we'll talk about your idea. I can tell you, though, that a lot of the groups get started with a fair amount of activity and then go dormant. Most of the state-centered groups are really small and don't have much going on. When I posted about a month ago in the California Group to publicize a dulcimer festival in Berkeley, I noticed that the last post was me a year ago announcing the same festival! No one had posted in a year! The largest state group is Michigan with 60 members, but even there the last post was 2 years ago. And some state groups are really small. Indiana, for example, only has 12 people.
I am of mixed sentiment on this. I can understand the desire for a central place to find people in a local area, but I also fear that too much content gets hidden in groups and now we have too many groups with too little going on. I joined the California group for exactly the reason you explain, and yet it hasn't worked out too well.
I'm sure Strumelia will get back to you.
How about a 5 gallon bucket full of sponges?
You fellas planning on taking sponge baths and sleeping in your cars? 
Hey Ken Longfield, Follow me so we can private message each other. I would like to join up with you in Berea and may be able to help find a place where we can play. I live abour 45 miles from Berea and play there once a week. Dulcinina
Ken,
How about a 5 gallon bucket full of sponges?
Thanks. Looking forward to it.
It's heartening to hear that some of you will be getting together even if the official event has been cancelled. You can't keep a good dulcimer player down!
Richard -- bring yer sponge -- that way you can soak up lots and lots. This should be a great gathering!
Richard, at this point we are planning to meet in Berea on March 8. I am staying at Boone Tavern and so are David and Karen Bennet. KenH is staying at an AirBnB. I don't know what the any of the others are doing. There are many places to stay around Berea. We have exchange mobile phone numbers and will make contact with each other via phone when we arrive. At this point we are thinking of going to Hindman on Friday and maybe U of K's JJ Niles center on Saturday. The rest of the time we will talk and play.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
So sad that it is canceled. Driven as everything nowadays by the bottom line.
I am certainly open to coming. What kind of structure is anyone thinking of?
I don't do well jamming for hours on end. I never have been able to play well in a group. Too much auditory input drives my meager mind crazy somehow. I am probably not skilled enough to teach anyone anything so I'd be soaking up info from others. Sure would like to meet some of the folks from FOTMD.
Love that Hot Brown; also Burgoo. We'll find someplace to take over!
Dan the Man! It would be great to see you and the others in Berea or Hindman (or the Museum of Appalachia, for that matter). The Dinner Bell restaurant has the official "Kentucky Hot Brown", which I learned about down there.
I'm flexible as far as dates and times. There are several inexpensive motels around there that I know of. The big question is if we can find an indoor space somewhere to inhabit for a while.
Yes, I'm going to try to make it. I'll drive there just for the Dinner Bell to eat! Let me know where....
DAN
dulcimoredan@gmail.com
(yes this is a public address)
Just sent y'all an email. I'll be there! Just booked an AirBnb room in Berea for $30 a night -- hard to beat that!
I sent out an email tonight to a few folks who expressed interest in still getting together. If you want to be included, please let me know.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Having been involved in the 1st 3 Homecomings, I am very saddened that they are having to cancel after scheduling it this year. I hope they will be able to set something up for next year and keep it regardless of the perceived attendance. They were a fun time. Even the last one when there was no water was a good one. Let's see what we can do.
I see posts from there every once in awhile... maybe every couple weeks. Certainly not much traffic at all.
I could do Friday and Saturday. I have a reservation at the Quality Inn for Sunday night, but don't mind moving.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
I was just curious- does the Sweet Music Index (dulcimer listserve on majordomo Clearspring) still exist? Is it still running?
I know Dwain still has some pages about it on his Bearmeadow site, but is the list still alive and running?
