Shady Grove can be played in a Dorian tuning as it doesn't use a 6th fret.
In the book "Tunes of the Wilderness Road" by Smith and MacNeil Shady Grove is tabbed out twice once using DAC for a tuning arranged for the Aeolian Scale, and once tuned DAG written for Dorian. The first one give the Standard Musical Notation as written in the key of F ending on D or a 1. The second give the SMN as the key of C with the music ending on D or a 4th fret.
No, even a key change which is done quite a bit doesn't change the song to another song. I have lots of song books and the tune will be in the key of C, D, G, F but will all be in the major mode or a 1-5-5/Ionian. When I have it tabbed out I can play the tab in any key that my dulcimer can be tuned to, if I keep it in a 1-5-5 note relationship. If I go to a 1-5-8 plus 6+ tuning then I have to change the tab by subtracting 3. The tune is still the same as the notes I'm playing are still the same just lower on the fretboard.
Since, I'm interested in playing for singing it is often necessary to lower the key that a tune/song is written in. However, I disagree with Ken a bit on "personalizing" a song. I feel it can be over done. Again, I'm thinking in terms of singing a song. Frequently I've been in a position that when hearing a tune to a song that has had the heck personalized out of it, I can't sing the song any more. In fact, unless I've been told what the tune is suppose to be, I wouldn't recognize it played instrumentally at all. That's taking a tune and going too far with it on embellishment in my book.
And as to Shady Grove, I have it tabbed in Aeolian Mode as the music for it in my books tends to end on a 1. So I tune CDBflat.
It's the same tune if you play mostly the same notes, regardless of Mode. Adding lots of embellishments (even to the point you begin to lose the basic melody) is just "personalizing" a tune.
Remember a Mode is a scale, but only the Ionian Mode is is the familiar do, re, scale:
Ionian = do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do.
Mixo = do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti-flat, do
Dorian = do, re, mi-flat, fa, sol, la-sharp, ti-flat, do.
If you have the 6+ fret on your dulcimer you get both the ti and ti-flat notes of those scales.
Last time I saw him was two Springs back, he had invited me to play with him, up near Austin. Jack is still around; he's building some furniture now, I know. Seems like life got in the way, for both of us. He had gone to work, and I married and move to New Mexico...miss my old friend. You can find him on Facebook..."Jackie Whitworth" Send him a message, I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.
Over on EverythingDulcimer, there was a thread about Jack and his dulcimers in 2007.
http://www.everythingdulcimer.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=12598&view=previous
He even joined ED and posted to the thread. But with his website gone I'd guess he's either no longer building or otherwise passed on.
I'm bringing this thread up again as I just found it while doing a image google on quilt stands. I'm wanting to do another dulcimer stand and was looking through for quilt stand plans and pictures. Well, there my dulcimer was resting on one of the stands I pictured in this thread. I think I'm going in circles. I'll just use the measurements from my old stand and have my brother cut some wood for me.
How do I store them? Let me count the ways. Eight on a modified quilt stand. One on an X key board stand. And others scattered around the place on various wooden easel type of stands. 
And they are usually covered with various small quilts I've made for dust covers as this one is on the keyboard stand.
The keyboard stand is nice for standing up and playing. I don't have any hanging on the walls as I don't have much interior wall space with my home's floor plan.
And as to storing them in cases, well, I've never had a case for every instrument. Lee Felt's soft cases are the ones I have, two double and one single, but I wouldn't put instruments in them and leave them lying around on the floor. With my kultzy feet I'd end up stepping on them. 
When I had a house with large walls, I hung them there, using hooks and a small loop of leather or string around or through the peghead. No problems there as long as you put them on an interior wall and out of the direct sun (temperature stability).
Personally i don't like storing them in cases as they tend to get played less. But living aboard a boat as I do now, I have two in my BagLady double bag, and one hanging from the ceiling of the forward V-berth, plus one stashed at my Lady's house.
The biggest problem of any storage is keeping the temperature and humidity stable. Most houses are dry as the proverbial bones in the winter - if you get static shocks shuffling across the carpet, it's wwaaaay tooo dry. Pans or bowls of water set out near heat vents will help moisturize you and your dulcimers.
I have mine now to try out, it's a nice little dulcimer, and I've had fun with it. I too will be sending it back, as we are saving up for new living room furniture. 
But I will be sure to give them my size for the free
Tshirt!
Susie said:
Surprise, surprise......I got notified by Folkcraft and got the FolkRoots Travel dulcimer on Friday to try out for a few days. My sister also got one. I'll be giving them my feedback...mostly good, but a couple suggestions. Nice that Richard followed through with the auditions. Neat little dulcimer...nicely made. I'll be sending it back, though, because I have another dulcimer on order.
Agreed. They do a great job of taking care of folks.
Susie said:
I didn't realize they were doing it either, until I got the instrument, and the instructions letter said that they were doing T's as a "thank you". I'll take it....it's a nice thing to do on their part.
John Keane said:So...I guess you realize that I didn't know that I was passing on a free shirt...
Susie said:Oh....and I'm getting a free T for auditioning one. Since I already own a FolkRoots dulcimer, it will be nice to have.
I didn't realize they were doing it either, until I got the instrument, and the instructions letter said that they were doing T's as a "thank you". I'll take it....it's a nice thing to do on their part.
John Keane said:
So...I guess you realize that I didn't know that I was passing on a free shirt...
Susie said:Oh....and I'm getting a free T for auditioning one. Since I already own a FolkRoots dulcimer, it will be nice to have.
I did a trial run on one of these; the tone was quite good, but I felt the fretboard was too thin and transmitted too much sound from fingering into the soundboard. Still, it's a fun design, and would certainly be enjoyable as a travel instrument.
I'm workin' on it!
John Henry said:
Tut tut !
With your wardrobe in it's current state !!
C'mon JK !!!
Anon
Tut tut ! With your wardrobe in it's current state !! C'mon JK !!!
Anon
So...I guess you realize that I didn't know that I was passing on a free shirt...
Susie said:
Oh....and I'm getting a free T for auditioning one. Since I already own a FolkRoots dulcimer, it will be nice to have.
I played one at Dulcimerville in June, so I passed on the test trial. I was very impressed with the sound from such a small instrument.
That is nice, Susie. Iwas on that audition list, too, but basically gave up ever hearing from Richard. As it turned out,I obtained one anyway, but was obliged to sell it to pay for another (much more expensive) dulcimer. My ad with video demonstration is still available in the For Sale Forum for anyone interested.
As Ken has pointed out, the shallow fretboard does not allow it tobe played noter/drone style. I also found the stringsa bit loose andwould suggest different gauge strings. But other than that, the instrument is very well made, has excellent intonation, and especially for its size, has a really nice tone, one that seems to get better as thesebrand new instruments mellow a bit.
Susie said:
Surprise, surprise......I got notified by Folkcraft and got the FolkRoots Travel dulcimer on Friday to try out for a few days. My sister also got one. I'll be giving them my feedback...mostly good, but a couple suggestions. Nice that Richard followed through with the auditions. Neat little dulcimer...nicely made. I'll be sending it back, though, because I have another dulcimer on order.
I passed on the audition when Folkcraft contacted me as I tried one out at the Indiana Dulcimer Festival and purchased it. I was favorably impressed. Because of the height of the fret board it is not really suitable for noter/drone style playing.
Awesome!
Susie said:
Surprise, surprise......I got notified by Folkcraft and got the FolkRoots Travel dulcimer on Friday to try out for a few days. My sister also got one. I'll be giving them my feedback...mostly good, but a couple suggestions. Nice that Richard followed through with the auditions. Neat little dulcimer...nicely made. I'll be sending it back, though, because I have another dulcimer on order.
Surprise, surprise......I got notified by Folkcraft and got the FolkRoots Travel dulcimer on Friday to try out for a few days. My sister also got one. I'll be giving them my feedback...mostly good, but a couple suggestions. Nice that Richard followed through with the auditions. Neat little dulcimer...nicely made. I'll be sending it back, though, because I have another dulcimer on order.
I wondered the same thing, Dusty. Oh well, if they still want to send me one, I'd love to try before I buy, if I end up liking it. Sounds like that's still Richard's intention. Maybe they feel they owe it to those of us who signed up. Richard took a couple to a show/festival in Feb. and had good response. He sold those too.
Dusty Turtle said:
I stopped waiting. I just figure maybe someday I'll hear from Richard that they're ready. But until then, I'm not holding my breath. I also thought we were supposed to be the beta testers before they sold the model, but they're already selling the model! I don't really understand why they need testers anymore.
I stopped waiting. I just figure maybe someday I'll hear from Richard that they're ready. But until then, I'm not holding my breath. I also thought we were supposed to be the beta testers before they sold the model, but they're already selling the model! I don't really understand why they need testers anymore.
Absolutely...the more the merrier!
I talked to Richard about a week ago and heard the same thing, John. However, I've been hearing that they are "almost ready" for a few months now. I know they are really busy at Folkcraft, and regular orders take precedent. I'm with the rest of you....I'm really anxious to try the new dulcimer out, but I've kind of tried to crank up my "patience" meter a bit. They've been selling them too, which I'm sure is having an effect on the number of dulcimers that they can get ready to send out to us. My music store has 2 on order. So, maybe I'll end up trying one at the store before I get one sent to my house. I'm glad that Folkcraft is real busy, though...shows business is going well for them.
Yeah... December to March without a word is kinda hinky. Frankly I thought a December field test wasn't the best idea. It should have been ready to sell by November 1st or held back until spring for Festival season. So that appears to be what they're doing.
Oh...you are quite welcome. I was afraid that folks had kinda given up on the things.
Talked to Richard tonight...it shouldn't be long now. 
Frets...I ain't heard nuthin'.
So, has anyone out there in FOTMD-land purchased one of these little guys yet? Any feedback for those of us who are anxiously waiting to try one out?
That is certainly understandable. When I initially read about the project, I thought that the time line was a tad optimistic lol. I reckon it'll happen when it happens.
Last I heard, they were trying to fill orders for "regular" dulcimers. I talked to Richard, and he said that they've been swamped, and these orders take priority (understandably). They get to the travel dulcimers when they get the time. It also sounds like they will have a group of "trial" dulcimers that they'll send out, then get back, then send out again to the next group of auditioners. So, I kind of got the impression and there will be waves of trials, instead of a one-to-one ratio of trial instruments to auditioners. I'm just saying what I've heard, and its not necessarily gospel. I'm anxious to try it out, maybe early next year we'll get that chance.
It's just been mighty quiet, so I was wondering.
I have heard nothing recently, but I do know there were some delays as they changed the bracing on the instrument.
That's a great tip Ken! And the cats will like it too.
