@notsothoreau -- tuning trick to keep from "popping" a string... Never try to tune a string unless it's "singing". Pick a string to tune and get hold of the tuner you think is 'right'. Strum the string and give the tuner a quarter turn. If the string does not change pitch up or down, STOP. You're got the wrong tuning knob. Try again.
Invest $15 or $20 for an electronic tuner which shows you which octave the notes are in. We tune dulcimers to D3 A3 d4
An ordinary set of strings will easily tune to DAA or DAd (the d is an octave higher than the D). That same set can go up to EBB/EBe and maybe as far as FCC/FCf, but the bass string will probably break trying to get to GDD/GDg. On the low side it can go down to CGG/CGc easily, and maybe BFF/BFb before the strings are too floppy.
I will plan on it!!
Hey, I'd love to get to meet you and play some tunes someday, Stewart! I'm a full-time caregiver for my folks but am, I hope, in the waning months of this. (Make no mistake-- I love my parents. But my life has revolved around theirs for some years. . . ) When you have an OH trip planned sometime, drop me a PM!
Wow, Stewart, my home is in WayneNF-- in the southern Perry County section! And my husband taught in Morgan County, right next door to Washington County. Small world.
That's good thinking, @notsothoreau. I always advise people to play for a year or more before indulging in what they think will be their dream dulcimer. There are just so many variables (scale length, fretboard width, fretboard overlay, wood types, extra frets, bright tone vs mellow tone, internal pickup, and more) that until you play for a while and develop your preferences, you can't know what kind of dulcimer you will really want. Get a decent, playable, and affordable dulcimer at first and give yourself some time to discover what options you would want on your dream dulcimer. (Of course, if you're like many of us, you may find that you have several dream dulcimers!)
It's part of the reason that I'm not ready for a custom dulcimer yet. I don't know what sound I want to hear, but I am starting to get a better idea of it. I think this particular dulcimer was designed to be used noter style and that's something I want to check into anyway.
I know about acquistion disorders. I have five treadle sewing machines in this room and two in another! Fortunately, I have all the machines on my bucket list. I suspect there are at least two dulcimers in my future, maybe more if I happen across any old instruments.
notsothoreau
Congratulations on your first dulcimer. I know you are excited. Best wishes on your dulcimer journey.
By the way, the DAD (dulcimer acquisition disorder) may strike at any moment. The cure is easy. Get another dulcimer. Trouble is the malady has a way of recurring at intervals. I have found that certain instruments sound better on some tunes than others and some dulcimers seem to "prefer" one mode or tuning. Explore and have fun.
I can finally add a story! Way back in the day, I bought a kit teardrop dulcimer. I believe it was mahogany. I could play it, but it wasn't the best instrument. I have no idea what happened to it. Recently, I got a wild hair that it might be fun to try this again. I'd tried guitar and mandolin but just couldn't seem to do much with either. I knew that I wanted a good quality instrument at some point, but thought I might check what is available locally.
Well, I found a dulcimer on the Facebook marketplace. It seemed like a student quality from the picture, so I thought I might be able to use it for awhile. Contacted the seller last week and he said it was available. Asked when we could get together and he said Wednesday after we got off work. I tried to contact him Wednesday and nothing. Later that night, he messaged me and said he'd be available Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Said we'd try again Thursday. Same thing. It turned out he was driving between Portland, OR and Eugene for his job! He apologized and said we would get together for sure on Saturday at noon. He'd let me know where we could meet. Saturday came and went. I got a message from him that night with the Steve Martin excuse "I forgot"!
I'd pretty much given up at this point, but it seemed sad to have a decent dulcimer sitting unplayed. I gave him one more chance today. And this time, he and his wife did show up! I believe this is from 1997. It has a decent sound but I can't really check it out yet. I popped the bass string while tuning it and my new strings are still on the way. I was able to pick out "I'll Fly Away" on two strings and expect to have more fun in the future. It will do for now. Even my husband is enjoying this hobby.
And, I do have something in the works to get that quality dulcimer. More on that, as I get further along on the plan.
Stewart, I was just in Marietta yesterday, taking my folks on a day trip. About 1.5 hour drive from their house. (My home is closer to Marietta than is theirs.)
You boys can rest easy tonight.
Sounds like you've got yourself a sticky situation there John. (Pun intended) The big problem with that glue is it expands as it cures so you have a very tight fit. You might try knocking it out from the side, but you risk damaging the slot if the glue bond does not break. I think I would try to either rout or saw it out and make a new nut. I know that is not easy to do and would require making some type of jig to do the job. Of course, if this is just going to be a wall hanger, you don't have to worry about any of this.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Well, Ken, at least it'll SMELL good, even if it doesn't loosen the glue! 
Gorilla Glue company recommends razor blade/scraper for removing blobs from wood; but that won't help in a nut slot... Citrus juice is suggested for removing from hands. Try sponging OJ or grapefruit juice on it several times...
That sounds like the same sage advice I gave somebody here a few days ago!
Unfortunately the nut has been re-glued with what looks like Gorilla Glue... might be a job to remove. Thanks, Dan!
Tignor got tired of fixin' his wifes Burgy so he decided he could make one better! Yes the early pieces would have been Burgy copies. I have no idea how the intonations on the early pieces were, but the bottom line is, do they want to play it or hang it on the wall? You could make new nut and bridge and save the originals?
DAN
www.dulcimore.com
A young couple came to my home yesterday with a beautiful old Tignor dulcimer that had some problems. The fist thing I noticed is that it bore a striking resemblance to an Uncle Ed Thomas dulcimer. I think John was a protege of Jethro Amburgey, wasn't he? Anyway, I brought my latest Thomas upstairs and laid it next to their dulcimer. Apart from the Tignor being a couple inches longer and slightly wider, they looked like twins.
The 3 tuners on it were shabby-looking planetary models, inexpertly mounted by somebody, and all 3 strings were the wound steel ones we use just for bass drones. I found reference photos of what Tignor pegs should look like, and set about to reproduce them in old-growth black walnut. They came out very well. I then went to string the dulcimer with the proper gauge strings, when I noticed the "mile-high" action. The tone is nice, but pushing the melody string all the way down to the staple fret really stretches it out of tune! I'm not sure if I should lower it or leave it as-is. Any thoughts, my fellow historical luthiers?
Stewart, I think you can send him a private message regardless of "Following" status.
Sure, you need it for noter play! ;)
PS- Randy Adams is the dulcimer player I listen to most! I've got a playlist. :)
Hey, I like it, Stewart! Have fun working on it!
Found this beauty online! Looks like poplar or pine? Hopefully with a little hide glue and TLC, and she will be my next dedicated Noter Dulcimer! What do you think?
