Unless the original finish on the Hondo is worn through, I would not put anything on it other than a good polish. I think those old Hondo dulcimers had a light lacquer finish. I really like this polish: Smith Pro Formula Polish .
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Welcome jfro! Hondo dulcimers, made in Korea, are one of the few "made overseas" dulcimer success stories, unlike First Act and a few other brands we could name... Every Hondo I've seen and played has a great sound.
Yours has completely raw wood on the back??? No finish at all? They certainly were not sold that way!! If it truly is raw wood, then I would use a rub-on polyurethane as one of the simplest finishes. Another choice would be Tung Oil. Both will take about 4 coats to completely seal the back. If, however, it has a finish and you jusr want to shine it up a bit, try a little lemon Pledge on a soft cloth.
Since this is you first dulcimer, you might want to read the article I wrote a number of years ago called I Just Got A Dulcimer, Now What? It's an illustrated glossary of dulcimer terms, so we all know what we're talking about -- 'back', not backboard or bottom surface for example -- plus answers to many beginner questions about the tuning, playing, care and feeding of your new friend. The recently revised article is here:
Was wondering if anyone was familiar with these dulcimers, I'm finding almost no info on them or possible value, I have found that he was active around 1970 on, built only around 20 a year during the Dulcimer "boom: of around 1980, looks decent, but didn't know if anyone does, or has owned one and what they may sound like. Thanks in advance again as usual., George
John Frazier South Bend Indiana No. 165 Dec1978
38" in length, 28 1/4 inch string length as he put it, I asked for length from bridge to nut since I don't think he knew what vsl was. 1 3/4 deep
Aw I just don't get to go dancing anymore! We were taught country dancing at the very old fashioned girls grammar school I attended in the 70s. The music certainly wasn't as funky as that!! I learned a mix of English and Scottish dances and they were useful for going to ceilidhs when I was a bit older.
I also had a stint of doing circle dance in the 90s: a generic term for a collection of European folk dances that don't require partnering up and are done in circles, lines or chains. The sessions with live musicians were great; Turkish, Breton, Bulgarian, Jewish, all kinds of tunes.
All this brings back memories of spending one day week from 2nd grade through high school square dancing. It was a real blast. Took a gym class in college called Folk and International Dancing. Those were the days! Thanks for sharing all your dancing experience. I always enjoyed watching John Hartford play his banjo and dance at the same time.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Strumelia, I Googled English Country Dancing, for clubs. The nearest is in Griffin, Ga., 3 hours from me.
No problem. I still plan to study much on this subject.
When I was a teen, my dad owned a roller skate rink. Every Sat. Night he would close it for skating, and host a square dance
Loads of fun for sure.
It's easy to learn to contra dance Terry! I'm no expert for sure. Every single dance gets taught slowly before the music begins, so you never really have to remember a dance from one evening to the next. There are various common moves that get used in different combinations. We all laugh when we make mistakes. Lots of people of all ages, and physically challenged folks too. Contra dancing is fairly popular, so there's one within a reasonable drive maybe once or twice a month, at least here in the Northeast. The live music is so fun to dance to! I especially love it in Contra dancing when all the dancers stomp a foot or two and you can feel it through the entire room, just like when the video starts out, and also at 1:10. :)
Wow, Strumelia. That is so cool. It was easy to find you, being the great fluid dancer that you are. Seriously, you appeared very much in your eliment.
Loving the good life.
Terry, here's a video of a Contra dance in Massachusetts where you can actually see me dancing..
As the video starts, I'm somewhat in the middle of the screen, but on the right side of the aisle, dancing with the fellow in the orange shirt. At 0:36, I go to a new partner, the fellow in the plaid shirt. Then later, after the camera pans to the left and then back to the right again, you can see me on the right side again at around 1:10 in the video, and through to the end. 
Terry, that was just an example of English Country Dance. Nobody filmed the one I went to.
If you do a youtube search of both Contra dance and English Country dancing, you'll see the difference between the two. Contra is more high energy movement, while ECD is more flowing and stately. I like them both now! 
Strumelia, I couldn't pick you out. Are you filming?
Anyway, that's way way too cool. I've got to look into this dance. My wife and I were discussing taking up some kind of dance, recently.
Time to do some googling.
I went to my first English Country Dance last weekend. I've been a Contra dancer for seven years now (!) so 'some' of the dance moves are similar, but i was surprised at how I had to get into a whole different approach. I goofed up many many times, but everyone was very supportive and helpful. The drive is a PITA... 75 minutes each way, with annoying detours due to two different closed bridges along the way...and driving back at 11pm in the dark on back road detours...ugh! I did enjoy myself though and hope to go again. The music is particularly beautiful to listen to while dancing.
I'd say English Country Dance uses about 1/3 of the energy of a lively contra- it's serene and flowing compared to higher energy Contra dancing. I had to remind myself to drink some water now and then. In a contra dance, there's no way you would 'forget' to drink some water...lol!
This is an example of English Country dancing:
Did that, all the inner workings came out as you said, the part I'm having an issue with is the housing that it slips through, can't seem to get that loose. Don't know what to call that part exactly, don't know if it's supposed to screw together or if it just is pushed together. That's where I don't want to do any damage.
This is where you can watch a live stream of one of the largest old time music festivals in America.
schedule of events
Take the screw all the way out ,the peg will then come apart in pieces. The bushing will need pushed out from the opposite side.
I picked up a nice older,dulcimer recently, JI, equidistant, at some point someone modified it by putting these Grover tuners on it instead of leaving the original wood friction pegs, I am wanting to put the friction pegs back on My question, I know there is a bushing that holds them together. I am trying to not damage them when I remove them, is there a suggested way of pulling them? I already have the rest of the tuners disassembled, but want to send these Grovers to someone if I can remove them without damage. Thanks all!! George
Thanks everyone. I'll consider leaving the frets as is. There's a luthier at Elderly Instruments who does any work I need done on my dulcimers. I'm going to have him look it all over and do whatever set-up it needs. The action needs to be adressed, probably frets leveled, and likely a new nut and bridge. Definitely needs new strings. It's intonation is really good, and it has a really nice voice. The body size is similar to a McSpadden, but it's voice is loud and clear. A warmer tone, with the all walnut body. It's birthdate is March 28, 1987. Definitely a cool dulcimer. Nicely made. A really nice gift from an old friend.
My undersstanding is tha Lazenby dulcimers are becoming quite collectable. Like the others I recommend leaving the fret set up alone.
Bob retired somewhere around 2005 and closed his shop shortly after. I haven't been able to find an obit though
Tessie, just so you know it's normal, I was playing a bit today. I mostly play in DAd but snuck in a tune in DAA. When I was tuning back up to DAd afterwards, my melody string broke. Boing!
Once I had a new string ready and my string winder by my side, it took just over two minutes for me to put on the new string and tune it up. Obviously, I've been doing this for years, so it will take you longer, but there is nothing to be afraid of. Si se puede!
After looking at the picture it just may be Equal Temp but pictures can be deceiving.
I agree with Rob as well. You might want to check its intonation. It may not be Equal Temperament. It might be in Just Intonation. I would definitely check that out before you start adding frets. If you already have dulcimers with the extra frets I would suggest you leave this one just exactly as is other than changing strings.
I agree with Rob about adding frets. I've heard of the Lazenby dulcimers but had never seen a photo of one until today. IMHO, adding frets would reduce the intrinsic value of the instrument. It is truly a beautiful dulcimer.
I don't want to sound like a Luddite or curmudgeon but I wouldn't have any frets added to that beautiful instrument. Since, as you said, your other dulcimers have the "extra" frets, maybe you could keep this one intact to play in a more traditional manner? Were it a McSpadden or a Folkcraft I might not suggest this, but it's nice to an individual maker's work kept as he intended.
I posted this on Everything Dulcimer, but got no responses. Maybe someone here might want to share some information.
Long story short.....a childhood friend (who I've only recently reconnected with via Facebook) has very generously gifted me a mountain dulcimer that was owned by her grandma. My friend received the dulcimer when her grandma died in the late 80's. Nobody in her family plays, so she wanted me to have and play it. It comes from Pigeon River Stringed Instruments, Bob and Anne Lazenby.
I've found out a little through the internet, but would like know if anyone knows about the maker and the dulcimer (quality, etc.). I noticed Bob was a member on ED, but only made 4 posts and hadn't posted since 2012 ("Bob L"). I haven't received it yet (getting it today), but it sure looks beautiful. I'm planning on a complete professional set-up, after I receive it, and will add some extra frets to have it like my other dulcimers (6 1/2 and 1 1/2 for sure).
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I'll give a full report, once I receive it.
Oh, that's okay, Maria. I own four HSF, and that's a plenty for now.
While I practice with most all my flutes, my HS Bm is the go to flute. I played two songs with it yeasterday, at an assisted living home. The 20 or so people gave me lots of smiles and hand claps. They realize I am new to this instrument, so they seem genuinely happy with my progress.
When all of your flute playing is solo, there really no reason to have every key. The HSF Bm is a wonderful key for others to sing along as you play. Music is like a shot of energy to the residents. Gotta love it. And I do.
Maria
I cancelled my flute order yesterday. James opened the door to this decision, since two weeks turned into 5 weeks.
I like James, and have no I'll feelings. He's been real busy and had an eye injury.
I'm probably going to stick to High Spirits flutes.
OH that is a real shame. He truly makes beautiful flutes. I know he emailed me about one that I was thinking of getting (a drone) and said that amazon has removed all of his flutes.....it's a shame as you said he's a nice guy. He's probably just not capable of "mass producing" for places like Amazon where the normal customers want their items in two days. 5 weeks is really a long time and I'm sorry it didn't pan out for you.
You can't beat high spirits. I really am enjoying mine. I'm getting to love my gm more and more. It's funny it seems that they have to be almost worked into...maybe it's just getting them "broken in" like shoes lol!!
Much success on all your next flute buying purchases and I'm sorry that something I recommended didn't work out...
Take care
Maria
It's all okay, Lexie. I needed another flute like I need a hole in my head.
Terry, sorry your flute order didn't turn out and hope James gets better.
I really like High Spirits and hope you get your new flute soon.
Maria
I cancelled my flute order yesterday. James opened the door to this decision, since two weeks turned into 5 weeks.
I like James, and have no I'll feelings. He's been real busy and had an eye injury.
I'm probably going to stick to High Spirits flutes.
Agree with Dusty. Don't go having frets added (jumping into the deep end) until you've been playing dulcimer a year or so, and have some basics down pat. You really don't need them to play that song. You do need to learn to tune and re-tune your dulcimer without distress, learn the basics of strumming and fingering, etc. first. Leo is a great teacher
Tessie, that's a great old clip of your grandmother. How wonderful that you have that recording to keep your memory of her singing alive.
Leo Kretzner is a great player and a wonderful teacher. I strongly advise working with him. And please tell him I said hello, too. Leo not only plays the dulcimer but really understands music theory and how to teach. You will be in good hands.
If you are playing the chorus beginning on the middle string at the fourth fret tuned DAd, you can also play it beginning on the melody string on the first fret (1-1-3-4-5-5-5-4-3-1). You are playing in Em.
Personally, since I play across all the strings and chord, I would play the song in that key either by tuning to DAd and putting a capo at the first fret or by tuning to GDg, where the melody would start on the first fret of the middle string.
Whether a song is major or minor is determined by the third note of the scale. If the major third is used, the song is in the major key. If the minor third is use the song is in the minor key (unless we're talking the blues, for that is another beast.) Let me explain this first in the key of C. Picture a piano keyboard. If C is the first note of the scale, D is the second, and E is the third. Between the C and the D are two half steps (from C to C# and from C# tto D) or one whole step. Then from D to E we see another two half steps (from D to D# and from D# to E) or one whole step. So a major third is made up of two whole steps. But the minor third of C is Eb, which is made up of one whole step (from C to C# to D) and one half step (from D to Eb).
On the dulcimer fretboard, notice that you have fat and skinny frets. A fat fret represents a whole step and a skinny fret represents a 1/2 step. So on your D string, the second fret represents the major third (two whole steps), an F#. If you want to get a minor third from an open D string, you need that 1-1/2 fret (one whole and one half step), an F.
But elsewhere on the fretboard we can find that pattern of a fat fret and then a skinny fret, which is why you can play the song beginning on the 4th fret of the middle string or the first fret of the melody string. However, the rest of the scale may not correspond to the minor scale. This is where a discussion of modes is necessary, something Ken or someone else is better equipped to handle.
Finally, let me make a comment about the common misconception that keys themselves correspond to a certain vocal range. That is just not the case. Different melodies have different vocal ranges. Some are called "authentic" because the melody falls between the 1st and 8th notes of the scale. But other melodies are called "plagal," and in such melodies the first note of the scale is in the middle of the melody's range (an obvious example is Happy "Birthday"). The point here is not the terminology--which I encourage you to ignore--but the idea that different songs have different ranges, and one song in D might actually be many tones higher than another song in D, depending on the specific tonal range of the melody. So perhaps one song is too low for you to sing in D and feels more comfortable in G, but that will not be the case for every song.
I know this is a lot to take in, but there is a reason why people usually start on the dulcimer playing "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" or "Bile Dem Cabbage Down" rather than other songs. Since I'll be taking my daughter to the pool later, let me use that metaphor. Starting with those basic songs mentioned above is like taking those easy steps into the shallow end of the pool. Starting the dulcimer by asking whether you should tune to D or G, and by stating that you want a 1-1/2 fret, and that you want to play a specific song in a minor key, you are jumping into the deep end. It might seem overwhelming at first, but just try to tread water for now; you'll be doing the butterfly and the Australian crawl soon!
Do you enjoy being a member of Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer?
Does this site benefit you in some way?
There is much required effort and various ongoing costs involved in maintaining and growing a large multi-media site such as Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer. Software and server/hosting costs continue monthly. I myself probably spend hours per week or more in site maintenance, code updates and troubleshooting, assisting members with their various site issues, etc. Our amazing and dedicated site Moderators volunteer their time daily as well. It's a labor of love for all of us.
All donations, even the most modest, are applied entirely to paying for the upkeep of FOTMD- no profits are kept from donations. So far this system has managed to work for eight years in keeping even with monthly site expenses and fees. Our site remains as it always has been- completely FREE to join and enjoy. There are no membership dues or member 'access fees'.
But donations have been slowly lessening over time. Spontaneous donations are down almost to 1/2 what they were two years ago. The same few generous folks tend to make occasional donations while others never think to do so.
I'm sure one reason for all of this is the state of today's economy in general.
However, FOTMD has been receiving less in donations than the amount needed each month to cover basic site costs.
Our site is as active and fun as always. There are so many members here who have been enjoying and contributing to our site for years, plus a steady number of new friends joining us....which is exactly what FOTMD is about!
I'd like to ask all members, and especially those who have never made a donation, to consider what FOTMD means for them, and to consider supporting Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer so that it remains practical to maintain.
How can you support the site? Well, I'm glad you asked.... 
There are THREE different ways and levels in which YOU can help support Friends of the Mountain Dulcimer:
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Just click on our Paypal Donate button on the Main Page and make a simple donation to FOTMD for $10, $25, or whatever you feel you can afford. (you don't need to have a paypal account to make a paypal donation- you can just use your credit card on paypal if you like- it's secure). Please consider making a little donation once in a while when it occurs to you that FOTMD is adding some joy to your life.
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Our NEW REVISED Patron Member system is this: When you make a single donation of only $35 or more , the period of one YEAR afterwards you will then have a "PATRON" banner proudly displayed underneath your member picture on your Profile Page, like this (and thank you, Gordon!) :
(note: most prior Patron member statuses from 2021 and earlier have since expired , so if you were previously a Patron do check your profile page to see if you still have your banner indicating an active Patron status. If not, you can make a new donation of $35 or more and become a Patron again for a brand new year-long term!) Patrons are our 'Super Supporters'!
3) When you sell something via our For Sale Forum , make the requested donation-
Though it's totally FREE to list something for sale there, we do ask that if you successfully sell any merchandise of more than $100 that you advertised in our forum, that you then please FOLLOW THROUGH and make at least a small $5 site donation (or more if you like). We are hoping to avoid charging everyone a fee for placing every ad, especially if their item does not sell. Instead, our very reasonable donation request is described HERE , and such donations are run on the "Honor System". We'd like to remind folks to please honor that request, because not everyone is doing so. Just a few of these each month makes a big difference in FOTMD's bottom line.
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That's it! THREE easy-peazy ways that YOU can help support our mountain dulcimer community!
Thank you so much for considering how YOU can give back in some way and keep FOTMD running. 
-Strumelia
Yes, Ken, as Rob explains you would have an F in DAG. You would also have it in DAC. But the first thing we have to do here is establish what key the song is in. Tessie's comment that she has no F in DAd but in GDg she would demonstrates that confusion.
The song is actually in a minor key. You can find the melody on the melody string very easily in DAC: 1-1-3-4-5--5--5-5-4-3-1. There we have an F natural at the third fret. And yes, as has been stated you could also play in in DAG if you start on the fourth fret of the melody string.
If you want to play the song in DAd, you would do so in Bm, with the melody starting on the first fret of the middle string. Then you don't need an F natural. You could play it the same way in GDg but you would be in Em.
Tessie, learning to string your instrument is a hurdle you will overcome. You can do it now or you can do it later, but either way, once you learn how to do it, it will be easy and you'll wonder why you were so nervous about strings to begin with. IF you do go to a music store for your instrument to be restrung, watch what they do and do it yourself next time. Most musicians who play regularly change strings every few months.
I believe, Ken, straight F would be on the 6 and F# on the 6+. And you know, I'll bet "Which Side Are You On" would sound really good in that tuning.
Agree, Tessie, don't be afraid to re-tune or break a string. It'll happen soon enough. It happened to me right before the last workshop I taught. However, like a dummy, I didn't have any extra strings for that dulcimer. Get a set; keep 'em in the case and laugh when it happens.
Correct me if I'm wrong, guys. But if she tuned down to DAG, instead of Gdg, would she not get a "straight" F on the 6+ fret?? That would keep the song in D without any messy taped on partial frets.
Tessie -- learning to re-tune is a fundamental skill that all dulcimer players need to master. Most of the time you're only changing the melody string(s). The other fundamental skill you need to master is changing strings...
Tessie, you are now asking a different kind of question. You are correct that if you need an F, you will not get it in a DAd tuning without a 1-1/2 fret.
But I think you need to understand keys before moving on. And I apologize if you do; that just hasn't come out in this conversation. In DAd tuning, you will almost always play in the keys of D or Bm. You can play in G or A, but it is not nearly so easy.
When you tune to GDg, you will most likely be playing in the key of G.
But before going any further, figure out what key your grandmother's music is in. I don't think you would need an F in the key of D. Rather than try to play in C or F or whatever out of a DAd tuning, you should transpose the song to the key of D and you should be able to play it very easily. (ALternatively, if the song is in C you could just tune down to CGc.)
How doy you tell what key the music is in? Next to the treble clef sign and the time signature will be a number of sharp signs. If there are none, the song is in the key of C. If there is one, the song is in the key of G. If there are two, the song is in the key of D. If there are three, the song is in the key of A. And so forth.
My guess is that the music you are looking at is in the key of C, so there will be no sharps or flats in between the treble clef sign and the time signature. If that is the case, then you merely play one note above the note that is indicated. So if you see a C, you play a D; if you see a D, you play an E; if you see an E, you play an F (technically an F#); if you see an F, you play a G, and so forth. There are no "accidentals" in this song so if you play in the key of D you will not need any extra frets other than the 6-1/2. (And if you don't have a 6-1/2 fret, then tune DAA and you'll still be able to play it.)
I hope that makes sense. You will drive yourself crazy using standard music notation in one key and trying to play it on the dulcimer always tuned to D.
The middle string s/b 'd' not 'D'. The big 'D' is the one below middle C, the lower case is the one just above middle C. You would be looking at Gdg, not GDg. The easiest way to remember is do the strings in order, either up or down.The Strothers calculator usually is a bit on the light side.
The layout on the calculator popup is lower notes [larger strings] to the bottom and higher notes [small strings] to the top, all in the right order.
As far as the 'F' goes, try taping a 2" straightened paper clip or a toothpick in place as a temporary fret. If you have access to a micrometer/caliper, frets are about .040"-.043" high.
thanks sooo much for this info. I went on line to see if they still sold these kinds of tuners. nope.
Irene, they do still sell them:
https://www.grotro.com/Grover/DULCIMER-TENOR-GUITAR-VIOLIN/Sta-Tite-Dulcimer-Pegs-Set-of-4
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Z9INO8/ref=s9_dcacsd_bhz_bw_c_x_1
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Grover+Pegs+for+Banjo+or+Dulcimer+Rosewood+Buttons+870BR
--Just be sure to get the 870BR model- the R means the buttons are rosewood. They come also with black plastic buttons which are a little cheaper- the plastic ones don't have the BR after the model number. The metal parts are silver colored, as I believe they've always been.
I Just Got A Dulcimer 2016.pdf - 1.1MB
