George, I have 2 John D Tignor's, 1 large one and 1 old Cumberland (Ralph Lee Smith's term.) The one on Ebay is a very large one. Tignor changed his fretting as time went by. Most of the large ones are ET. The workmanship is superb on both. I really think that big one is a little too high.
The "waist" of an hourglass dulcimer is the narrow place between the upper bout and the lower bout, in reference to the hourglass dulcimer being shaped like a woman.
"Wasp waist" refers to a narrower than usual waist, because the wasp has a notoriously narrow waist between its thorax and abdomen, compared to say the honey bee.
John had his own scale. Early models mostly set for DAA play; some of the late models were set for DAd play. As for JI or ET? Again it was "his" scale and was set for noter play. Don't look to play chord style on it, it is not made for contemporary playing. John used a pocket knife to carve his tuning pegs. If you look close you can see the tool marks left from it! They may or may not adjust easily as there is a curve to learning to use wooden pegs made more difficult with his craftsmanship. As for bio:
Born in 1922 near Hindman, Kentucky, John Tignor attended the Hindman Settlement School where he was introduced to Jethro Amburgey, the Industrial Arts teacher. John attended Berea College from 1947 until his graduation in 1950. It is around this time that Mr. Tignor began to make dulcimers. His wife Sally had a Jethro Amburgey-made dulcimer that had become damaged beyond repair so Mr. Tignor decided to make her a new one as a gift. With a few minor adjustments, Mr. Tignor followed Amburgey’s design, adding internal supports and changing from the traditional heart to a trefoil design for the sound holes. Mr. Tignor was more concerned with practicality than beauty, so he left many parts of the instrument unfinished (from a woodworker’s prospective). Mr. Tignor continued to make instruments until his passing in 1982. Though not as prolific as some, he is in a direct line of notable dulcimer makers from Ed Thomas, through Jethro Amburgey, to Mr. Tignor himself. This piece was made in the late 1970’s. The early models closely resembled the Thomas design but the later pieces were much deeper and the shape is described as “wasp” waist. John also started using guitar frets instead of the traditional staples but continued to use the wooden friction pegs. The later models also had a hollow fret board.
Just me feeding my obsession with older vintage dulcimers, especially the wood friction pegs types. Can any one tell me anything about him, I have seen some info on line but always appreciate all y'alls input. Were they JI or ET fretted? I have read that they were "larger" dulcimers also. Any feedback from all of you who know way more than me would be great!!
Have seen the term "wasp waist" used in describing, is that a reference to the what looks to be narrow area between the upper and lower bouts?
Haven't bought it yet, but seriously considering it, and an opinion of what it may be worth? I know it's only worth what one is willing to pay, but among those of us who appreciate dulcimers on a higher level!! 
Thanks, George in Estes Park Colorado.
I think the first time I ever heard a mountain dulcimer was on a Richard and Mimi Farina record back in the late 1960's. A couple of years later, when I was about 15, I had a big crush on a girl who went to school with me. She played the dulcimer and I played the guitar. So, of course, I got real interested in the dulcimer. Unfortunately, Barbara wasn't as interested in me or my guitar as I was in her and we remained acquaintances. I ever after did like the sound of the dulcimer, though.
Sometime in late Spring, 2011, at a Casita travel trailer rally.
Terry and Pam Lewis were playing for the campers by a camp fire. Terry and Pam and their music made a huge impression on my wife and I.
I waited awhile to purchase one, 04/2012, but I never forgot the music. I would imagine that this wonderful couple has influenced hundreds of new dulcimer players.
I just listened to this again Kevin- it's awesome powerful.
As I recall you made this zither for yourself...do you still have it? What was the scale length?
Thought I'd revive this old thread in case some of our newer members wanted to add their own stories of how they first discovered the mountain dulcimer! 
First things first: Close the MobileSheets app and open your tablet's file manager.
Joe, is the problem that you can't locate the original .pdf files in your tablet's file system... or that you can't print them once you find them?
If you can't locate them, please let us know how the files got on your tablet in the first place: did you copy them from a computer, download them in the tablet's browser, send them by email, put them in Dropbox? Did you use the MobileSheets Companion software? We need that info to figure out where the files are stored. It is likely but not certain that the original .pdf files are still on your tablet somewhere.
If the problem is opening the file and printing it, tell us if you already have the tablet and printer set up to communicate. Is this the first thing you've tried to print?
Alternatively, you could just give the nice folks at Zubersoft 13 bucks and upgrade to the Pro version. Read the instructions for migrating .
Joe, once you find the pdf's click on the one you want to print. Whatever program you use to display pdf files should display it. The pdf reader should have the capability to print to your printer. I don't have a printer handy at the moment but I was able to get all the way in the process up to actually printing. You may have to open the song folder to get to the actual pdf file.
You're right Joe- there seems to be a little glitch in moving discussions. I'll look into it!
UPDATE: this has been fixed. This discussion is now in the General forum. 
I could not find where you moved the discussion. It is not in my General Music section. Anyway, I would like those guys to try to print their PDF files the way they stated. All of my MobileSheets are in PDF form and I have not figured out anyway to print them.
joebesse@aol.com
Jan's posting reminded me to caution against picking up/handling a dulcimer with any pressure in the area of soundholes. Though soundholes may be braced from below, it's a vulnerable area on the top of the instrument.
- I moved this discussion from the For Sale forum to the General music forum.
My mobilsheets music is in .pdf form so what Skip said in his post is right on. Just find the file and print it like you would any other .pdf. If your music is saved in an image format like.jpeg then The also should be easy. I have never printed directly from the app itself.
Lowell
You also need to be careful of how you pick up your dulcimer. Using 2 hands and evenly distributing the weight, of course, is the smart way to do it. I can stress this for newbies, having picked up a favorite dulcimer with just one hand at the tail end, resulting in a crack several inches long. And I knew better.....I just didn't do better! 
And DON'T carry your MD using the strap over the shoulder. A friend did, the strap came off the button, resulting in a major [12"] and several minor [1-2"] cracks in the top. It also happened to me and my wife but without any damage.
A friend's husband was carrying her bowed dulcimer by the strap. . . The fall broke the headstock. A painful lesson it was. I felt badly for the wife and her poor husband.
And DON'T carry your MD using the strap over the shoulder. A friend did, the strap came off the button, resulting in a major [12"] and several minor [1-2"] cracks in the top. It also happened to me and my wife but without any damage.
@iiilovemd I'm glad it was just a scratch! Nearly all of us have similar stories and we learned a lesson; a few had more disastrous consequences. Your posting may just save a few others from a similar fate. Thanks!
Your lesson should be about more than just a strap. It's what some folks call "situational awareness". Always be aware of where you and yours are in space at any given time -- what and who is around you, entering and leaving your space; what is near and far; static and in motion. Use all your senses to hear, see and feel what is going on around you -- even while you are concentrating on playing dulcimer or talking or whatever.
Fortunately, or unfortunately in this modern day and events, those who practice situational awareness tend to be survivors -- of dulcimer accidents and other things.
That would be nice having someone to practice with.
Maybe as a thought a group could start on here somehow where someone would video a song and the group could practice alone with it and post back to each other.
I hope your move goes well
You will probably have to connect to a pc with usb and use the file explorer to locate the files. Try looking at root>sdcard>myfiles>music>pdf's [this is on my nook hd] or root>storage>sdcard0>android>data>[com]zubersoft.mobilesheets>files then the song.
Does anyone know how to print tabs from the original MobileSheets app? The Pro version lets you do this with Dropbox, but this is "Xed" out on the original app version. Thanks for any help given. You may email me with your suggestion: joebesse @ aol.com
I have revisit much of his post this evening, yes part of the FOTMD family and will be missed. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing, prayers for him and his family.
Celtic Diet: Haggis. Whiskey. Tatties & Neeps (potatoes & turnips).
The name of the tune was originally "Boil That Haggis Down", but it's a well-known urban myth that when the tune was imported to Amerikay, the name was changed to protect a guilty sheep-rustler named MacBaah.
"'Tis true, Coinneach.........MacBaah was known to be of a questionable ethic........I believe he also wrote, "I like My Haggis just a Little on the Salty Side." I think he may also have been the one who wrote, "Fresh Muggies do Come from the Ocean." I think thateventually became a tune having to do with someone named Bonnie or the likes.
I looked up the music exchange, ha know right where it is. Pass it many times, the owner, jimmy died in Jan. but they are still open and not any dulcimers now but at times will have a dulcimer, hit and miss type thing but good to keep on the radar.
Hi erin, glad to hear you are in new orleans. I have a small teardrop also I was going to bring over with me to get my sister-in-law started. Maybe a full size older cripple creek also but no 6.5 fret so she will be using my DAA music. She is very excited to get started, maybe one day ya'll could meet. Are you teaching yourself or do you have a group you meet up with?
There seems to be a good dulcimer society in Baton Rouge, just had their Lagniappe Fest. and Cajun society in Lafayette - strange not much in new orleans.
Thank you for answering, would be good to see how many dulcimer players are in the new orleans area. I will check the Exchange.
I wear bib overalls so I'm forcing myself to hold off on suspenders right now since I'm still in the process of paying of the new Folkcraft resonator dulcimer I needed for Christmas. No Sheitholt yet.
Skip....................you're an Advanced Traveler..............Have you bought a Scheitholt yet? I got the Deluxe from June Apple, 6 Drones and I would think that it would ride in one of those little closets next to the driver's command module in your RV. It is a grand instrument. I am envious of your amenities. By the way I did have a set of Ben Seymore suspenders a few years back........if your interested they are still available from select sellers.
Ride on my brother.......
Aye, Coinneach,
Haggis, Glenfiddich 18, and pot of Muggies and Cranachan.
salt-springs; Sounds reasonable to me. I'm a bit farther on the timeline [about 15 years] so the accessories have increased some. They now include a 38 foot top of the line RV and 1T truck to pull it down to the lot in south Texas. This is needed to reduce the stress on the MD's caused by excessive low humidity caused by cold weather, much better than a wet sponge in my opinion. This adds about 150 k plus annual fees, taxes and travel costs. So far the journey has been well worth it!
I also needed to get additional instruments; keyboard, bodhran [adds interest to the celtic diet], pennywhistles, a HD, a TMB, and an electric bass, so I could produce backup accompaniment for the cd I was going to make for my family and friends.
Celtic Diet: Haggis. Whiskey. Tatties & Neeps (potatoes & turnips).
The name of the tune was originally "Boil That Haggis Down", but it's a well-known urban myth that when the tune was imported to Amerikay, the name was changed to protect a guilty sheep-rustler named MacBaah.
I. am. dying. Celtic diet, ohmygosh, hahahaha!!!
I do believe that the old adage that the journey of a thousand tunes begins with a single pick is true and I think it unfortunate that some ancient guy shamelessly swiped it, claimed it was an original thought and Philosophical Action Committee arranged to have it engraved in the mind of countless modern folk convincing them that it was about hiking. Every student of the Dulcimore knows, (thank you Dan) that original linguisitic terminology must be preserved as well as the wide variety of noters that have made their way into the urban Appalachian counter culture, only to be lost. For several years I have read the posts found on this website and have found that there has always been considerable information available to assist me in my journey of a thousand tunes. However, when it comes to advice to Rookies I have a .12 stainless steel string to pick. Bones for picking are acceptable, though they have a tendency to wear out far to quickly when on Saturday evenings, Guinness inspired high speed Flamenco tunes burst forth from the heart. Anyway, here is the string to pick....when I began my journey no one ever informed me off the tremendous financial burden learning to play the dulcimer would entail. Since Ms. Chitwood stirred my conscience with her discussion topic I have meditatively evaluated the cost of my muse over the last five or six years. Let me bring all of you up to speed in this regard.
1. It is imperative that a beginner carefully assess which six dulcimers they buy at the outset of the journey. Since the relative obscurity of Capo's are virtually unknown to novice musicians, the only reasonable course of action is to buy one for DAdd tuning, one for DAaa, DAcc, AEaa, AEee, CGcc. (Oops, make it 7 dulcimers, CGgg.) As you can tell this includes not only standard sized instruments, but those larger deeper body ones, known as Baritones. It is not necessary to include Bass dulcimers or Ginger models as those I believe are reserved for those who have traveled further along the road less traveled. This initital investment entails an expenditure of appx. $4,200.00, not including 3 packs of strings per instrument which will run you about another $150.00 with shipping.
2. While this might seem a bit outrageous to those unfamiliar with the necessity of being well equipped let me assure you this is the basic set up. Now to this we must consider, music stands, dulcimer stands (Curley maple are best at $149.00), six beginner books, a high speed internet connection, top of the line TKL cases built to survive a late night brawl in any bar of your choosing........enter $1400.00 less shipping for an appx. total cash expenditure of $2,150.00 and change. It is here that we discover the Capo and usually buy three at $20.00 each. But that is chicken feed and I don't consider that anything more than a basic expenditure and do not include it in the total cost of the muse.
3. As one improves it becomes evident that history needs to have our skill preserved so we have to consider a recording studio. It is of no concern that the only three tunes we can play are Old Joe Clark and Amazing Grace and the Battle Hymn of the Republic....these achievements must be preserved so cost is not a factor.........3 mics, two different software programs, 60 feet of cable, two amplifiers, a mixing board for subtle audio enhancements, two windscreens for the mics, the third mic does not require one since it is used only for playing with our 12 volt cube amplifier kept in the we bought in order to travel to various venues such as church potlucks, wedding receptions, flea markets, school presentations and if you keep playing in bars 5 nights a week, AA meetings. This basic expenditure could run you over $35,000 depending upon the type of van you buy to haul it around in......I prefer a VW bus, you know the California Revival thing, but that is just a personal preference.
4. Of course there are other expenditures involved that are more collateral in nature, such as group therapy sessions for obsessive compulsive restless strum syndrome, lawyer bills for a divorce after your spouse decides they have heard enough of your midnight practice sessions, hourly scanning of the newly listed Ebay dulcimers, weird dietary practices while you decide whether to adopt a Celtic diet, Mountain style/Virginia Country Ham enhanced version of Dr. Atkin's Quick Weight loss diet or the California Kale and Avocado Smoothie post revival Detox program. Costs vary here, but I would think $12,000.00 is in the ball park.
5. Last but not least it is important to look good. I found that clothing makes the man or woman as the case may be...so add funds for Celtic T-Shirts, Dasheki's and Apple Seed beeds, Bib overalls, farm boots, sandals, misc. rings and '60's style leather Fisherman's Cap to go with the VW. Hymn and Worship players add One Way T Shirts from the '70's, Western hats, sunglasses, etc. Be creative. I think $2,500.00 is fair........
6. Now that I have learned 8 tunes, and been forgiven for playing Whiskey Before Breakfast at Ladies Missionary Union luncheon, ( I called it Candles before Communion, but was ratted out by a Lutheran) I am ready to move on to the next level.........historic reproductions and Roman glass noters. It is indeed all about the journey and I am planning a Robin Clark appreciation pilgrimage for fall; Yes,the journey ..........I love it...........
Have fun!!!! $56,000 is not too much, is it?
Hi, I have family in new orleans and I am trying to find a good used dulcimer in that area for my sister-in-law. Do you know where I could look when I get there. Just in the new orleans area, unable to go futrher to look
thanks
Rookie mistakes? Mmmm.......
Fire and Forget - Playing a tune while hearing in your head what you think the tune should sound like rather than actually 'listening' to the end result you are producing.
Believing too hard - Holding on to a theory of how to do something or how something works despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. That evidence is the sound coming from your instrument, so we are back to listening again.
Not realising playing is physical - To make your dulcimer make a noise you have to do something physical with the strings. All the theory and everything else boils down to your touch on the instrument. Playing is a physical activity so train your physical movements and 'listen' to your results.
Timing is Everything - Buy a metronome and use it. It will give you great timing and it will keep you in the moment. If you can hear the metronome and hear your own playing at the same time you are on the way to learning how to listen to what's really happening when you play.
Always aim to do something differently - When you pick up your dulcimer have the aim of playing differently by the time to put it down to the way you play right now. To improve/learn you must do something physically different to make the instrument sound different. You won't know what physically you have to do differently, so try things out and 'listen' to the results. Repetitive practice is about honing skills but even with repetitive practice you must end up making physical changes to the way you play in order to improve the sounds you produce. Again, you must listen to your real results in real time.
Music is too complex to be cognitive - The goal of practice is to make physical movements non-conscious (like they are when you drive a car) so you can free up cognitive space to 'read the road' ie listen to what you are actually playing. Do everything you can to make the physical side of playing intuitive.
Ditch the TAB - TAB is good to learn where the notes are for a tune but ditch it as quickly as you can. It sucks away cognitive capacity and removes you from being in the moment. It makes you deaf to the link between your physical movement and the music those movements create in real time.
Mindfulness - Music is about being grounded in the moment. So be there with your instrument. If you can tell me what you are thinking when you are playing then you are not grounded with your dulcimer.
And, like many have said before, its a never ending journey so enjoy your travels and remember:
It is all about the music - so make that the centre of your learning.
