Hi Rich!
Yes, a longer vsl means the frets will be further apart. Going from a 22" to a 28" vsl will be a big change for you. If you plan to stick with a noter style of playing it might not be any problem for you at all. There is not much 'reaching' or stretching in noter style playing. If you want to play in chord style, however, the finger stretches will be quite longer on a 28" dulcimer than on your 22".
Rich, don't worry about wrong place. Perhaps one of the moderators will move it the right place. Since you live in Indiana why don't you drive over Folkcraft and try out a few dulcimers. If they don't have what you want in the showroom they can build a custom instrument for you. The VSL can be anywhere from 22 to 29 inches. I find little difference between my 25 inch scale and 27 inch scale dulcimers.
Ken
Thanks for the suggestions. The capo at the 3rd fret sounds like the easiest solution so I'll start with that.
I have three suggestions, two of which have already been offered.
1) Get a baritone dulcimer, or at least string a dulcimer for a baritone. Baritones are usually tuned to G or A, as Paul explains. (Smaller dulcimers might be tuned an octave above a normal baritone, in the manner of the baritone dulcimette that Ron Ewing makes. Dulcimers with VSLs around 22 or so work well with this tuning.)
2) Capo on the third fret so you'll be in G. I do this all the time when jamming with people. You can also cap at the fourth fret to play in A.
3) Tune DGD. This is sometimes called a reverse Ionian tuning. If you are playing in a drone style, it would probably take little adjustment. But if you play chords, you may have to adapt to different fingering.
Good luck.
I wouldn't try it, even the .009 sounds unlikely at 27". Banjos are around that length, and usually use a .009" or .010" 1st & 5th strings. We tune the 1st to D or E in most tunings. The 5th is a lot shorter, mine is about 211/2", so tuning it to G and A is fine. But at 27.25", it won't make it. Even an .008" may not last long, if you strum hard. I don't know if anyone markets a .007", but you could check with Just Strings, or some string company web sites. A better idea would be to set up one dulcimer as a baritone. You would use heavier strings, and tune lower instead of higher. And we all need another dulcimer, don't we?
Paul
I recently finished an Andy Mackie Music Stick (like a Strumstick) and it's recommended tuning was gdG. It's fun to play and sounds like a banjo! The vsl is 22.25" and came with a 0.010" melody string. I tuned up to the g above middle c with my face turned away, thinking the string would break before getting up to g. It made it there, and I was wondering if I could tune my dulcimer up to g also. Not according to the string gauge calculator at http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.htm For my dulcimer with a 27.25 inch vsl it recommends 7 gauge string.
I currently have 0.010" (is that the gauge?) melody strings. Would they break if I tried to tune up to g from d?
The same calculator recommended a 9 gauge string for the Music Stick, so is that string even borderline OK?
Colleen, I think that's a good way to go. I purchased an inexpensive one and had it shipped directly to my mother's home so that I wouldn't have to risk carrying one on an airplane...or, worse, having it checked. Sometimes, though, the airplanes end up being such tiny ones that they would make me "valet check" it, anyway, and then who knows what would happen to it.
It always amazes me how much faith folks put in the various delivery personnel to get a package from point A to point B in as good a shape as when they wrapped it. If folks would at least contemplate whether or not they could safely stand on their package, it might convince peopleto use sturdy boxes (2 is best), adequate protection both inside and outside the case, and all spaces in the box filled in with materials that maintain the sturdiness of the package. I recently received an instrument in an ordinary black zippered "envelope" type bag which was simply put in a box without anything wrapped around it. That is wasn't totally crushed in transport is mind boggling--and a miracle.
Let's remember, too, that sometimes these instruments are very much "one of a kind" and that the artistry thatgoes into a particular instrument may not be able to be duplicated, or the wood or other materials no longer available.
While my success and good fortune of receiving instruments in good shape has been nearly99%, the fewthat didn't make it are a real shame.
I hope folks can learn from others' mistakes. In forklift v poorly packaged mountain dulcimer, it's almost always the forklift that wins. 
After reading this thread and the various threads concerning traveling with dulcimers on airlines, I'm thinking that I may try for option number 3--buy a cheap (but nice) cardboard dulcimer and have it shipped directly to my mother's house. That way, I'll always have a dulcimer to play when I visit and won't have to worry about packing for UPS or the airlines. I don't have my original dulcimer box anymore for my student model. I do have a cheapie Craigslist model, but just because it was cheap doesn't mean I want it smashed due to my own poor packing or luck. Common sense says no, but I would like to be able to practice whilst on vacation....
I have had the trauma of having an banjo beheaded by ParcelForce in the UK; there was a big dent in the box suggesting an external impact of some force.
I have also safely received dulcimers overseas from the States. My bowed dulcimer from Ken Bloom was in a wooden carry case and then packaged with a good 6" of foam chips all around it. And I received a vintage Ledford dulcimer double boxed ( with bubble wrap around the instrument, inside a small box, then foam chips and a bigger box).
I do admire Robin's cunning psychological approach of providing a handle!
I can feel your pain...I had purchased an early Edsel Martin dulcimer that the US Postal Service managed to maul through several protective layers. Though the seller had it fully insured, and the packaging was good/solid, the USPS workers declared that the damage was due to the seller's packaging of the instrument, even though one end was completely torn off and crushed. The seller refunded my money but in the end lost out on his end. After this very sad experience and others that friends have had it seems that UPS is a much safer ride for our precious instruments. I had a great talk with Aaron O'Rourke about this and an instrument I purchased from him that he had a guitar shop pack and send UPS. Triple layer protection in the packing, but even the box seemed perfect when it arrived a few days later. I think that they do take better care of their packages, but I also really like the idea of sending items in a tube...I would never have thought of this, thanks Ken!
When I ship dulcimers, I use the ultra heavy (1/2" thick) cardboard tubes used as concrete molds for piers and posts, which you can find at Home Depot or Lowe's. It costs a couple bucks, but that's not a problem. I cut the tube a few inches over length and make end caps from corregated cardboard and tape one in place with balled up newspaper or whatever for end padding. Inside, I roll the dulcimer up in bubble wrap until it's a snug fit, side it into place, then tape on the other end cap. Because of the shape, any weight place on it or shoved into it tends to be deflected. Either that or the carrier stands it on end.
I have one simple tip for shipping. It has served me well with my guitar business and so I do the same with the dulcimers I send out. Over the past5 years my shipping damage rate for guitars plus dulcimers is 0.25% (1:400) and I'm sure that is largely due to this little trick.
I put one of those heavy duty plastic box handles at the balance point of the box.
I find that the couriers naturally carry the box by the handle, load it the way up I want it loaded, and are less likely to drop or throw the box (it is easier to place the box than throw it once you have it by the handle). It is a bit of a psychological trick as well as a practical device - but it does seem to be working.
Robin
I have shipped many instruments here and abroad with out a single problem. I build cradles within the box to support the instrument, and add lots of buffer padding all around. It has worked great so far. By the way , what has become of the damaged instruments. I build and might would be interested in repairing or maybe purchasing.
Gentlemen:
Looks 99.9% like a McSpadden Sweet Song assembled kit to me. I've built a couple of them, and they look JUST like this one. (Of course, the fit and finish on mine were much better! 
).
yes mine measures the same.....had some dry finish section so I hit it with a touch of Watco walnut dark over the dry bits ...mine had missing strings ....did yours have the sticker inside of who put it together ,,,,,I've been busy slowly convert a old small guitar case for it .....
Don Johnson said:
Mine has, to me, a great sound. It is a lage instrument, 29 1/2 inch VSL, and a 2 1/2 inch deep box. I have posted in another forum here about the strings. It was missing the #1 melody, and I replaced with a .012, but the other two are smaller, and appear oxidized. But I like the sound. #2 has a ring to it, and I cannot imagine why. I have read here that the longer VSL can create a problem because of the longer frets, but I do not believe it will hurt Twinkle Twinkle Little Star a bit.
Don hows the sounds on yours?...mine is has a great mid range voice to her
Don Johnson said:
I, too, purchased a simular dulcimer from a Goodwill in Seattle. It has no name, and is a very large instrument.
Looks like someone tried to fix an intonation problem. I wouldn't think that would happen with a Sweet Song Kit.
thank you gentlemen......47 bucks well spent ......
Awfully pretty grain in that wood. It does look like walnut. Congrats Rav.
Looks great, these finds are out there you just have to be patient.
how can you tell if its one?...I believe its made of walnut...its has a sticker inside that says alan and chet whisman....Dec 1997.....its sounds nice ....my digital camera is down...I got this off of goodwill.com some store in seattle ...
Workin on It,enjoy your videos.
R N Lackey said:
Nice! Will be looking forward to hearing it when you get a song or two "down."
Rob
Thanks I am on it!!!!!
Ken Hulme said:
Interesting. Veeerrrryyy long tuning head with a nice shape. Veeerrrryyy narrow waist, but that will make it easy to pick up in the center. Very long discontinuous fretboard. Looks like nice workmanship.
Now get busy playing!
Never let a dulcimer club tell you what you should or must or hafta to do! If they start that, find another club.
Thank you, You know you have to give credit to luthiers who not only have the skills and pour thier heart and souls into these intruments only to have to part with them. I couldn't I would want to keep them all.
carol anderson said:
That is truly a very beautiful instrument!
Thank you, I enjoy your videos and chats, learning a lot from FOTMD.
Carrie Barnes said:
Chuck, lovely! Can't wait to hear her! Congratulations@
Thank you, I am trying to learn how to read music too. A little overwhelming butgonna make it.
Jim Fawcett said:
Well, Chuck, That's one beautiful looking dulcimer. Great find on your part.
Can't wait to hear it...sooner than later...LOL
Thankyou and I will be bearing down on the lessons. Had a bad week at the dulcimer club I go to, in fact it was so bad that they wondered if I should keep "learning how to play the dulcimer on my bucket list" Just kidding they have been very helpful, I will keep pluggin.
Well, Chuck, That's one beautiful looking dulcimer. Great find on your part.
Can't wait to hear it...sooner than later...LOL
I found this dulcimer on craigs list and went to see it the next day. It was built in 1989 North Country Dulcimers Robert and Yvonne Hutchinson and is beautiful, never thought I would have one like this. A part of the nut broke off and he put a nail in to hold the melody strings apart is the only falt and I am going to leave it alone for now. I tell you it sure has a voice.
