If these don't work let me know. Lynn McSpadden was also doing C-G-cc Ionian. I haven't checked online examples of using a noter, but I did not expect the thumb to be on top. According to Lynn McSpadden in this book, the index finger is used to position the noter and prevent it from moving to far in.
The string rests in the bridge. Another interesting thing about 1974 was that the bass and outer strings are located more toward the center and further from the edge of the fretboard. So all strings are closer. I don't have experience on any other type of dulcimer so it's no skin off my nose. In the "four and twenty" book by Lynn McSpadden that came with the kit he recommends the strumming one beat to be toward the player. The extra space at the edge of the fretboard might make that easier. I play a lot of things with strings but I am starting from scratch on the mountain dulcimer and really looking forward to it! BTW, the Dulcimer Shoppe told me the early 70's kit was about $37 dollars!
Figured it out! The bendover slot from the loop screw to the bridge is not deep enough. It prevents the string from having a good breakover at the bridge, thus adding at least a 1/2 inch to the string length. We pushed down with a pencil just behind the bridge, retuned the open melody strings position and the pitch is now perfect!
We have pulled a 1974 McSpadden kit dulcimer (standard, 28.5", 1.5", zero fret, four string) out of long term storage. My late father-in-law assembled it in 1974 and it was played a total of about 1 hour since then! I tuned it D-A-aa. The bass, middle and outer melody strings keep perfect pitch at all frets. There is no fret damage that I can see. The inner melody string can be tuned to match the outer when open but it is noticeably flat by the 3rd fret and gets worse up the neck. Having the zero fret I don't think the problem is at the nut end. I am going to replace the strings anyway but the originals were not stored in tension and look normal with no corrosion. What could cause this string to behave differently than the other three? Thanks!
