Thanks all for the comments. I'm only about 45 min north of the Janesville group, and they're quite active and welcoming online. There's a smaller group here in Madison, who are mostly all in the Janesville group as well. During my online chatter with the Janesville group I've identified several other folks near me who want to join up. I've already got an invite to a member's house this weekend to go over a few tunes. The community seems welcoming, relaxed, and just what I'm looking for 👍

Ah, the DAD malady has struck. That is "dulcimer acquisition disorder."  Thankfully  it is not fatal.

Seriously, I have a number of dulcimers. For the music I play I have found a particular song may sound better on one than the other. I have one tuned DAA, one in EBB, one in DAC, etc.  So enjoy adding to your collection. The more you have the more time you get to spend playing and enjoying them all.  The Warren May dulcimers are great instruments and expertly crafted.

Thank you for posting this. I'm also a beginner, and also happen to have 2 very similar dulcimers (though not from the same builder). I think I will do exactly as you mention, and keep them in different tunings. I'm just starting to learn about and practice that, and I will be able to spend less time tuning that way. I can keep one in DAA, which I've used most, ready to enjoy things I already know, and use the other for DAD, and whatever comes next.

 I wistfully think about some day having a flat-headed one......

And then there were three......That's how it starts.

If you are not in a dulcimer group, try and find one.   https://southernwisconsindulcimerclub.com/about/

This group is in Janesville, don't know if it's close to you.

Offer lessons? Offer to stumble along with another novice, learning together? The music may not sound great, but the fellowship is nice....

Hello all,

I have a very "spoiled" problem! Just starting out on the dulcimer with an hourdrop all-walnut model by Warren May that I bought from him last year: 6.5 fret present (as I think all his models have now), currently tuned to DAD. I then fell in love last week with an hourglass poplar model with a lot of green color, absolutely beautiful. It's currently being finished up in his workshop; admittedly an impulsive purchase which now leads to my questions ;)

Obviously I'm a novice and barely know what I'll end up needing/liking. That being said, how do I best take advantage of having two dulcimers by same luthier, each with a 6.5 fret, 4 strings, same length/size, different woods and different shapes? I know the woods will have different warmth/brightness, etc. Maybe keep the poplar in DAA? I'm interested in noter/drone playing although also joining a club nearby. Any thoughts appreciated! I'm quite probably over-thinking this as I don't have the second dulcimer in my hands yet!

PS: every time I need to restring, I wistfully think about some day having a flat-headed one 😉