Jerry-  I know you posted this query about your Geoffrey Johnson Dulcimer 2 years ago but I'm just getting around to finding it.  I also have a Johnson made dulcimer.  I once posted a question (on this Forum) asking if anyone knew who the maker was or anything about the slightly weird looking beasts.  Within minutes it occurred to me to look deep into the belly and I saw a maker's certificate(?) with the Johnson name.  Couldn't really find out much about the maker and why he made the tail piece so long.  You can't find a dulcimer case on the market to fit it in.  Rifle cases, yes, but not dulcimer cases.  I've got several other dulcimers I take out into public to play but my Geoffrey Johnson dulcimer stays home all the time.

John's given you a good start.  You can also plug the VSL into the Strothers String Gauge Calculator along with the desired open note to determine reasonable gauges.   Tom & Missy Strothers | String Choice

One reason that that instrument might not be so great sounding is that the square area the soundholes seems a bit less than would be common, and there are no holes in the upper bout

I have not heard of Mr Johnson, but I would go by the VSL (distance between the inside of nut and inside of bridge) to make a determination, at least to start out, anyway.  My dulcimers usually have long VSLs (27"- 28"), and I use .012" plain steel for the first and second strings, and .022" wound for the drone.  Nice looking dulcimer.

Hi there!  Have any of you had a Geoffrey R. Johnson dulcimer?  If so, what string gauges did you use?  The one I recently acquired is oak and spruce, gold plated tuners, extended "foot" that I know is common in his instruments.  Not a particularly great sounding dulcimer, but well crafted and pretty good looking!

updated by @jerry-posner: 04/07/24 11:43:13AM