Fatcat,  the video's only missing the washboard, which was kind of awkward to play, and didn't really improve the sound compared to the others.  If you want to make one cheap, the wood siding was very inexpensive at Home Depot, and you can cut it to whatever size you want. Then glue 2 little U-shaped pieces of wood to the base, lining them up with the top of the neck and the tailpiece (as I found out from the feedback below).

Advantage of the ironing board is you can take your iron along with your dulcimer, and press a few shirts and such between sets.

I'm not sure exactly where the dulcimer hits on the chair arms Greg, but it sure amplifies the sound, and I would have thought that the leather would mute it, but instead seems to exactly reproduce the sound the dulcimers make anyway, only louder. I mean to say the tone still rings true. The ironing board is quite a his Greg. You've done it chap! No one needs spend the big money on those fancy possum boards. Video coming right up...Lazy Girl etc.

Cynthia- Hmm, I may have to give my wife another ironing board for Mother's Day! I like the Lazyboy "board" concept though-- it allows for both comfort AND style ! Ken, I'll have to try moving the one support from the neck to the headstock. I wasn't too concerned about precise placement as some postings suggested just laying your dulcimer on a tabletop or a piece of plywood would improve the sound. The possum board was also better protection against accidentally launching the dulcimer across the room than the lapcloth.

I think the point of this is to show that using a possum board gives more "ooommph" to the sound. I never play without one. The most important things is to make sure no part of the board or supports touches the back, but only supports on the head and tail stock. It if touches the back it will "kill" some of the sound by not allowing the full back to vibrate.

I find the ironing board a very mellow sound in particular, and seems to spread it out well. Next I would vote for the washboard, last the real possum board you made, fact is it sounded better to me without it. Don't know exactly how to describe, and I'm only on a little Macbook. As I said, unless I need more volume, I won't use want, want the plain dulcimer sound. You want a fun sound Greg? Get in you Lazyboy and put the dulcimer on the arms. That's my #1 best sound I get...just love it. You're fun, glad you're with us!

Just playing and listening here, the boards did seem to have a bit fuller sound, and the strums seemed to resonate a little longer before fading. What difference did you hear, Cynthia? [Your ear and/or sound system are probably better than mine ]

I hear a lot of difference, and am a real fan of the ironing board. I have a small one upstairs and am going to go try it. I only use one playing out where it is noisy, other than that I just want the sound of the dulcimer alone. Thanks for doing this though.

Good idea Greg, but I didn't hear much difference either.

Maybe Patty is right it sounds different to your ears in the room.

Couldn't hear a whole lot of difference on playback-- maybe it's my low-tech recording equipment. Not much difference between the 3 boards, perhaps a subtle difference between board & no board (but my amp still beats the possum board for loudness potential. ). Nope, no feet on my dulcimer. The washboard really didn't line up well-- too bad, I was kind of hoping I could figure out a way to play both without needing a third hand