Just starting out, have a question

Hello all! Just starting out with the dulcimer and have linked up with a local club that (I expect) will play mostly fingerdancing/chording style. I have a walnut dulcimer by Warren May that I love, and I also have another poplar one he's currently finishing up. My question is this:

So far I'm very much enjoying noter-drone style (playing on my own) although I'd like to keep my options open in terms of instruments in order to play in a variety of styles. Given I'll have a second instrument soon (poplar, 4 string, scroll head, Kentucky body, 6.5 fret), what would be a good approach to investigating noter-drone style?

Thinking I'll keep my walnut one in DAD and ready for all situations (such as the group I've joined).

As far as the poplar instrument I'm waiting for-

Removing one of the melody strings?

Tune to DAA?

The 6.5 fret is already installed and can't be changed.

Thanks for listening to be rookie questions!