Hi Jamie Howe,

I haven't actually gotten around to playing with ADAD tuning, which is a natural extension of DAD. I guess because I haven't built a sastifying 4-stringer yet.

I did build one (a 4-stringer paddlebox dulcimer) just before leaving on my anual trip to the States, but was unable to finish it before taking off. So, in September, I can tune it ADAD and let you know how I like it. This new instrument was intended as a test-bed for 4-string tunings, but it has a diatonic fret layout. (Will have to build a second onbe to test out 4-string chromatic tunings.) Likely it will end up being played D-A-dd, but there is room enough on the fretboard to have 4 equally spaced strings with 1cm string separation.

My current interests have turned to a shortened 4th string added to a 3-string stick dulcimer in the same way a 3rd sting was added to a 2-string stick dulcimer (with banjo style drum body) to create the Dulcijo. I like the idea of Clawhammer, and the shorteened string tuned high (rentrant tuning like banjos and ukulleles) allows one to do clawhammer nicely. I also have a 5-stringer paddlebox banjo design which I'd like to build this September. But, actually, I need to limit the experimental builds and hone my skills at building more recognized instruments in an attempt to learn to build something I can readily sell. The wife keeps after me about tuning my hobby into a business.

-Rand.