This reply goes off on a tangent, too. At least Jean's family kept their dulcimer inside. In 1960, I remember stopping at a General Store/butcher shop in Galax, Virginia. There was a row of teardrop-shaped dulcimers hanging up outside under the eaves on the north side of the building. It was raining at the time. Nobody rushed outside to "save" the dulcimers from the elements.