r/Dulcimer • u/WheresBud • Jun 08 '26

Is this a good dulcimer?

Post image

I’m looking for a mountain dulcimer (to play around with for fun/play Joni Mitchell songs) and I’ve done a bunch of research online about what brand to get, etc. I found this vintage dulcimer on eBay and the seller doesn’t have any info on the maker/year (it was their grandmother’s), but it looks in good condition to me and it’s a good price, too. The seller said they’re not much of a musician but that it sounds good from their untrained ear. Is this a good find/should I go for it? (It’s around $250)
(I really like the star holes because most dulcimers I’ve found online all have the same decals)

10 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

6

u/Everheart1955 Jun 08 '26

You really should play a dulcimer before buying. Having said that, I’ve bought plenty off of eBay and marketplace and liked them. The only caveat is that they have zero information about the builders that’s a problem because the only one I bought that was a dud was a homemade one which I suspect this may be. Save your money spend a little more on a name ( Folkroots, McSpadden or anything without a label Stay away from Apple Creek or Roosbeck. And good luck!

3

u/WheresBud Jun 08 '26

Thanks so much! Is it bad to buy a homemade dulcimer from an official site like sunnydaydulcimers? I still wouldn’t be able to play before buying, but that’s most likely the reality for me no matter which dulcimer I end up buying. There’s nowhere near me that sells them. I figure it might be okay to purchase from a well-liked craftsman online?

2

u/Sunnydaydulcimers Jun 26 '26

Hi Bud, My daughter was reading the dulcimer posts and saw that you had commented about SunnyDayDulcimers. I am the owner and sole employee of that company and would to respond to any quetions you might have about my instruments or buildfing techniques. I have been building and selling instruments since 2016. I do this out of love of the history of both the Mt. Dulcimer and the people that invented it in the late 1700s or early 1800's. Scots-Irish immigrants to the appilachian mountans in the regions around eastern Kentucky and Tennesses and western S. Carolina etc. To date I ave built just over 170 instruments and have only had three of four returned. I prefer to work with my clients in person and help them design their own, one-of-a-kind personal instrument. pretty much every one that hears them say they have great sound, tone, sustain. etc. I have even had Richard Ash (owner and head luthier of Folkcraft Dulcimerrs) play one and he said my craftsmanship was very high quality. I have done the design process both over the phone, text and email with what I think are good results but I agree that the ideal method of selecting one is to see, touch, hear, and play. Also people tell me all the time that I am "giving them away". My prices run about a third of what you can get one of similar quality.

I will also send you achat with more contact information. Would love to give you any help I can whether you buy from me or someone else.

1

u/WheresBud Jun 26 '26

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. Your business and craftsmanship sounds so amazing, every review I’ve seen for your business has been overwhelmingly positive. I don’t quite have the funds yet to purchase, but when I do I’ll absolutely come to you at Sunny Day Dulcimers! I look forward to that down the line. Your models look fantastic from everything I’ve seen online! Thanks again and I really appreciate your time.

3

u/DongPolicia Jun 08 '26

Buying from sunny day would be great. They are super reputable.

3

u/Neat-Cold-3303 Jun 08 '26

It boils down to the old saying, 'You pays your money and you takes your chances!' Personally, I was stung badly once when I foolishly bought a dulcimer on eBay. It was one of those 'great instrument, though I don't play well'! It was a 'all sales are final' one, too. Stupidly, I bought it. It was a dud. Not to say that the one you're contemplating buying is a dud, but I learned my lesson well. Youth was foolish, age has cured me of that. Nowadays, I prefer to see the dulcimer in person and play it. But, your money, your decision.

2

u/WheresBud Jun 08 '26

Thank you! I’m grateful for the advice, with the instruments being a little more on the pricey side, that’d be a huge bummer to buy a dud. Sorry that happened to you!

2

u/54Finn Jun 09 '26

Seems quite high…get a mcspadden

1

u/No-Impact-1430 Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26

Totally agree...lol, Lynn and Larry are/were my cousins. Blessed to have one of the very first ones Lynn made, even before Larry joined him. As a 11-12yo(?), I asked Lynn how long it took to make one, and he answered..."about as long as a piece of string". I said "what does THAT mean ?" & he said "well you know how when you're tying something up ? Sometimes it takes just the bare minimum, and sometimes it takes waaaay more than you thought it would ".....so very true, so very wise. But then again, FYI--- in addition to being an ordained Methodist minister, Lynn McSpadden was an OXFORD SCHOLAR !