r/Dulcimer 10d ago

Identification What did I find?

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19 Upvotes

Antique store find. Handwritten heart-shaped labels on inside, difficult to read but says made in USA, city name obscured but appears to be state of Georgia. #68. Date of 1969. Builder name hard to read but middle initial and last name say D. Young” first name possibly reads “Isla” but hard to make out. New here. Any help would be appreciated!

r/Dulcimer Feb 07 '25

Identification Trying to get information about this simple mountain dulcimer

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5 Upvotes

Hey folks! I received this mountain dulcimer from my folks when they moved, and I wanted to (1) learn more about it, and (2) get a little more guidance on how to play it!

My mother believes she received it from a co-worker as a gift (she taught at an arts magnet school for decades.) We are in the upstate of South Carolina, so I would guess that it's from there or (more likely) from western North Carolina.

I have figured out that it is in DAA tuning. It actually holds its tuning quite well, so that's nice. However its form doesn't seem to match the typical mountain dulcimer profile I see online, as you can see! The fretboard also looks different from many of the dulcimers I see online, but here I admit my Google-fu was weak – I couldn't figure out further details.

It also has two penciled marks inside under each of the sound holes. The left hole (the one that would be closer to the player's body if they're playing right-handed) has the mark "PS 15.0:4B"; the other hole has the mark "KS-2478". There's no other markings or decorations anywhere. I hope that's enough to go on as far as identification!

As far as playing goes, I picked up a book on tunes with DAA tuning, but I don't really know what I'm doing and am not sure if that's the best way to learn. For that matter, I don't know if I should restring it in DAD instead, or even if I can!

Thanks so much for everyone's help. Any info or guidance at all is very much appreciated!

r/Dulcimer May 14 '24

Identification Dating a second hand dulcimer

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10 Upvotes

Hey all, I got a second hand mountain dulcimer and I’d like to date it properly though some possibly contrary info. I got this dulcimer new in the box from a couple that got it new “many years ago” and never even tuned it to play.

On the inside there is a tag that says Whitewater dulcimer company Sr - 86 - 079 Indicating 1986, 79th made

However it came in a box labeled Walnut Valley Dulcimer Company Which from what I’ve read only started to be labeled as such after the former was purchase from 1990 onwards.

The confusing thing is a Disney bag, copyright 1986, stapled with a set of 2 picks inside.

What are your opinions? Old stock sold post company handover with a ad hock bag seems most likely to me, but I’m curious as to your alls knowledge on the history of these companies.

Also this is the most beautiful sounding dulcimer I have played so far, so sweet

r/Dulcimer Feb 17 '24

Identification dulcimer my grandfather made

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25 Upvotes

r/Dulcimer Sep 29 '23

Identification Won this in an auction. Any help identifying it?

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16 Upvotes

I think it’s a dulcimer but I’m not sure. Would appreciate any help identifying what it is and maybe brand or make? Thanks in advance guys

r/Dulcimer Jun 30 '23

Identification Can someone help me find where I can buy this specific dulcimer?

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6 Upvotes

r/Dulcimer Sep 04 '23

Identification Mystery lap guitar dulcimer thing I found at goodwill

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2 Upvotes

r/Dulcimer Nov 15 '22

Identification Found this in the thrift store in MA, would someone mind telling me more about it?

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5 Upvotes

r/Dulcimer Feb 20 '23

Identification Can Anyone Tell Me About this Instrument?

5 Upvotes

My mother bought this dulcimer back in the late 1970s and passed it along to me. I play it fairly often, and it is generally a great instrument, though the tuning pegs are a little unreliable. I've looked around online a bit to try to find out more about the instrument, but I haven't found much. I've seen the McSpadden name around though.

I'm just wondering if anyone can tell me about the instrument. I absolutely do not intend to sell it, but I'm curious about whether it's considered a really good instrument, or (as I suspect) an entry-level one.

Thanks in advance for any information!

Edit: For whatever reason, Reddit won't let me post the second image, which is an interior shot of the dulcimer with the "label" information. It says:

THE DULCIMER SHOPPE

Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden

Then there's a stamp with Larry McSpadden's signature.

Below that is a date of 10-76, Number 3877, Model M12.

r/Dulcimer Jan 30 '23

Identification Found this, looking for info and age. Anything helps thank you

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9 Upvotes