Much to my amazement, this dulcimer is actually largely in tune. The only fret that is a few cents shy is #1. I learned from a friend of mine that his later dulcimers that have the zero fret have a higher incidence of variable fret (mis?)placement. So when I got this one (from the Goodwill) I fully expected some frets to be out to tune or at least not equaltemper, but this one is pretty darn close.

I have a similar Jeffreys from the early 70s, hardly played. Looks very much the same and I have always assumed spruce.

Redwood and red fir are sometimes used in dulcimers, but more often on the west coast it would seem. They also age to look very much like cedar. Your close up pic looks very white/yellow not brown or even honey coloured. With that wide grain, I'd plump for spruce/pine.

Lovely dulcimer whatever it's made from! Is yours out on the 1st and 3rd frets, even when tuned 1:5:5?

Thanks for the information Dave, very interesting. It's fairly soft actually, demonstrated by a fair amount of dings in the top. Although...I ding my spruce things all the time too, so not sure that it means anything.

Thinking aloud and typing.

Definitely softwood looks 'piney'

Wide growth rings suggest low level fast growth.

Very reminiscent of Balkan pine, Norway Pine or as called in USA Minnesota Red.

All the resinous Firs Pines Spruces etc will darken with age oxidation.

Good 'Clear' timber [few defects] indicates careful selection.

Looks a little dry ... would probably benefit from an oil treatment.

Wonder if there is any smell?

Here is a composite picture of dulcimer top and an untreated clear Balkan Red Pine

Similar???? Excuse my ramblings!

Spruce (I think)

Robert, would love to see a picture of your Jeffreys!

Kevin, I thought it was a new wood type! :) I suspect it may be spruce but if ya'll don't know neither do I!! It looks very similar to my sitka spruce topped guitars.

Made my comment being half asleep, meant Western Red Cedar.

Western Red Cedar or aged Sitka spruce.

Cheryl , looks like western red spruce to me.

It does look like oxidized spruce or even redwood (but I don't know if anyone made dulcimer out of that). It is a vertical straight grain without any figuring. Surprised some of the luthiers haven't posted. Maybe you should post over in dulcimer making group?

It's not spruce?