That's a laudable effort, Richard.  Thank you.  For many years David Lynch made a student model dulcimer that sold for around that same price point ($125).  It was made out of ply (birch or pine, I think) and had simple circles for soundholes.  I used to send newbies to him, but since he passed there has been no comparable option.  The last newcomer who joined my local group bought a practice dulcimer fretboard from Grant Olson (who calls them "stick dulcimers" and sells them for $80).

I promise that if I do contact you about a box dulcimer, it will be on behalf of a new player.

I hope this effort of yours is wildly successful!  Thank you.

--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie
updated by @dusty: 06/19/26 05:37:59PM

I am launching the Box Dulcimer Project.  The goal of the Box Dulcimer Project is to offer new players an affordable mountain dulcimer, without having to spend hundreds of dollars. I have contemplated and planned for this project for the last 10 months. Discussions with a number of dulcimer friends have yielded some helpful advice and suggestions in addition to support for the project. 

Like you, I am very interested in seeing interest in the mountain dulcimer remain alive and well, and increase over time. To promote the dulcimer, we need new players to join our number. The supply of student or introductory dulcimers of good quality at a reasonable price is limited. Many of the overseas-made cheap instruments have quality issues. By way of example of what new players may have to contend with, I recently saw the following on a well known auction/marketing website. A seller had a very nice used dulcimer from a recognized builder. The dulcimer was beautiful and appeared to be well crafted with an attractive price point. The ad stated “plays beautifully.” The picture clearly showed that the bridge was missing so the dulcimer was not playable. But a new player perhaps would not have noted the missing bridge and purchased an unplayable dulcimer from a seller who does not take returns. This is the kind of problem I hope the Box Dulcimer Project will bypass for new players.

This will be a hobby venture with limited production each year, perhaps 3-4. When one is completed, it will be offered for sale. The plan is to have no waiting lists, no special orders, and very limited inventory on hand, anticipated to be the most recent one completed and not yet sold. My early calculations suggest that I can build a dulcimer for less than $125 plus shipping to the buyer’s address.  I do anticipate the cost to vary from instrument to instrument and over time depending on supplier costs to me.
 
In a short time, I will begin to build the first dulcimer for the Box Dulcimer Project. It will be a box shaped instrument with 4 strings (double melody), 14:1 geared mechanical tuners, 26" VSL, and a 6.5 fret. Woods used will be native American woods indigenous to Appalachia (no plywood or laminates). To keep the cost reasonable, I will charge exactly what I have in the dulcimer: woods, tuners, and strings. There will be no charge for glues, sandpaper, oil finish, etc. My time is given to me and I will give my time to this project.

As I begin this project, I ask, no I BEG, those of you who already own one or more dulcimers, or who can afford a more expensive dulcimer, please do not purchase one of my Box Dulcimer Project dulcimers for yourselves just because it is economical, different, or to add to your collection. Every instrument purchased by you for yourself means ONE LESS AVAILABLE for a new player. If you would like to purchase a Box Dulcimer Project dulcimer to gift to a new player, contact me by private message for information. 

Please help me promote the Box Dulcimer Project to introduce new players to the wonderful mountain dulcimer.