Those two are our best Appalachian Ambassadors! Highly respected on both sides of The Pond. I hope to meet them some day.
Any Thoughts On This Dulcimer, Please ?
I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. He was very helpful and patient with a newcomer like me. I have also spoken with John Henry. He was great and the two of them have shown me what a friendly forum this is.
Five strings is not an uncommon arrangement; several builders make them.
Talk to Robin Clark at Birdrock Dulcimers there in Snowdonia. He's building some instruments, and has a couple models made here in the US specifically for his shop.
I have asked the seller and he says that he has no idea of the woods or the manufacturer. I thought that the five tuners might have been recognised by somebody. Now, I think I will buy a newly made one. I have been lucky enough to have spoken with two very knowledgeable members here and I am inclined to buy a dulcimer which has been specifically made for DAA tuning. I would keep my McSpadden in DAD. Two dulcimers is not too many, especially when most of you here seem to have about fifteen.
Nothing "wrong" with homemade as long as the fret spacing is accurate. That could be an attempt to "bookmatch" planks on the back; but we normally do that with the splice down the center of the instrument, not off to the side. It may be worth sending a question to the buyer, if there's time and the price is reasonable.
It could well be homemade and as has been already mentioned, there could be a crack in the back of it so I will not be bidding for it. Thank you.
It looks like a homemade instrument to me.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
There are no labels, unfortunately, and the item is for sale in the UK on eBay so I cannot tell if there are any cracks.
No label inside the rear soundholes? That's a real "generic" design; nothing really to distinguish it. Is that a crack on the back, or a joint between two pieces?
updated by @ken-hulme: 02/11/18 09:57:59AM
This instrument has five tuners so I do not think it is of Eastern European or Asian manufacture. Does anybody have any idea of who the manufacturer would be, please ?
