Thanks Greg! I have a standard BL (also custom) that is an amazing instrument - love it. But I would like the longer scale, slimmer body, for my noter/drone. Yes, it's hard to find a used BL :-)

Jill, good luck in your search for a Jean Ritchie model Blue Lion.  I presently own two Blue Lion dulcimers, a Jean Ritchie model and an Acoustic Jam Baritone model, both were customized to have a single melody string and only three strings total.  I had to wait several months until my name came up on the build list, but they are exceptional instruments and well-worth the wait.  Blue Lion dulcimers are greatly valued by their owners and are seldom available as used instruments.  If you find one available used, don't hesitate in purchasing it.  It won't be for sale for long.

@cheryl-johnson Those are two really lovely instruments!

I'm looking for a Jean Ritchie BL dulcimer to purchase. Maybe someone on this thread knows of one for sale?  (needs to be a non-smoker, please. I bought a dulcimer years ago from a smoker and the fingerboard was horrendous - could never get the odor out of it :-(

Thank you!

Congratulations on your new BL Sharna! I love my Jean Ritchie model...I think it has an even better tone than my rosewood BL....very sweet as you said.

Robin,

You have to add dings to your dulcimers.....adds character and makes it your own! :) I just put a good ding in my Martin taking it out of the case and banging into my quilt frame...grrrrr.

Here are my BL dulcimers...Jean Ritchie on left

Blue Lion makes great instruments!I came-by my Jean Ritchie model used and, like yours, Sharna, it was in mint condition. I've since put a ding in its top. ;)

I recently purchased a blue lion type 1. I know it is not the Jean Ritchie, but it is sweet. I own a number of instruments and this is my favorite.

Hello Kathy,Have never played that particular model Blue Lion-- but do have 2 blue lions. One is the rosewood/cedar one with the single rose inlay & brass inserts. Don't think that model is offered anymore-- but it is a wonderful dulcimer. It's my lucky dulcimer :) and have the Robert Force model 6 string Blue Lion. It is also a dulcimer of great beauty and sound-- was just playing it on the front porch the other day and it's sweet voice attracted a hummingbird :)Don't think you can go wrong with a Blue Lion :)Best wishes,Mary Z Cox

Hi Kathy,

Came across this discussion in my search for information about the BL Jean Ritchie Model. I'm wondering if you ever got that dulcimer?? This discussion was a while back...and was a story with no ending! :(

What a beautiful abalonie shell

Wow. Wow.

Kathy,

You'll get a beautiful, high-quality instrument in your choice of a Blue Lion. And please feel free to give us any updates in how all progresses!

Robin

I didn't comment earlier as I have no experience with the Jean Ritchie model. I have owned a Blue Lion for about twelve years and love it (Model IIRC). Blue Lion makes great instruments. I am sure that the Jean Ritchie model equals the high standards of their other models.

I'm not on line every day, so this is the first I've seen the discussion.

I don't have a Jean Ritchie style, but I do own 2 Blue Lions. One is a tear drop walnut and the other is a custom hour glass in rosewood.

Janita Baker was good at helping me get the dulcimer that I wanted. She also gently questioned me when I was making requests that weren't in my own best interests.

I love her instruments. Easy to play, a pleasure to listen to and great looking, especially for a traditionalist like me.

Bob, I can only recall knowing of one other person who has a Jean Ritchie model BL.

As far as quality of instrument goes, a Blue Lion is of high quality. I know of one well-respected luthier who, when building his own personal instrument, sent a piece of it to Janita Baker (of Blue Lion) so she could do his inlay work.

Kathy was asking about a particular model of the Blue Lion dulcimers. Not all of us have experience with that particular model. I owned a Blue Lion once for a short while many years ago. I didn't find the sound right for me so I sold it. But it wasn't one of the Jean Ritchie models.

bob atkinson said:

When glancing at this thread while passing by, I didn't realize that Kathy doesn't live in the US. We Americans are rather clueless about making such assumptions. My apologies!!

Blue Lion dulcimers have an excellent reputation here in the US. Whatever dulcimer you might get from them Kathy is sure to be very well made, will have a good sound and be smooth to play, and will retain its value for resale as well.

I'm not really sure what makes the jean Ritchie model different from Blue Lion's other models though.

Are you choosing the Jean R. model for a particular reason?- to fill a particular playing need, or just because you like the looks of it? (either are good reasons of course).

Is there anything unusual about your playing style or your situation that effects your playing choices? things like arthritis, tiny hands, wanting to play chords or not, whether you play with a noter, etc?

Do you know how long a scale (VSL) the Jean Ritchie model has? That could be an important thing, depending.

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Kathy,

I own a Blue Lion Jean Ritchie model. I, luckily, came by it used though in like-new condition. And the instrument was a custom order so is not exactly what you will see on the Blue Lion website. I play noter-drone style music on it and like its ease of play. For fit and finish, the quality of the instrument is very very good.

A photo of my BLJRitchie dulcimer can be seen here:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/photo/blue-lion-jean-ritchie-model?context=user

The dulcimer can be seen & heard on the videos of Old Joe Clark , Spotted Pony , and Arkansas Traveler from my FOTMD page here:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/profile/RobinThompson

Hope this helps, Kathy! If you have specific questions, I'm happy to answer them as best as I can.