Hondo dulcimers were pretty good 'offshore' instruments.  I've seen and played a number of them.  That strange head with it's divots with pins to given the strings a good clean break on a straight stick, was a signature item which some other copied, and others should have done (!).  They had pretty decent action height IIRC.  A great instrument for a beginner player, and something you can experiment with Wally!

updated by @ken-hulme: 05/07/23 09:48:59PM