There are many players these days however who look for and love the traditional style of dulcimer and dulcimer playing style. Personally, I hope this beautiful dulcimer remains just the way it is without being 'modernized' (geared tuners installed and extra frets added). There will be someone to cherish it and play it in the old way.
Jud, if you are thinking about your kids dealing with it, consider tucking in a little note with the instrument explaining a few things about it that you have learned. Just a paragraph or two, would be so helpful to your kids in the future, and would help steer the dulcimer in the right direction in the future.

Most current day mountain dulcimer players are more interested in an instrument which is built to play chords and or finger pick. Jeremy's dulcimers from the era of the '80's were better for noter drone style playing, or sometimes called traditional style playing. It is a lovely instrument.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Yes, it's simple and elegant! It seems like this style of dulcimer is not really an in-demand instrument for playing, so I'll likely hang on to it in case I ever bump into someone local who knew Jeremy and may appreciate its vector through the universe. Worst case (or best case if I'm doing the math right) in 40 years my kids can deal with it when they clean out my house! 😜

What a gorgeous instrument!  

It's lovely! I'm amazed that it is in perfect/new condition after over 40 years. I'm thinking it deserves a case, if even just a cheap cardboard or padded gig case.

Hello, Jud, that is a very nice example of Jeremy's dulcimer building. He made for traditional styles of playing as he did not include a 6 1/2 fret on most of his instruments. There are two things that make this dulcimer unappealing to modern players; the lack of that fret and friction tuners. I would not like to see it changed as it is such a fine example of his work. Also, Jeremy is not well known as a dulcimer builder outside of the northeastern US. As to a selling price, I hesitate to offer one. If you put it in an auction, it could go for perhaps $300 or more. As a straight sale, I would guess maybe $150 to $200. 

Oh, and by the way, those little blocks are fine tuners.

I hope this helps and gives you something to think about.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

PS - If you send me your contact information via a private message here, I know of someone who might be interested in this dulcimer. Thanks.

Greetings from a snowy Vermont. I just joined this forum to get some advice on selling a dulcimer that I recently re-discovered while cleaning out the family home for my aging parents. Thank you for the warm welcome upon my joining.

The dulcimer has a backstory, which I’ll share here:

In the late 70’s and early 80’s our family used to take a vacation in Hancock, VT for a week every summer, renting the house of a family friend. Every year there was always some new “Vermonty” experience to be discovered. We came home with fly fishing rods one year, new jackknives for whittling another year, and in 1981, a beautiful handmade dulcimer.

The dulcimer purchase stands out in my memory because we had to navigate our station wagon up a steep and curvy dirt road to a rustic home where we were met by a bearded, bespectacled man named Jeremy who invited us in. My Dad, a corporate-type guy, had been romanced by the simplicity and beauty of the instrument while in VT. I wasn't privy to the transaction, but the dulcimer came home with us to western NY to be explored for about 2 weeks before it took up residence on top of the equally unused piano for the next 40+ years.

I rediscovered it while paring down my aging parents’ belongings. The label inside the dulcimer was handwritten and confirmed my memory that a man named Jeremy had built it. It also revealed his last name, Seeger. With a little research on the web, I learned of Jeremy’s lifetime of dedication to the instrument and also that he had sadly passed away in 2023 (otherwise, I would have reached out to him first, as I currently live about 1/2 hour from Hancock.)

While this dulcimer does have some sentimental value, I’m content with having the memories. I would like to find it a new home where it will be appreciated and played as intended when it was first crafted.

I’d love opinions from this community on a fair selling price and welcome inquiries from potential buyers. I will happily donate back to the forum upon sale.

The dulcimer is with me in Vermont. It does not have a case, but I am wiling to work with a buyer to coordinate safe and secure shipping. I replaced the strings just to keep the little blocks by the bridge from falling off (they probably have a name that I don't know!)

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments and questions.

Jud