I bought a dulcimer.
I play guitar and banjo already and for a while now, I’ve been smitten with the sweet sound of the dulcimer. With winter coming, I feel it’s the appropriate time to pick up a new instrument. I searched everywhere in town, to no avail. People at music shops sort of laughed and said, “No, but I can order you one…” I checked at pawn shops. I was surprised at the number of people who know what a dulcimer is- yet had never actually seen one. A guy at the pawn shop said he’s only seen two come through in a decade. Either there aren’t a lot of dulcimers being played in central Montana, or dulcimer owners are reticent to give up their instruments.
I checked craigslist in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Washington and Idaho. Found a listing for one in Casper (WY) and one in Missoula (MT) and nowhere else. Neither of the dulcimer owners knew what type of wood their instrument was constructed out of. I searched online and found a number of inexpensive, mass-produced plywood models. But something about that struck me as profoundly, well, wrong. To buy such a unique, region-distinct instrument from China or Europe seemed strange. I also wanted to get something that is made with native Appalachian hardwoods. What can I say, I’m a stickler for authenticity.
I eventually found Jack Ferguson in Virginia. Since I had a surprise paycheck due to me, I felt it would be worth it to spend twice as much as I’d originally intended- and buy something made in America by a luthier who takes pride in his craft.
Yesterday, my dulcimer came in the mail and I couldn’t be happier. It’s beautiful- even prettier than the pictures led me to believe. The sound is fantastic. (This is my dulcimer! And here it is being played.) I’m already (with some amount of awkwardness) playing “Amazing Grace”. Hopefully within the next several months I’ll be able to post some videos of me playing!
Here is a fantastic resource to help you pick out a mountain dulcimer.
What a beauty.
