Which Mountain Dulcimer Should I Buy?
We've built mountain dulcimers since 1968, and this is the question we hear most. The good news: there's no wrong answer. Every dulcimer we make is handmade from solid woods in our Rock, Michigan wood shop, and every one is a pleasure to play. The right one depends on the sound you love, how you'll play, and your budget.
The short answer: if you're just getting started, we usually recommend the FolkRoots® H Series. It has a big, full, forgiving sound and room to grow. Play it for a year or two, and when you're ready, we'll help you design the perfect Folkcraft Custom Series dulcimer.
1. Choose the sound: Kentucky or California body
This matters more than anything else.
- Kentucky body (about 7" wide, 1 3/4" sides): a sweet, delicate, more subdued tone, like the dulcimers of the Ohio River Valley in the early 1900s. Lovely for playing solo, singing along and playing at home. Our FSH Series uses it.
- California body (about 8" wide, 2 1/4" sides): more power, more punch and a more mellow, guitar-like tone. Great for jams and playing with other instruments. Our FolkRoots D and H Series use it.
Our Custom Series comes in both body sizes. As we like to put it: if you want the prettiest, most refined tone, get the Folkcraft Custom Series. If you want the loudest sound, get one of the FolkRoots models.
2. Choose your model and budget
| Model | Body | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FolkRoots® D Series | California | The loudest sound at the lowest price | $1,095 |
| Folkcraft® FSH Series | Kentucky | A sweet, traditional tone | $1,195 |
| FolkRoots® H Series | California | Beginners; the D's big sound plus a flat head and ebony fretboard | $1,295 |
| Folkcraft® Custom Series | Kentucky or California | The most refined tone and every option | $1,695 |
Want one now? Our Ready to Ship page has finished instruments that leave our shop in 1 to 3 business days. Custom builds take about three to four months.
3. Standard, baritone or bass?
Most players start with a standard dulcimer, tuned DAD. A baritone is tuned four notes lower (AEA) for a deeper, warmer voice, and a bass is a full octave lower. We can string any of our dulcimers as a standard, baritone or bass. More in Standard vs. Baritone vs. Bass.
4. Choose a scale length that fits your hand
Scale length (VSL) is the distance the strings vibrate, from the nut to the bridge. We offer 23" to 29". About 75 percent of our players choose 25", and most of the rest choose 26" or 27". Choose by hand size and comfort, not tone: the difference in tone between lengths is negligible. See how to choose the right scale length.
5. Get the "extra" frets
We strongly recommend the 6 1/2 and 1 1/2 frets. Nearly every modern dulcimer has the 6 1/2, and 95 percent of the instruments we build include the 1 1/2. They make it much easier to play in more keys and to follow today's songbooks. See how to pick a fret pattern.
6. Pick the woods you love
Every wood sounds good, and all of ours are solid woods. Black walnut with a butternut top is our most popular combination. If you want the loudest possible dulcimer, ask us about cherry with a Sitka spruce top in a teardrop shape. Our woods guide explains how each one looks and sounds.
Something different?
- LAP-JO®: plays like a mountain dulcimer, sounds like a banjo.
- DulciVox®: a guitar-braced dulcimer with a wide body for extra volume and sustain.
- Six-string: three doubled courses for extra power and sustain.
- Double neck: two fretboards for two tunings on one instrument.
- Courting dulcimer: two fretboards facing each other, so two people can play together.
What comes with every Folkcraft dulcimer
- Handmade, one at a time, from solid woods in Rock, Michigan
- A carrying case and strap buttons
- A five-year warranty
Still not sure? Call us at (317) 539-1855, weekdays 8 to 4 Eastern. We're happy to talk it through, or you can browse all our models. More answers are in our Dulcimer Guide.