Design Your Own Folkcraft® Resonator Dulcimer

Every new Folkcraft instrument becomes my FC favorite!😂. I have a number of resonator instruments from guitars to Ukes and now a great walnut dulcimer! The build quality is outstanding as is the tone and playability! Thanks Richard!

This is a really cool dulcimer. I choose to have it made fully chromatic. It has a unique sound that just begs you to play some blue (or old hymns). You can slide some, even with the strings set to “low”. Setting them in “high” position makes the instrument just like a dobro. I play it mostly in “low” position because I mostly work with chords and strumming. But the instrument offers something for everyone- as long as you like that “Deep South” resonator sound.

I now have 2 reso’s. A standard plus 1.5 and a chromatic. I play the chromatic in our church group. We’ve done several gigs at community centers and nursing homes and each time more than 1 person asks about the resonators. And - I sound good with multiple guitars and other instruments and the resonator projects a wonderful sound.

WOW - This HI-LO nut is absolutely genius. You get 2 completely different instruments in 1. Playing in the HI position, you have a dobro (get a tone bar for it) or if you got the pickup - a lap steel guitar!!! Playing in the LO position you get a surprisingly comfortable 23” VSL which really feels good on my hands (and I got it fretted chromatically). The sound from the resonator cone is a very pleasant and almost electric sound. Hearing different resonator guitar models, sometimes you get a very unlikeable clunky metal sound, that is not at all what this is!! It’s really nice.
Photos and a VIDEO of me playing it in the HI position below using a tone bar.
I haven’t put this down in the few days I’ve had it so far, and I’ve even already taken it to our church practice and played with 3 guitars and you can hear it so much better now!!

I received my Resonator Dulcimer a few weeks back. I love it. It is a beautiful instrument. The tone and sustain are amazing. I can play along side a guitar and I can be heard...strumming chords or picking out melody or instrumental breaks. I played at a small performance last night along side a guitar and another fellow Folkcraft MD and all agreed the blending of the instruments mixed with our different playing style (guitar strumming, MD picking melody and chords, and me on the Resonator finger picking notes and chords "banjo style")...sounded great. I had a small learning curve as my old MD didn't have a 1 1/2 fret...but I feel I have overcame that and love having the fret. (No more capo for me!!). I still have not progressed to raise to the higher action for "sliding", but I can't wait to realize what all "Darling" can do! Richard built a great instrument and was awesome to work with. It is true this instrument is a little higher than the standard MD...but it is worth it for its versatility. It still has a nice pretty sound (varies depending on how close to the resonator you pick). I can play bare finger (no picks) if in small setting or with MD's only (so I don't drown them out)...or I can play with picks and hold my own with the guitar/mandolin, etc. Of course...I had the Fishman Pickup put on my mine but I haven't had a chance to use that yet....but...maybe tomorrow night at "open mic night"?? Thank you Richard and Folkcraft for a new lifetime investment. Five Stars!!