Mountain Dulcimer: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Buying a mountain dulcimer involves fewer decisions than most instruments, but the wrong choice can discourage a beginner or frustrate a more experienced player. Here is what actually matters and what you can safely ignore.

New or Used?

A used mountain dulcimer from a reputable maker is often the best value, particularly at the entry level. Dulcimers hold up well if stored properly, and a well-made second-hand instrument will outperform a budget new one. Check the neck joint, the nut and saddle (should be intact, no cracks), and the frets (should be level with no sharp ends). Play every fret on the melody string and listen for buzzes or dead spots.

Wood and Construction

Solid wood produces richer tone and improves with age; laminate is more robust in varying humidity. For a first mountain dulcimer, a solid spruce or solid walnut top on laminate back and sides is the practical sweet spot: you get tonal benefit where it matters most (the soundboard) without the additional fragility or cost of full solid construction.

Common tonewoods: walnut (warm, full-bodied), cherry (bright, clear), maple (focused, articulate), spruce (clear, responsive). All are fine choices — the differences are subtle and a matter of personal preference once basic quality is met.

String Count: Three or Four?

Three-string instruments are the traditional choice. Four-string models, which typically double either the melody or bass string, are louder and somewhat fuller in sound. For a beginner, three strings is the simpler starting point. For players who want more volume or a rounder sound, four strings is worth exploring.

What to Spend

Entry-level mountain dulcimer instruments from reputable makers start around £150–£200. In this range, McSpadden (USA), Backpacker (USA), and Folkcraft are names worth seeking out. The £200–£400 range delivers meaningfully better build quality, more attractive tonewoods, and better hardware. Above £400, you enter luthier territory — instruments made individually by skilled craftspeople, often available direct from the maker. If folk music is a long-term interest, saving for the mid-range is worthwhile from the start.

What to Ignore

Decorative features — inlays, exotic woods, fancy tuning pegs — are irrelevant to how an instrument sounds or plays. Focus on playability (frets level, action comfortable at the nut and saddle), sound quality (resonant, clear, no buzzes), and build quality (solid joints, straight neck). For common errors buyers make, common mistakes to avoid is worth reading before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions