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Catalog > Stringed Instruments updated January 27, 2012
Hammered Dulcimers Dusty Strings hammered dulcimers

Article: How to Choose a Hammered Dulcimer

Dusty Strings

Accessories:
cases
stands
hammers
strings
tuning wrenches
tuning clip
instruction books


SALE: USED AND CONSIGNED HAMMERED DULCIMERS
Here's your chance to get a advanced-level instrument at a just-starting-out price! These used hammered dulcimers are in great shape -- Shop here

Some of these instruments are special order items. Please read this information on special orders.

Dusty Strings Hammered Dulcimers

Based in Washington state, Dusty Strings is well-known for producing quality hammered dulcimers with a rich tone.
All instruments come with a tuning wrench, a pair of hammers and a five-year warranty. Cases sold separately, except for Prelude and Apprentice Packages.

Prelude & D10 | D45
Chromatic Series -- D300 | D500 | D550 | D600 | D650
options | cases | stands | hammers | strings

Our discounted prices are too low to advertise here!
Please contact us or click on the "quote" button for our prices.
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Prelude package: 12 treble and 11 bass courses, blond, laminate top. Includes short and long playing legs and plush-lined chipboard case -- photos and more information
List price $525.00
Apprentice package: 12 treble and 11 bass courses, black soundboard. Includes short and long playing legs and plush-lined chipboard case -- photos and more information
List price $545.00
D10 Hammered Dulcimer
Dusty Strings' least expensive solid mahogany top instrument. 12 treble courses and 11 bass courses, natural finish -- photos and more information
List price $625.00
D45 Hammered Dulcimer
The D45 provides the dulcimer enthusiast with three octaves of sparkling, clean, and balanced sound in a 16 treble/15 bass course playing configuration. As an extra enhancement, three upper chromatic notes have been inserted to extend the chromatic range to more than two octaves, a very useful feature. Made entirely of solid woods (Sapele soundboard and back, black walnut rails, eastern maple pinblocks and bridges), this dulcimer has a deep bass that blends beautifully with its clear, even treble.

Patterned after the popular D35 model in look and sound, the D45's major difference is that it can be outfitted with dampers. This sustain control device creates a wide range of tonal effects, from the rich and complex natural voice of the undamped strings to a wonderful, wholly muted marimba-like tone with zero sustain. The dampers on the D45 can either be installed when the instrument is built, or very easily added later by the player. The D45 offers rich, full sound, overall versatility, and solid-wood elegance, all in a mid-priced instrument; a delight for any dulcimer player -- from beginning to advanced -- to own and to play. -- photos and more information
List price $925.00

Chromatic Series
(D300 | D500 | D550 | D600 | D650)

The instruments listed below are part of Dusty Strings' Chromatic Series. As of 2012, these dulcimers now feature carbon fiber reinforcing, for unparalleled tuning stability. Chromatic hammered dulcimers may be the best choice for those whose musical interests require lots of sharps and flats.

Dusty Strings Chromatic Series dulcimers are highly-regarded, sophisticated, professional-caliber instruments. This does not mean you have to be a professional to play one. Anyone whose budget and desire permits will thoroughly enjoy owning one of these models.

Time-tested and road-worthy, the Chromatic Series dulcimers have a sound quality that is unrivaled. Through their wide dynamic range, these instruments sing with articulate clarity and power at any volume level. If lush, grand piano-like bass is what you long for, look at the D600 and D650, the biggest models. On a mid-sized soundbox, the D500 and D550 offer a popular balance of rich bass and portability. The D300 is the smallest, lightest chromatic which delivers the sophisticated sound of this series in an instrument that emphasizes portability over big bass response.

The tuning scheme for the Chromatic Series is a variation of the traditional fifth-interval tuning. The chromatic notes either replace duplicated notes or are added via extra bridges. A player accustomed to the traditional tuning will find it easy to make the slight adaptation to this versatile tuning. With this capability, musical styles such as classical, ragtime, bluegrass, jazz and rock can be more thoroughly explored on the hammered dulcimer.

Add dampers to any of these models for ultimate versatility, sustain-control and fun. Because of the sustain inherent in low bass range, dampers are particularly useful and appreciated by players of the D600 and D650 models.

We normally do not stock all of these instruments, and there can sometimes be a wait on build time from Dusty Strings. Contact us for current availability.

D300
12 treble courses and 11 bass courses plus 7 left side bass courses. Fully-chromatic through 3 full octaves, natural finish, solid mahogany top. -- photos and more information
List price $1895.00
D500
16 treble courses and 15 bass courses plus 3 left side bass courses make this instrument fully chromatic through more than 3 octaves. Natural finish, solid mahogany top. -- photos and more information
List price $1995.00
D550
16 treble courses and 15 bass courses plus 8 left side bass courses. Built on the same frame as the D500, with the bass extending down to low G, this dulcimer ranges over three and one-half octaves. The added bass is lush and full and provides a lot of creative arranging options with no increase in size. -- photos and more information
List price $2195.00
D600
19 treble courses and 17 bass courses plus 6 left side bass courses. This instrument has an incredibly deep and resonant piano-like tone. Four octaves, D2 through E6, with the bottom half-octave on the left side of the instrument. Chromatic range is C3 through E6. -- photos and more information
List price $2795.00
D650
19 treble courses and 18 bass courses plus 6 left side bass courses. Dusty Strings' largest chromatic model, this instrument has an incredibly deep and resonant piano-like tone. Four and a half octaves, D2 through E6, with the bottom half-octave on the left side of the instrument. Chromatic range is C3 through E6. -- photos and more information
List price $2995.00
    Options for D10 and D45:
  • Decorative binding around soundboard -- $205.00
  • Black soundboard and decorative binding -- $285.00

    Options for D300, D500, D550, D600 and D650:

  • Black soundboard -- $100.00
  • Curly maple rails, bindings, bridges -- $250.00
  • Abalone inlay around soundhole -- $250.00
  • Abalone inlay around soundboard -- $700.00
  • Dampers -- $495.00

Hammered Dulcimer Cases

NOTE: Some hammered dulcimer makers have cases specifically for their dulcimers: however, some cases will fit more than one brand name. Please contact us for more information!

Dusty Strings cases

C10A -- Plush-lined chipboard for Prelude, Apprentice or D10 -- $80.00
C10 -- Cordura nylon, padded, soft-sided case for Prelude, Apprentice or D10 -- $110.00
C45 -- Padded, soft-sided case for PD30, D35 and D45-- $125.00
C300 -- Padded, soft-sided case for D300 -- $315.00
C500 -- Padded, soft-sided for D500 or D550 -- $345.00
C600 -- Padded, soft-sided for D600 or D650 -- $415.00

Hammered Dulcimer Stands

Folkcraft fully-adjustable oak folding stand

Non-adjustable stand: for playing while seated -- $115.00
Non-adjustable stand: for playing while standing up -- $125.00
Folkcraft fully-adjustable oak folding stand -- $195.00
(pictured at right)
Unfinished hardwood. Height set for playing while standing up, angle and height adjustable with large easy-to-turn knobs.
Dusty Strings 28-inch playing leg, straight-tapered -- $24.00
Screws into the back of any Dusty Strings dulcimer, so you can play while seated with your dulcimer in your lap.
Dusty Strings 5-inch tabletop playing leg -- $14.00
Screws into the back of any Dusty Strings dulcimer, so it sits on a tabletop at an ideal playing angle.

Dusty Strings TriStander System (pictured at right) Dusty Strings TriStander System brackets and legs
This professional quality system is fully adjustable, extremely portable, and securely holds your dulcimer in any playing situation. The black aluminum legs telescope for an adjustable length of 15-47 inches and thread into three black-finished cast-aluminum brackets which can be screwed to the back of any hammered dulcimer. Adjust the legs individually to change the tilt or level of the instrument and you are guaranteed a comfortable and secure stance, even on non-level surfaces.

Complete system -- $295.00

brackets -- $115.00
legs -- $186.00
Dusty Strings Hammers (pictured at right)
1 single-sided wood striking surface $28.00
2 single-sided leather-covered striking surface $32.00
3 Rizzetta style wood striking surface $28.00
4 Rizzetta style leather-covered striking surface $32.00
5 double-sided oval head, wood and leather $48.00
6 double-sided small hexagonal head, wood & leather $48.00
7 double-sided large hexagonal head, wood and leather $48.00
8 double-sided small heart-shaped head, felt and leather $54.00
9 double-sided
large heart-shaped head, wood and leather		 $54.00

We sometimes have other kinds of hammers in stock, such as Whamdiddle (made by Rick Fogel) and Ed Hale. Please inquire.

Tuning Wrenches

Dusty Strings star-socket tuning wrenches have 8 points created by two squares. Some people find the star sockets easier to use, but square-socket autoharp tuning wrenches usually work on dulcimers too -- see this page.
T-handle wrench with star socket (included with instrument purchase) -- $19.95
Gooseneck wrench with star socket, wood handle -- $28.95

Tuning Clip

Tune your dulcimer in the middle of a noisy crowd! Also helps for more accurate tuning even in a quiet room. Clips onto dulcimer tuning pins and plugs into your electronic tuner's 1/4-inch input. Signal Flex SF30 Tuner Pickup -- $16.95

Strings by Dusty Strings

Spare String Sets

    Prelude, Apprentice, D10 (4 gauges, 12 strings) -- $15.50
    D25 (6 gauges, 16 strings) -- $25.00
    PD30 -- $25.50
    D35/D45/Overture -- $28.00
    D260 (5 gauges, 14 strings) -- $25.50
    D300 (6 gauges, 15 strings) -- $24.00-$35.50 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D500 (5 gauges, 16 strings) -- $29.50-$33.50 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D550 (5 gauges, 16 strings) -- $32.00-$49.50 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D600 and D650 -- $49.50

Full Replacement String Sets

    Prelude, Apprentice, D10 -- $55.50
    D25 -- $82.00
    PD30 -- $48.00
    D35/D45/Overture -- $86.50
    D260 -- $86.50
    D300 -- $86.00-95.50 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D500 -- $97.00-$102.00 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D550 -- $120.50-$126.00 (depending on year of model, please let us know when you order)
    D600 -- $131.50
We also sell individual replacement strings in various gauges. Please contact us.