HMT Catalog: Used Instruments

House of Musical Traditions
7010 Westmoreland Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912
TEL: 301-270-9090
FAX: 301-270-3010
email
HOURS: 11 am - 7 pm
Tuesday through Saturday
11 am - 5 pm Sunday & Monday

Catalog > Used Instruments

updated Februaery 1, 2012

We are proud to offer a large selection of high-quality used instruments. We take great care inspecting used instruments before they get put out for sale. In almost every case, a used instrument will have been examined by one of our luthiers/repair people to check for any issues with playability. If repairs were done, we will state that in the description. Wherever possible we also try to include photos of the instrument, especially detailing any repair work.

Occasionally, we will come across an unusual and/or vintage piece that may have some playability or cosmetic issues that aren't financially feasible to address, but the item still has some collector's value and/or can be played despite the issues. In these cases, we will disclose any potential issues in the item's description, and the item will be offered "as is." However, our general policy is to only offer instruments for sale (new or used) that meet with our high playability standards. The few exceptions to this will be notated specifically.

Return Policy: We now offer a 7-day return option on nearly all instruments (including consignments). We realize that buying used instruments sight unseen is a tricky endeavor -- so especially if you are a mail order customer, you can rest assured that if you don't fall in love with an instrument, you may return it for a refund (less shipping costs). Read more about our return policy here. We do our best to describe used instruments in detail so you can make an informed purchase. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any items listed on this page. Certain "as is" items may not be returnable; this will be stated in the description.

Availability: We try to keep this page updated as frequently as possible, but there can occasionally be a lag in removing a sold instrument from this page (sometimes, instruments on this page are also listed in our eBay store). We do encourage you to contact us in advance to check availability about items on this page. If you are a mail order customer, we can also provide a shipping quote when you contact us.

Have a used instrument you need to sell? Click here!

Accordions
Autoharps
Banjos
Band Instruments
Bass
Chinese Instruments
Guitars
Hammered Dulcimers
Harps
Indian Instruments
Lap Dulcimers
Mandolins
Miscellaneous Instruments
Ukuleles
Violins
eBay auctions

Autoharps

Band Instruments

We also have a wide selection of consigned violins ranging in price from $500.00 to $1500.00. Our violin repair person Tad Marks is an expert in refurbishing used violins. Come in and try them out! Violins page

Banjos (for "Banjo-ukuleles" check out the Ukulele Section)

Guitars

German Falcon nylon string "Harmonic" guitar -- Was $900, now $600.00
Photos: full length | closeup of fret design
German Falcon is one of Peru's best-known luthiers and winner of several prizes in European guitar-building shows. The previous owner purchased this guitar (and several other high-end instruments) at Falcon's shop in Peru. www.germanfalcon.com . The body is patterned after one of the few remaining Stradivarius guitars from 1700. From Falcon's website: Different from conventional guitars, the harmonic guitar made by German Falcon is characterized by frets that are placed in accordance with the tones of a determined musical scale defined by its maker. This instrument also encompasses a segmented trunk in two parts that have an inclination with respect to the center of symmetry and a harmonic cover with two flat planes and truncated rectangular perimeter bridge. The advantage of this unprecedented invention rests in that it allows a perfect tuning, a better resonating timbre and a cushioning both in frequency and in amplitude. This characteristic allows the composer an absolute freedom in modulation, execution and improvisation, producing notes of greater precision.

Hammered Dulcimers

Lap Dulcimers

June Apple Norwegian Langeleik -- $600.00
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3
Made by Carl Gotzmer of June Apple dulcimers (based in Accokeek, MD). In a long and large rectangular box shape, this instrument is crafted as a reproduction based on travel to Norway. One string runs over a thin handcarved fretboard, four strings are full drones, and an additional three strings run over movable wooden frets. This Langeleik design features include a curved hand carved headstock, eight Grover tuning gears and four wooden "feet" to support tabletop playing. The back, sides, fretboard and headstock are walnut. The traditional "Norwegian Lyre" design is hand carved into a Western red cedar top with slightly bent steam formed sides. The langeleik has only one melody string and up to 8 drone strings. Under the melody string there are seven frets per octave, forming a diatonic major scale. The drone strings are tuned to a triad. The langeleik is tuned to about an A, though on score the C major key is used, as if the instrument were tuned in C. The combination of the lone melody string and the multiple drone strings gives the langeleik a distinctively rich sound.

Mandolins & related (octave mandolins, mandolas, bouzoukis, etc.)

Herb Taylor 10-String Cittern #79 -- $2,999.00
Photos: photo 1 | photo 2 | photo 3 | photo 4 | photo 5
Mint condition 10-string cittern made by Herb Taylor (www.herbtaylor.com/instruments). This is a long-scale (660 mm) 10 string cittern with cherry body and Sitka spruce top. The low string can be tuned to low D or down to C, making it like a mandocello with a high string. It has both an arched back and sound board, giving it a deep, rich, powerful tone. Construction features include the user-friendly bolt-on neck and X bracing of the top. The neck has a modern 2-way adjustable truss rod. Appointments include lots of Cocobolo rosewood -- for the fingerboard, head veneer, tailpiece, finger rest, bridge, etc. Decoration includes elliptical paua abalone fingerboard inlays. Gold tuners complete the rich reddish look. The finish is buffed gloss KTM-9 water based lacquer.
This is a great instrument for Celtic accompaniment or for the classical mandocello player and comes complete with a custom-made Blue Heron case.

Ukuleles

Violins

We have a wide selection of consigned violins ranging in price from $500.00 to $1500.00. Our violin repair person Tad Marks is an expert in refurbishing used violins. Come in and try them out! Violins page

Chinese Instruments -- From the collection of an esteemed Chinese ethnomusicologist

4-string Pipa with case (photo) -- $400.00
Sold As-Is -- No Returns

4-string Amoy Pipa with case (photo) -- $300.00
Sold As-Is -- No Returns

18-string (metal string) Zheng with case -- $1,000.00
Photos: photo 1 | photo 2 | photo 3
Sold As-Is -- No Returns

21-string Zheng with case -- $2,000.00
Photos: photo 1 | photo 2
Sold As-Is -- No Returns

16-string Chinese zither with case -- $300.00
Photos: photo 1 | photo 2 | photo 3
Sold As-Is -- No Returns

Call or e-mail us for more information on these consignment sales!

Miscellaneous Instruments

Indian Instruments

Call or e-mail us for more information on these consignment sales!

Still looking? Try our eBay auctions.