A mtn dulcimer in Europe

[otfiddler]

Hi people, I just joined here. I'm a Swedish oldtime music enthusiast, and I'm very interested in trying to learn to play the mountain dulcimer. The first problem is to get an instrument! It costs a lot to have one shipped from America, so, does anybody know if I can find a good dulcimer in Europe, American-made or if you know about any good builder who has some for sale, not too expensive, it's my first dulcimer, it doesn't have to be super fancy, just easy to play and with a good sound.

Does anybody know anything about the one that Hobgoblin has? I think the brand was Stoney End.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Dick Glasgow]

Hi otfiddler,

That Hobgoblin Mt D looks like the one we picked up on Ebay recently. If it is, it's OK for a complete beginner in music, perhaps, or as a wall ornament, but I wouldn't recommend it to any serious musician!

You'd be better off checking out someone like:

Matthew J. Bascetta

He looks like a good craftsman.

Does anyone here have any experience of these, or any other UK made Mountain Dulcimers?

Good Luck in your Quest!

Cheers
Dick

[alastair]

Hi otfiddler

I'm warmer towards Hobgoblin Music than Dick seems to be! The main model they stock is, I seem to remember, Blue Moon but my own Musikalia dulcimer came from their Wadebridge (Cornwall) shop a couple of weeks ago. They had at least one Hammer dulcimer and an autoharp in stock too. Google Musikalia and if you can read Italian you can check the maker's site out. Of course a factory-build won't sound the same as a luthier-crafted instrument - but hey, Yamaha and Gibson guitars ain't exactly ornamental!

Having had two guitars from Hobgoblin (an Ashbury electro-acoustic for myself and a Blue Moon - as my 10 year-old son's first full-size guitar) I can say I find them helpful to deal with (and my son's guitar teacher reckons the Blue Moon guitar is remarkable value for money).



Good luck!

Alastair

[albionmoonlight]

Hi otfidler, I looked at the Hobgoblin site and then at Stoney Mountain. The plywood D. that Hobgolin is selling for £200 Is available for $144 about £120 inc shipping & customs. I bought a TK O'Brien from prussiavalley.com which cost £210 delivered. Gary is agreat person to deal with and he takesPayPal. Hope this helps
albionmoonlight

[Dick Glasgow]

Ha Ha Good Tip Ron, cutting out the middle man eh & saving a few bob too ... nice one!

Just looked at those T. K. O'Brien Dulcimers at prussiavalley so which one did you go for .... No 1, 2, 3 or 4?

Cheers
Dick

[albionmoonlight]

Dick,
my response didn't show up so I'll give it again. Basically it's No 4 but with a cherry soundboard -lovely sound and an object of beauty.
go well
ron

[Dick Glasgow]

Hmmm it looks great - The TKO004
Hourglass, Scroll head, Walnut, Cherry soundboard, deer w/leaves soundholes. Very good looking instrument Ron.

Just in case your interested, here are a couple of photos of the Yocky I am in the process of buying, right now:





Goodness only knows how I'll get on with it, but I only hear good things about Yockys, so I hope I don't let it down!

Cheers
Dick

[albionmoonlight]

It is beautiful! How long are you going to have to wait for it and how much? I must confess, I still covet a Gary Sager Custom. Just have to wait for the money and hope my playing improves sufficiently to justify it.
go well
ron

[Dick Glasgow]

Well I shouldn't have to wait more than 2 weeks for it to arrive, depending on how long those nice Customs chaps hang on to it.

Same problem with cost really, cause it only cost 180 Euros, but of course it will end up costing me a lot more than that, once I add 50 Eoros for package & posting, 36 Euros to the bank for the money transfer, plus VAT, plus Duty.

I could probably have saved money by taking a cheap Air flight over to Spain to collect it myself!

It does look like a good one though, so I hope it sounds as good as it looks.

Cheers
Dick