The national instrument of iran although it is also found in the traditional music of kashmir and jammu the santoor or hammered dulcimer is a very old and intriguing instrument.
What is the best laminated hammer dulcimer.
The top and back are of a high tech laminated material called baltic birch which is made in russia.
Choice of wood for the top is important too.
Tuning to the fifth will be familiar to players of the string family violin viola and cello.
While some believe that the instrument dates back to the times of mesopotamia which was somewhere around 1600 911 bc and babylonia others think that this instrument is so old that it is almost impossible to track.
On our local craig s list today there are two hammered dulcimers one overpriced for its age and condition and one solid topped reputable model that.
This 13 12 2 1 2 plus octave instrument has a baltic birch ply top and back solid maple side rails and solid walnut top and bottom rails.
All hammered dulcimers are handcrafted in the usa jake s cabin dulcimers blowing rock nc jake s cabin dulcimers formerly rick thum hammered dulcimers meadowlark.
Using laminated back and sides has relatively little effect on the sound.
Most often the hammered dulcimer is tuned to the circle of fifths.
So if that takes 100 off the cost of the instrument don t feel bad as long as the top is solid.
Cedar is the most.
Another feature that often varies form hammered dulcimer to hammered dulcimer is the tuning system.
It is 7 thin plys of solid birch with almost no voids and.
If the top is laminated see if you can get the dulcimer for free because that s about what it s worth.
Photo left this is one of our best values for getting started on the hammered dulcimer.