the 16/15 stock model... mahogany top,
walnut endrails, rosewood bridges



Scott and his 16/15...
looks elegant with a tux, huh?



the 'X-brace' stand... really cool...this thing folds into a convenient pole and opens into this.
Great angle for the dulcimer.
Cool look for $99.


this is the ash adjustable stand, adjusted for a sitting position



damper



this cable is attached to a foot pedal which operates the damper mechanism

Scott sells MasterWorks hammered dulcimers, his dulcimer of choice for shows and performances. MasterWorks dulcimers are superlight and supernice. Pictured here is the 16-15 Ultralight, the same model that Scott uses for the majority of his performances. Just because you are a beginner doesn't mean that you need a 'beginner dulcimer'. The 16/15 is perfect, but you could also do a 15/14 which has a slightly softer voice.

Scott recommends getting a soft case and a stand with your dulcimer. Keep it looking new by getting the case, and you'll want to take it to friends and church to play it!

The pdf files below break down the entire price structure and show lots of options, but here is a general idea:

- 16/15 Hammered Dulcimer........ $999
- 16/15 soft case............................ $139
- 'Ed Hale' hammers..................... $27
- Adjustable stand......................... $189
- shipping...........................approx $50
- California sales tax.................... $100

TOTAL 16/15 PACKAGE.......... $1500

The dulcimer comes with a pair of hammers, but I'd recommend the Ed Hale hammers for balance and tone. The ones that come with the dulcimer are kind of light and flimsy (sorry MasterWorks!)

Upgrade the 16/15 to the "Bantam Weight" option for $200. Russell Cook says, "you get more for your $200 than anything else we sell." The Bantam weight has a thin mahogany back and honeycombed internal endrails making the instrument slightly lighter. But the true advantage of the Bantam weight is that the instrument has a richer voice and tone.

The MasterWorks dulcimers come with threaded inserts on the back of the dulcimer so you can screw your favorite camera tripod into it for a stand. Very great feature, but can be risky if you have pets or children. I use the adjustable stand and it's awesome since you can either stand or sit, and you can adjust for whatever angle you prefer. I prefer a steep angle that matches my natural forearm angle. Ergonomics makes for better playing and longer practicing.

The 15/14 is also a great dulcimer, but with just a little less voice. Here is a package for a 15/14 dulcimer:

- 15/14 Hammered Dulcimer........ $759
- 15/14 soft case............................ $129
- 'Ed Hale' hammers..................... $27
- Adjustable stand......................... $189
- shipping...........................approx $50
- California sales tax.................... $87

TOTAL 16/15 PACKAGE.......... $1240

Most of us dulcimer players are fairly self-taught. An awesome book to get you going and then some is written by MasterWorks founder himself, Russell Cook. It's called 'The Ultimate Hammer Dulcimer Resource Book' and sells for $30.

Another very cool thing recently offered by MasterWorks is damper pedals. Dampers mute the string's sustain, giving the instrument a whole different voice and playing options. You can play superfast stuff without it getting 'muddy'. If you own a copy of my 'The Road to Lisdoonvarna' CD, listen to the beginning of 'Over the Waterfall' and that's a dampened dulcimer. Dampers on new instruments add an additional $600 to the price.

Download the following pdf files to learn more about MasterWorks dulcimers and their prices:

MasterWorks brochure

Order Form - prices

MasterWorks Accessories