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



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



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. This 16/15 is $1099.

The top-selling instrument of the MasterWorks line is the 'Russell Cook Edition' 16/16, pictured below. Russell, the owner / founder of MasterWorks, designed this after being asked repeatedly what he would build for himself. This one costs $2099.

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. I use the adjustable stand and you can either stand or sit, and adjust for whatever angle you prefer. I prefer a steep angle that matches my natural forearm angle. Some prefer a much flatter surface. Ergonomics makes for better playing and longer practicing.

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

Another very cool thing 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.

I also rent hammered dulcimers ($30 - $40 per month depending on the model) and I offer a financing plan. You can spread the cost of a dulcimer over 6 months with 3 payments.

Choosing a dulcimer can be an overwhelming and confusing process. What size? What woods? Diatonic or chromatic? What kind of stand do I need? Do I really need a damper pedal? The best thing to do is simply call me with questions:

949.859.7528

I can answer most if not all of your questions. Anything we don't know I can find out from MasterWorks and get an order placed if you'd like.



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

MasterWorks brochure

Order Form - prices

MasterWorks Accessories