freyasrage Posted August 27, 2022 Share Posted August 27, 2022 (edited) Hello! I know really nothing about dulcimers and I’m trying to list this dulcimer for sale but I would like to give prospective buyers correct details. Can anyone help? I’m not sure what type of wood, kind of finish, mountain dulcimer or something else, the value…etc. I have tried to research W.S.Hall and can’t find anything. If anyone can give me any info I would greatly appreciate it! Note- the last pictures are closer to the actual color, the lighting is hard to get right (Revision) Posting more photos to see if anyone else has more info, thanks!! Edited August 27, 2022 by freyasrage More photos, different lighting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWL Posted August 27, 2022 Share Posted August 27, 2022 I am not familiar with W. S. Hall. It appears to be a well built dulcimer in the Kentucky tradition. It is a mountain(Appalachian) dulcimer. It does not have a 6 1//2 fret nor can it be set up as four equidistant strings. It has double melody strings. The wood of the back, fret board, and peg head is walnut. I'm not sure about the top. I can't tell if those are nail holes or from insects. It appears to be pine, but it could be something else like spruce. The sides are nicely decorated, but I can' tell what type of wood it is. It appears lighter than the back Traditionally it would be the same type of wood as the back. Now as to value, since this is an unknown maker and no 6 1/2 fret, but is well construction and nicely decorated, I would value it from $150 to $300. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and I an open to what others think. Ken "The dulcimer sings a sweet song." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freyasrage Posted August 27, 2022 Author Share Posted August 27, 2022 Yes, the top is definitely lighter than the back. I’m posting a couple more pics of the holes so maybe someone can tell me if they are from insects? Thanks so much for your help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freyasrage Posted August 27, 2022 Author Share Posted August 27, 2022 I revised this post with more photos. Hopefully the better lighting helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KWL Posted August 28, 2022 Share Posted August 28, 2022 Thanks for the additional photos. The holes look very much like what one finds in what is called wormy wood. It is from insect larvae. With the close up of the sides I think the wood may be walnut of a slightly lighter color than the back. Again, just my best guesses. Ken "the dulcimer sings a sweet song." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoterMan Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 I don't know Hunt as a builder either. If I had to guess, the top could be wormy (sometimes called 'pecky') chestnut perhaps salvaged from an old barn timber. The sides look like commercially-available decorative pine molding; the fretboard, head and tail are walnut. The rest follows what my friend KenL said, including the potential price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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