Blue Lion Instruments
One of the foremost and most iconic dulcimer workshops of the modern age. Blue Lion Instruments, run by Robert (Bob) and Janita Baker, started making dulcimers on the west coast in 1977, using guitar stylings and exotic woods rather than the traditional dulcimer materials. Bob is a fine woodworker and Janita a very inventive inlay artist. Together they have produced some of the most ravishing high-end dulcimers of the last 30 years. Janita is also a first class player, often using varied tunings on a dulcimer strung in four equidistant courses. So they sound pretty good too – especially if you are a fingerstyle player (see Nina Zanetti for example). They are typically light, responsive dulcimers with excellent intonation.
2.312 (Ex-2.270) #386 (Oct 1982) Model IIK Hourglass £595 inc. (worn) original shell case
White part-printed label with Blue Lion in blue, but address handwritten: “RMB JLB [h/w]/ Blue Lion/ Santa Margarita, CA [h/w]/ Oct. 21, 1982 [h/w]/ IIK [h/w] No. 386 [h/w]”.
Glowing, bookmatched red-brown koa body with a very fine-grained cedar top. Usual Blue Lion array of circles/holes as soundhole design. Koa open scroll head/pegbox with Honduras (?) mahogany core, originally fitted with Schaller or Grover planetary banjo tuners, but now replaced with excellent new Gotoh ditto. Mahogany fingerboard with thick, rosewood overlay, ebony nut and pyramid floating bridge. Unusual snowflake, Martin-like mother of pearl fret markers at 3, 7, 10 & 14 . Brass pin string anchors, with strings running over the tail on a strainer made from a fret. 6+ but not 13+ fret. Antiqued (?) brass strap buttons on tail and on underside of body near neck (!). Overall length 37”, upper bout 6”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (medium scale), weight 1lb 12oz (786g), strings now 12/[11], 15, 24w. 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Has been well used, with small dings all the way round the top edge and pressure marks elsewhere. Wear on far side top adjacent to bridge/strum hollow where the player’s hand was stabilised by a trailing finger. Action has been lowered to the realistic minimum, so it’s easy to play, but would need re-setting for a heavier, pick-led player. This is an unusual and rare model II, with the benefit of koa’s glow and its warm sound. An attractive classic at an attractive price.
2.299 Model IIR TFHT #4220 (March 2009) £685 + £35 high quality branded Blue Heron case
Printed paper label with blue lion background motif – “[h/w] MAR. 11 2009 / Blue Lion/ [h/w] RMB JLB / Santa Margarita, California/ Model [h/w] IIR TFHT [?] Serial No. [h/w] 4220”.
Less common teardrop version of the Model II, with fully bound (extra $) Indian Rosewood body, inlaid wood marquetry backstrip, fine-grained western red Cedar top, with f-heart soundholes (also extra $). Honduras mahogany fingerboard with rosewood overlay and custom hummingbird mother-of-pearl and brass inlay. Has 0+, 1+, 6+, no 8+, 13+ frets. Scroll head and open pegbox made from a sandwich of Honduras mahogany and rosewood; Schaller planetary banjo tuners with pearl white buttons. L R Baggs under-saddle pickup with chrome strap button/jack outlet in tail. Other strap button is located on the side of the headstock. Inset tail with mushroom-headed pins as string anchors (loop-end strings only). Brass fret strainer located on top of tail. Two “professionally-repaired” cracks on near-side top close to soundhole. Overall length 36½”, upper bout N/A, lower bout 7⅜”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅜” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 2oz (975g), strings 0.012/[0.012], 0.015, 0.024w. 0+, 1+, 6+ and 13+ frets.
Classic good looks in this high-end product from one of the best known dulcimer luthiers. This has a range of extras on top of the standard Style II features and the teardrop shape perhaps gives it a little more grunt in mid- and bass-ranges. Always a clear and well-articulated sound with a very clean and easy action.
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2.296 1983 Blue Lion Teardrop #[?? Label missing] £325 + £20 shell case
All the hall marks of an early, less exotic model from Blue Lion. Well-built, solid wood, with a straight-grained cedar top and cherry body. Top has typical Blue Lion-style soundholes – a pattern made from holes of different sizes. Back is neatly book-matched. A simple one layer mahogany fretboard with 6+, no 13+. The elegant flat mahogany head curls upwards at its tip and is supported by a substantial mahogany heel. Fitted with open-geared tuners and thin profile chrome buttons. Typical triangular-profiled floating bridge and rather odd, wedge-shape nut (was this originally configured for LH playing?), packed out below to achieve the right height action. Fairly chunky good condition frets (possibly replaced or dressed at some stage?), but fingerboard shows considerable surface wear. Brass, mushroom-headed pins for loop strings, placed on top of the tail (as with BL teardrop 2.171). Overall length 35¼”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2”, FBW 1⅝”, VSL 26¼” (medium scale), weight 1lb 12oz (802g), strings now 12/[12], 15, 23w. 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Pretty much identical dimensions (though different detailed design) to 1988 teardrop previously sold. Simple design but produces good sound – neat, accurate and tuneful, though without huge sustain. Has been well used, with considerable play wear on top and corners, but still looks good. The top has a repaired crack which appears to have been fully stabilised.
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2.311 Blue Lion Model 1C #960 (August 1988) 4 String Hourglass £Sold
Light blue oblong printed label “Aug 8, 1988 [h/w]/ RMB JLB [h/w]/ Santa Margarita/ California/ Model No. IC [h/w] Serial No. 960 [h/w]”.
Classic Blue Lion hourglass body, made from bookmatched cherry. Top is fine-grained cedar with the usual BL array of holes soundhole design. Hook, not full scroll (as in Model II), on the pegbox, but similar thick sandwich construction, with usual Honduras mahogany core and flanks made from the main body wood (in this case cherry). Fitted with the standard BL good quality Schaller planetary geared tuners. Style I models have mahogany fingerboards without an overlay. Usual 6+ and 13+ frets. Rosewood nut and floating bridge, carefully compensated for accurate intonation. Simple mushroom-headed pins as string anchors on a convex tail, the latter fitted with a metal strainer (fret) on top to reduce damage to the wood. Overall length 36⅜”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (medium scale), weight 2lb 0oz (908g), strings 0.011/[0.011], 0.015, 0.024w phosphor bronze wound, 6+ and 13+ frets.
This is beautifully built, following the usual high Blue Lion standards. The big cherry hourglass however produces a different sound from its walnut or rosewood sisters. This is open and clear but quite loud and forward-sounding, well-balanced but distinctly brighter than the usual BL – despite its soft cedar top. The cherry body is generally in excellent condition, but the cedar top has a few minor scars along the edge. A very affordable entrée to a totemic and genuinely handcrafted dulcimer range.
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2.235 2005 Blue Lion Hourglass Model IIW #3719 £Sold
Printed square light blue label: “May 9, 2005 [h/w]/ Blue Lion /RMB JLB [h/w]/ Santa Margarita, California/ Model No. IIW /Serial No. 3719”.
Walnut body with attractive grain, nicely bookmatched sides and back; light chocolate-coloured straight-grained cedar top with trademark clusters of soundholes. Elegant smaller scroll and wide, open-bottomed pegbox constructed from a sandwich of mahogany and walnut, fitted with chrome Schaller planetary banjo tuners. Honduras (?) mahogany hollow fingerboard with rosewood overlay and Model II brass and mother-of-pearl rose decoration. Ebony nut and ebony floating, compensated bridge. The strings are anchored by mushroom-headed pins, set in a routed endblock, running over a brass strainer on top of the tail. This example has been retrofitted with two brass hitch pins so that one of the doubled melody strings can be temporarily detached. Also has chrome strap buttons at each end. Overall length 36½”, upper bout 6”, lower bout 7½”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 2oz (956g), strings 0.012/[0.012], 0.014, 0.024w [Blue Lion recommended set]. 6+ and 13+ frets.
Sounds very clean and warm, rather than hard or strident. Excellent intonation and generally very musical. The walnut body is virtually untouched, but the vulnerable cedar top has the usual scratches and edge scuffs, including on the far side of the fingerboard where an errant nail on the stabilising finger has made a shallow groove. The frets have also been dressed to eliminate past wear. Still an excellent example of a much in demand high end dulcimer.
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2.171 1988 Blue Lion Teardrop £Sold
Light blue oblong printed label: “March 14, 1988 [h/w]/ RMB JLB [h/w]/ Santa Margarita/ California/ Model No. TC [h/w] Serial No. 880 [h/w]”.
Elegant teardrop shape, very similar to the expensive Force d’Oschee model. Body made from figured cherry, bookmatched back and sides, with a close-grained light golden-brown cedar top. Fiddle edges and classic Blue Lion “cluster of holes” soundhole design, comprising 4 big and 3 small holes. The narrow, flat mahogany peghead has a hint of a scroll at the end, and 4 open-geared chrome tuners mounted on the back. Mahogany fingerboard – unusually, lacquered – with no fret markers; rosewood (?) nut and floating bridge, cut for 3 or 4 course; medium size frets with 6+ but not 13+; 3 mushroom-headed string anchors, mounted on top of the tail; mahogany tail block. Overall length 35¼”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅜” (medium scale), weight 1lb 12oz (786g), strings now 11/[11], 15, 24w. 6+ but not 13+ frets.
Good condition with only a few light scratches and dings. Also a small mark on far soundhole and two short hairline cracks from nearside soundhole which have been stabilised and are no longer moving. Beautifully crafted with an attractive lightweight body, it sounds like a typical Blue Lion – clear toned with well-defined notes, plenty of responsiveness and some volume when pressed. The intonation is good. A really neat instrument with a great sound, easy action and a shortish scale. Ideal for advanced fingerpicking or sensitive chord-melody playing.
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2.202 Blue Lion Model IIW Hourglass #3355 (September 2002). £Sold
Printed label with blue lion background motif: “SEPT. 17, 2002 [h/w]/ Blue Lion/ RMB JLB [signatures h/w]/ Santa Margarita, California/ Model ‘IIW’ Serial No. ‘3355’ [‘h/w’]”.
Classic elegant Blue Lion body made from bookmatched walnut with an attractive figure on the back. Top is quite wide-grained spruce, with the standard BL soundholes, comprising an array of holes in different sizes. Classic Style II fingerboard, made from Honduras mahogany with an indian rosewood overlay, brass and mother of pearl rose inlay, 6+ and 13+ frets. The open pegbox and elegant scroll are made from a mahogany core and walnut facing, and fitted with high quality Schaller banjo tuners (1:4 gear ratio). Strings run from mushroom-headed pins, set into the tail, over a strainer made from a fret, to the composite bridge, which incorporates an L R Baggs under-saddle pickup. The chrome jack-socket-cum-strap button emerges from the tail. Comes with the original custom three-ply hard case, in pretty good condition, whose interior is blue plush, fitted for the Style II body, with internal compartment for picks etc. Overall length 36”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2⅛”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 1oz (935g), strings 12/[12], 14, 24w. 6+ and 13+ frets.
Walnut/spruce combination gives warmth with some drive if required. Easy action on relatively short scale. Ideal for fingerpicking but sufficient bite for pickers also. This dulcimer has been well used, with some pick wear on the upper fingerboard and a degree of fret wear on the lower, nearside frets. The body is generally in good shape, but there are some scuff marks on the top and compression marks between the nearside bouts. The pegbox had a short crack on the nearside face which I have stabilised and secured (close-up pictured). Beautifully constructed and quite an eyeful – with the original fitted case and pickup this is a bargain.
Click on pictures below to enlarge.
2.196 Model IIR Rosewood #4411 (January 2011) £Sold inc. original LR Baggs pickup and custom fitted plush hard case
Printed paper label with blue lion background motif – “[h/w] JAN 28, 2011 / Blue Lion/ [h/w] RMB JLB / Santa Margarita, California/ Model [h/w] IIR Serial No. [h/w] 4411”.
Classic BL body with dark, straight-grained East Indian Rosewood bookmatched set, multi-coloured purfling strip down centre back. Honduras mahogany fingerboard and pegbox/scroll core, former with rosewood overlay, latter with thick rosewood sides. Usual open pegbox with expensive German Schaller geared banjo pegs, mounted on rosewood spacers. Mother of pearl dogwood (?) flower on side of scroll (extra cost) and MoP fret marker option (at frets 3, 7, 10, 14) rather than more usual MoP rose and brass stalk. Original on board L R Baggs under-saddle pickup system with chrome jack/strap button on tail. Bone nut, cut for various string configuration and (compensated) composite (?) bridge, integral with the pickup. Routed tail with mushroom-headed string anchors and brass strainer fret on top.
Overall length 36½”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7½”, depth 2⅛”, FBW 1⅝”, VSL 26¼” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 6oz (1098g), strings 0.012/[0.012], 0.014, 0.025w. 1+ (no 8+), 6+ and 13+ frets.
As expected, a well-balanced, clear (even crisp), responsive dulcimer with an easy action and good intonation. Imported new by long-time UK dulcimer club member and well looked after. Still in truly excellent condition, with just a few tiny marks on the cedar top and the first signs of use on a few lower frets. New price for this spec with custom fitted hard case, pickup etc is now nearly $1350 + shipping + import duty.
Click on images below to enlarge. N.B. Pictures taken before cleaning and preparation for sale.
2.194 Model IIW Walnut #3908 (September 2006) £Sold
Printed paper label with blue lion background motif – “[h/w] Sept. 8, 2006 / Blue Lion/ [h/w] RMB JLB / Santa Margarita, California/ Model [h/w] IIW Serial No. [h/w] 3908”.
Classic top-of-the-range Model II body with bookmatched walnut back (nice light sapwood figure, but no purfling as with IIR models) and sides. Fine-grained western red cedar top with familiar Blue Lion cluster-of-holes soundhole design. Typical scroll made from a sandwich of walnut (sides) and Honduras (?) mahogany (core); open pegbox and high quality chrome Schaller banjo tuners mounted on wooden washers/spacers. Mahogany fingerboard with dark rosewood overlay, adorned with the famous mother-of-pearl rose and brass stem inlay. 6+ and 13+ frets. Ebony nut and floating (compensated) bridge. Brass fret strainer, mounted on top of the walnut tail plate, which is routed out for mushroom-headed pins (string anchors). Gold strap buttons – with free strap!
Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2⅛”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 2oz (975g), strings 0.012, 0.014, 0.024w. 6+ and 13+ frets.
Elegant in its simplicity, this is a classic dulcimer design that never seems to age – and this is a good example. Excellent condition with very few nicks. Well-balanced, sensitive, subtle and clear, as you might expect, but surprisingly loud for a Blue Lion; easy action; good intonation.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.188 Blue Lion Model IIR – 3 String Hourglass – £Sold inc. original fitted hard case with blue plush interior
#3834 (March 2006). Printed label with blue lion background motif: “March 7, 2006 [h/w/]/ Blue Lion/ RMB JLB [h/w]/ Santa Margarita, California/ Model ‘IIR’ Serial No. ‘3834’ [‘h/w’]”.
Simple flat headstock with three quality Gotoh tuners. Standard IIR-style body, with bookmatched Indian Rosewood sides and back (central multi-coloured purfling strip down centre) and fine-grained, almost unmarked cedar top. Mahogany headstock and fingerboard, both with matching Indian Rosewood overlay. Standard Blue Lion soundhole design in upper and lower bout, consisting of an arrangement of circular holes – understated but elegant. Bone nut; thin, quite high replacement frets with 6+ and 13+ present; highly respected LR Baggs under-saddle pickup system; brass, mushroom-headed pins for loop-end strings are set in a rebate on the tail; string strainer made from fret-wire. Slightly larger than original chrome jack socket-cum-strap button on tail. Comes with stunning custom light ply hard case with blue plush interior.
Overall length 36”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7⅛”, depth 2⅛”, FBW 1½”, VSL 27⅝” (medium scale), weight 2lb 2oz (951g), strings 11, 14, 24w. 6+ and 13+ frets.
This is from the personal collection of Dan Evans, the internationally known dulcimer player. It was commissioned specially by him and has been further developed over a period of time, including action and frets. Has the original, custom-designed LR Baggs internal pickup. This dulcimer has more presence and responsiveness than almost any other Blue Lion I have played – possibly the 27” scale length (originally for DAA tuning), the slightly higher action, perhaps a lighter build? Excellent tone, sustain and balance, with good intonation. It is well suited to both finger-style playing AND cross-picked chord melody playing.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.112 – 1993 Blue Lion IIRS Hourglass #1927 – £Sold inc. soft Blue Heron case
Blue-tinged printed label: “Nov.19, 1993 [h/w]/ Blue Lion /RMB JLB [h/w]/Santa Margarita, California/ Model IIRS Serial No. 1927”.
Indian rosewood sides and bookmatched back with central purfling strip, ditto outer headstock layer, tailpiece and (darker) fingerboard overlay. Handsome, inlaid rose on fingerboard, comprising white MoP petals, green MoP leaves and brass stalk. Honduras mahogany fingerboard and headstock core. Fine-grained cedar top. 6+ and 13+ frets. Chrome Schaller banjo-style machines with pearl buttons. Chrome strap buttons on head and tail. Tail has inset mushroom-headed pins for string anchors and “fret” as strainer. Ebony nut and floating compensated bridge. Gold filigree metal soundholes in the shape of a rose. Custom Blue Heron padded soft case.
Overall length 36½”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (medium scale), weight 2lb 6oz (1068g), strings currently 0.012, 0.016, 0.027w. Original 6+ and 13+ frets.
This came with heavy strings and the sound is quite punchy when pushed – but as clearly articulated as all Blue Lions seem to be. The sound is noticeably harder than the walnut Model II, even with the cedar top, but it responds well to vibrato and can also play more delicately. It’s perhaps the best IIR I’ve played – and two were my main instruments for many years.
2.66 Blue Lion Model IIW Walnut – 4 String Hourglass – £Sold inc fitted hard case
#4631 (February 2013): Inside printed label with handwritten entries: “FEB 21, 2013/ Blue Lion/ RMB JLB/ Santa Margarita, California/ Model ‘IIW’ Serial No. 4631”.
Iconic hourglass from Blue Lion Instruments, run by Robert (Bob) and Janita Baker. Janita is a first class player, using varied tunings on a dulcimer strung in four equidistant courses. This dulcimer is currently strung in conventional fashion with four strings in three courses (doubled melody). The firm started making dulcimers on the west coast in 1977, using guitar stylings and woods rather than the traditional dulcimer materials. They have a well-deserved reputation for excellence and are the choice of a number of top players, especially those playing finger-style.
Matt finish cedar top, evenly grained, with bookmatched walnut sides and back. No purfling down centre of back as IIR model. Honduras mahogany fingerboard with East Indian rosewood overlay/veneer. Walnut faced sandwich of mahogany forming an elegant scroll and pegbox, with Schaller banjo tuners. Simple arrangement of holes to form elegant soundholes in UB and LB. Ebony nut (still set up for LH play) and replacement ebony bridge. Brass “fret” acts as string strainer over endblock, with simple mushroom-headed pins as string anchors. Signature MoP/brass rose inlay on fingerboard – blossom in white MoP, leaves in green and stem in brass. Fitted with 1+, 6+ and 13+ frets and chrome plated strap buttons. Custom hard case with blue plush interior.
Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 6⅛”, lower bout 7¼”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26¼” (medium scale), weight 2lb 3oz (1007g).
Originally made for a left-handed player. Nut has not been changed and works well without reversal, but bridge has been replaced in the style of the original from a blank provided by Blue Lion themselves. Spare BL nut blank in pocket of custom hard case. Elegant design, easy action, very accurate intonation and smooth, well-balanced sound make this a classic dulcimer.
