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McSpadden T34 Teardrop Dulcimers

Lynn McSpadden was the founder of the business – now one of the best known and most reliable larger scale dulcimer makers in the world.  He began making dulcimers full-time in late 1967 or early 1968.

2.246  (formerly 2.38) Model T-34W, May 1995, # 31552  £Sold

Handcrafted by the McSpadden workshop in Mountain View, Arkansas, this one signed in the traditional way by the individual craftsman, Larry McSpadden, who built it.  Larry was the younger brother of the founder, Lynn.  Other handwritten elements: “T-34W  5-1995”.

This is a very elegant all-walnut teardrop design with solid bookmatched top, solid sides and high quality laminate back.  It has a neat, carved scroll and narrow pegbox, originally fitted with Grover sta-tite friction tuners, since replaced by McSpadden planetary gear tuners with black buttons.  There is a hollow fingerboard made from two pieces of walnut; hard cream composite ‘nut’ (with zero fret) and bridge; 6+ and 13+ frets.  The top has carved f-holes set against a pretty grain pattern.

Overall length 36¼”, upper bout N/A, lower bout 7”, body height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28½” (long scale), weight 2lb 02oz (951g), strings 11/[11], 14, 23w.  6+ and 13+ frets.

This is a light, most attractive and elegant instrument in generally good condition – just a few slight marks on the fingerboard and on the far-side top, where a trailing finger has made a line in the finish.

Click on images below to enlarge.

2.91  T34-W  1978 or 1979 #5503  £Sold

Printed label: “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Lynn McSpadden [h/w]/ Serial No. 5503 [h/w] Model T34-W [h/w]”.  Teardrop 4 string dulcimer made by craftsman (and founder of the business) Lynn McSpadden.

Solid walnut top and (?) sides with walnut laminate back, showing a bookmatch-type figure.  Classic McSpadden walnut scroll and pegbox; Grover Sta-Tite tuners with brown plastic buttons; two part walnut fingerboard with original 6+ fret.  Wooden nut and zero fret, wooden bridge.  Stylised hand-cut f-holes on a shallow body; early McSpadden logo branded on fingerboard immediately in front of bridge; brass mushroom-headed pins for string anchors, set directly on curved tail.  Overall length 36¼”, lower bout 6¾”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 28½” (long scale), weight ??lb ??oz (??g).  6+ fret.  Strings now 0.010, 0.014, 0.023w (extra melody string can of course be added).

Immaculate condition considering its age, with only the shallowest single indentation on the back and barely perceptible fret wear.  Plays very easily and sounds clear and sweet, without huge presence.  Probably best as a 3 string and ideal for fingerpicking.  Comes with unmarked but well-made solid plywood case, which appears to be designed specifically for this model (good condition, one corner scuffed).

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