Walnut Valley Dulcimers
The Walnut Valley Dulcimer Company was originally The Whitewater Dulcimer Company and owned by Les Slaughter, a lute maker in Burns Kansas (a small town where scenes from Tim Burton’s “Mars Attack!” were filmed). The company was sold to Jack Brunner in 1992, according to my informant, and its name changed to Walnut Valley. But I have seen dulcimers from 1988 with the new designation, so perhaps the change in ownership was earlier. The name of several operatives at the time, including Carol Callahan and D Brunner, appear on some labels. Many were sold through a concession booth at popular tourist centres like Disney’s EPCOT in Orlando, Florida. When he quit, Jack joked that “the mouse made all the money, not him”! There was also some kind of affiliation with the Sage Institute of Ohio, mentioned on some labels. Models included the WM (Wild Mountain), SR (Smoky River), CC (Cedar Creek) and SC (Stone County). The serial numbers are in two parts, the first two (or three) digits denoting the year, the next three the number built so far that year. Up to 400 may have been produced each year. Jack Brunner died in the late 1990s and the equipment was bought by Rodney Khoen (Koehn, Cohen?) from just outside Burns, who apparently made dulcimers himself for a short time. In 2018, Les Slaughter’s son revived the Whitewater name, but this time in Augusta, Kansas (also on the Whitewater River), and started producing dulcimers.
1.164 1987 Walnut Valley #087-24 Model SC [Stone County], 4 string teardrop £Sold
Printed oblong label: “Sage Institute Affiliated/ 303 N. Ohio/ P.O. Box 12B/ Burns, Kansas 66840/ [h/w] SC 087-24”.
The slightly better appointed version of the WV teardrop, but still with a simple construction of a single staff (continuous) fingerboard and headstock. This one is all-walnut, with a pretty bookmatched back and central purfling. The walnut fingerboard is arched (cantilevered) to allow maximum movement of the walnut solid top and is particularly highly figured towards the strum ‘hollow’ (more a chamfer!). The flat headstock has Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners with real rosewood buttons. The ‘nut’/zero fret is a replacement and made of bone, but the original (?) composite bridge has been shaved down to produce a very low action. Attention to details results in a leather string strainer to stop marking on the tail and guitar-like bridge pins for string anchors. Overall length 35½”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (medium scale), weight 2lb 0oz (885g). Strings 11, 14, 23w. 6+ fret, no 13+.
A neat dulcimer from a reputable company, this easy-playing instrument has a lot going for it. Good condition, very low action (without buzzing), mellow sound with good mids, this is a good beginner/intermediate purchase.
Click on images below to enlarge.
1.162 (Ex-1.140) 1989 Walnut Valley Cedar Creek Teardrop 4 String, 3 Course £220 inc. nearly new soft lined case
#89-199 : Model CC [Cedar Creek]. Oblong printed label: “Walnut Valley Dulcimer Co./ 102 E. Broadway/ Burns, Kansas 66840/ [Tel. No.]/ Model: CC [h/w]/ Serial No. 89-199 [h/w]”.
Simple elliptical shape body, all solid walnut, which is nicely bookmatched on the back with centre purfling strip – unusual for an intermediate model. Single piece continuous headstock and fingerboard, latter with mother of pearl markers at frets 3 & 7. 6+ fret, no 13+. Chamfered (rather than dipped) strum hollow. Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners (black plastic buttons). White composite nut/zero fret and bridge. Unusual guitar type bridge pins to hold in loop- or ball-end strings. Leather strainer on top of tail to prevent damage to wood from strings. Overall length 35⅝”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (medium scale), weight 1lb 13oz (826g). Strings 11, 14, 22w.
For an entry level instrument, this is so neatly designed and built, using quality materials. No huge depth of tone, but a good action and intonation. In remarkable condition! An excellent low cost starter instrument.
Click on images below to enlarge.
1.126 (ex-1.82) 1990 Walnut Valley Model SC 4 String 3 Course teardrop £Sold
#90-044 Model SC [Stone County]. Printed label: “Walnut Valley Dulcimer Co./ 102 E. Broadway/ Burns, Kansas 66840/ [Tel. No.]/ Model: SC [h/w]/ Serial No. 90-044 [h/w]”.
An all solid walnut teardrop constructed on a simple pattern, with a continuous fingerboard/headstock. Bookmatched back with centre purfling line. Walnut fingerboard with MoP markers at frets 3, 7 and 12; 6+ and 13+ frets. Flat pegbox is hollowed out and has 4 Grover sta-tite friction tuners with rosewood buttons. Three large, removable “bridge” pins, set into the tail, form the string anchors. The endblock/string strainer has a suede strip to protect it and dampen any unwanted ringing of the strings. Shallow, arched fingerboard to allow maximum movement of the solid walnut top, but necessitating a level, chamfered strum hollow – as with the more expensive hourglass SR models. Big heart soundholes pointing to the tail, zero fret with hard composite nut and bridge. More shallow body than the SR.
Overall length 35½”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7⅛”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26½” (medium scale), weight 1lb 13oz (826g), 6+ no 13+ fret. Strings 11, 14, 24w.
In good condition with not much usage. For an all-walnut dulcimer this has quite a forward sound, which projects well. A good and accurate starter/intermediate instrument.
Click on images below to enlarge.
1.43 1989 #089-18 £Sold inc. corduroy slip case
Model SC [Stone County]. Printed label: “Walnut Valley Dulcimer Co./ 102 E. Broadway/ Burns, Kansas 66840/[Tel. No.]/ Model: SC [h/w] Serial No. 089-18 [h/w]”. An all-solid walnut teardrop constructed on a simple pattern, with a continuous fingerboard/headstock. Bookmatched back with central purfling line. Walnut fingerboard with MoP markers at frets 3, 7 and 12; 6+ and 13+ frets. Flat pegbox has 4 Grover sta-tites with rosewood buttons. Three large, domed pins form the string anchors and the strainer is the original piece of suede material. Arched fingerboard to allow maximum movement of the solid walnut top, but necessitating a level, chamfered strum hollow – as with the more expensive hourglass SR models. Heart soundholes pointing to the tail, zero fret, with hard plastic nut and bridge. More shallow body than the SR. Overall length 35½”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1⅝”, VSL 26⅝” (medium scale), weight 1lb 13oz (826g). Strings 10, 14, 20w.
This one is in excellent overall condition, just a few small and almost invisible dings and pick marks. Has fret numbers picked out neatly in white script – buyer has the choice of keeping these or I can remove them before delivery without charge. Not a sophisticated instrument, but easy to play, with good intonation on melody and middle strings. Towards the bright end of the dulcimer spectrum. Comes with a nice brown corduroy slip case.
1.40 1991 #91-461 £tbc
Model CC [Cedar Creek]. An elliptical dulcimer described as “A great beginner’s model” in the company brochure. Yet it was well made, of solid walnut. This one has been left to get extremely wet and is being rebuilt and re-finished.
