Late Lynn McSpadden Era Dulcimers
Lynn McSpadden founded the company that bore his name in the late 60s and his signature, together with that of just 2 or 3 other craftsmen, appears on all the dulcimers built in the 80 and 90s. The standard dulcimers were therefore the product of an experienced and tight-knit team and by the 1990s, had reached a standard of excellence that made McSpadden the best-known and trusted dulcimer brand in the world. Lynn retired and sold the business in 2001. His brother Larry continued in the workshop under the new owner, Jim Woods, who decided from May 2006 to revise the range (with new designations) and move to all-solid wood dulcimers, thus ushering in a new era of excellence.
2.322 August 1997 McSpadden FT34W £395 + good shell case £30
Usual printed label of this era with the following handwritten, “George Looney/ FT34W Aug. 1997/ #36099 [printed]”.
Short-lived McSpadden flat head design, bigger with routed concentric ring logo. Quality mini Gotoh enclosed chrome tuners. Nicely coloured dark walnut (solid) top with hand cut f-holes, bookmatched solid walnut sides and laminated walnut back. Two level, hollow walnut fingerboard with 6+ and 13+ frets. The name ‘McSpadden’ is branded in black script immediately in front of the bridge. White composite bridge and ‘nut’/zero fret. Inset, routed tail, with wide shallow vent to body, stainless mushroom-headed pins for string anchors, end grain block on top of tail as string strainer. Overall length 36¼”, lower bout 7″, depth 1⅞”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (979g), strings now 11/11, 15, 24w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
This is almost pristine, with no visible marks on top or side, little or no fret wear and only a few light pressure marks on the back. It plays very clearly and crisply, with a slight weighting towards the mid and bass, as usual with teardrop shapes. George was one of the longest serving luthiers in the McSpadden workshop at this time and the construction /finish is perfect, as you would expect.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.313 April 1999 McSpadden FM12CS £400 + good shell case £30
Usual printed label with handwritten details, “…Lynn McSpadden/ FM12CS April 1999/ #38852 [printed]”.
Solid cherry sides, flat head, two piece fingerboard but laminated cherry back. Tight-grained solid spruce bookmatched top which has developed a rich yellow colour, beautifully complementing the ginger colour of the body. Later plain flat headstock, without concentric logo, although appears slightly longer than current head. Usual composite nut and bridge; zero fret; cross-grained walnut strainer; stainless anchor pins; Gotoh tuners. Has strap buttons each end.
Overall length 36”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 1lb 15oz (894g), strings now 11, 14, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
Light build and cherry/spruce combination give it a bright, clear and attractive sound. Good looking dulcimer, with a few light marks on the top and light pick wear on the far side of the strum hollow.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.306 April 2004 McSpadden SH12WS #47440 £Sold
“McSpadden/ Mountain Dulcimers/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ [handwritten] George Looney/Model FH12WS, April, 2004/ [printed]#47440”. Late McSpadden era Model 12 scroll head hourglass signed by longstanding McSpadden luthier George Looney. Body made from solid walnut (sides) and laminated walnut (back), with a high quality, tight-grained spruce top. Usual walnut two layer, box-section hollow fingerboard with 6+ and 13+ frets. Cream composite ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge. Pretty, but narrow, carved scroll head and pegbox, fitted with McSpadden’s own geared banjo-style tuners and pearlescent buttons. Overall length 36”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 0oz (920g), strings now 11/[11], 14, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
This quite rare spruce top gives the dulcimer the edge McSpaddens sometimes lack, but without rawness. Sounds crisp, clean and neat with the excellent action of all McSpaddens. This example has been well-cared for and is immaculate, save for a few tiny marks on the far side top. There’s also what looks like a small glitch (original?) in the laminate back at the tail end.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.303 May 1995 McSpadden M-12W £Sold
Usual later McSpadden period printed slip, but “George Looney [h/w]/ Model: M-12W 5-1995 [h/w] ….#31436” etc.
Classic dark walnut, scroll head hourglass McSpadden with solid, straight-grained sides, bookmatched figured top and lighter-coloured laminate back. Narrow pegbox fitted with Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners, rosewood buttons. Usual two level, box section (hollow) fingerboard with 6+ and 13+ frets. ‘McSpadden’ in script before cream composite bridge, ditto ‘nut’ and zero fret. Recessed tail with vent to body and mushroom-headed pins for string anchors (loop strings only), cross-grained tail block as strainer. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7⅛”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 0oz (918g), strings now 11/[11], 14, 24w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
Very neat and tight construction, typical of the experienced, long-serving luthiers employed at this time. Sounds crisp and clear. Very few marks of any kind suggest it has been little played.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.302 May 1996 McSpadden FM12W £Sold
Usual later McSpadden period printed slip, but “George Looney [h/w]/ Model: FM12W May 1996 [h/w] ….#33523” etc.
Usual all-walnut hourglass body, with colourful bookmatched solid wood top, using small knot features to advantage, straight-grained solid sides and lighter laminated back. Bigger flat head than traditionally, with short-lived, routed/incised concentric circle logo, fitted with good quality chrome Gotohs. Usual two level, box section (hollow) fingerboard with 6+ and 13+; cream composite bridge and ‘nut’/zero fret. Inset tail with vent and mushroom-headed pins as string anchors (loop end strings only), cross-grained tail block as string strainer. Chrome strap buttons. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (975g), strings now 11/[11], 14, 24w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
Neatly made by a very experienced luthier, this sounds good and tight. Showing very few signs of any use, this is in excellent condition and ready to play.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.281 Feb. 2000 McSpadden M12 CC £Sold
Usual late stage McSpadden label #40484 with handwritten info “George Looney….M12 CC…Feb. 2000”.
Traditional McSpadden scroll-head body, featuring a beautiful orangey-red bookmatched solid cherry top, straight-grained solid cherry sides and the usual light, high quality laminated cherry back. Darker cherry scroll and narrow pegbox with original McSpadden (Wikim, Korea) planetary-geared tuners (white pearl plastic buttons). Box-section cherry fingerboard with unusual (?original) fret layout: 1+, 4+, 6+, 13+ frets. Cream coloured composite ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge, latter compensated for DAD tuning. “McSpadden” in black script embossed onto fingerboard between strum hollow and bridge. Usual recessed tail, stainless mushroom-headed string anchors and vent into body. Black pick holder attached to n/s upper bout; strap buttons each end; temporary markers (easily removed if required) at frets 3, 5, 7, 10. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 02oz (971g), strings now 11/[11], 14, 24w. Has a 1+, 4+, 6+ and 13+ fret.
In excellent condition with very little wear on the fingerboard or frets (suggesting this is the original fret layout) and just a few tiny pressure marks elsewhere on the body. The cherry has darkened into a most attractive reddy-brown and the light body makes for a responsive instrument with good volume and quite a forward sound. The almost chromatic 1st position fretting is probably intended to provide a blues scale, including the flattened fifth (G#/Ab), but the 4+ also provides a useful D#.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.277 May 2001 McSpadden M12CC #42615 £Sold
“….[h/w] Larry McSpadden]…M12CC…May 2001”. “McSpadden” in black script embossed onto fingerboard between strum hollow and bridge.
Standard late McSpadden era all-cherry scroll head dulcimer with nicely figured bookmatched solid cherry top and sides, laminated cherry back. Cherry scroll and narrow pegbox with original McSpadden planetary-geared tuners (white pearl plastic buttons). Cherry two-part fingerboard with zero fret, 6+ and 13+ frets, composite white “nut”/string guide and bridge; simple mushroom-headed pins for string anchors. Now fitted with 1+ (not 8+ fret); mother of pearl markers on fingerboard; brass drop pins on side of fingerboard (to ‘drop’ the nearest paired string for single melody set-up); and a piezo pickup with jack output/strap button on tail (not tested). Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 03oz (988g), strings now 10/[10], 14, 23w. Has a 1+, 6+ and 13+ fret.
Good example of the rarer (and arguably prettier), scroll head model with a nicely figured cherry body (a touch of sapwood near the fingerboard). Larry was the brother of founder Lynn McSpadden. The dulcimer body is in excellent condition, with just some light pick marking on the frets around and beyond the second octave. Excellent tone, with some crispness and volume. Lots of useful extras for the money. I like this one.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.209 1992 McSpadden M-12W Scroll Hourglass #25085 £Sold
Standard mid-period oblong label with handwritten details “Richard Stoltze…Model M-12W…4-1992 …#25085”. All walnut body with laminated, light-coloured, “bookmatched” walnut back; solid walnut sides; and attractive darker solid walnut top. Standard McSpadden heart soundholes; classic dark walnut scroll; narrow pegbox, Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners, with dark rosewood (?) buttons. Script ‘McSpadden’ across fingerboard in front of bridge. Composite ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge; cross-grained strainer block on top of tail to channel strings; recessed mushroom-headed pins (loop end strings only) for string anchors. Hollow, two part walnut fingerboard with 6+ and 13+ frets. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 01oz (927g). Strings now 10/10, 14, 23w. Has 6+ and 13+ frets.
An almost pristine example of the classic walnut McSpadden dulcimer. Nice sound from a light body.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.168 January 2002 McSpadden M12W #43687 £Sold
Printed label: “McSpadden/ Mountain Dulcimers/ Mountain View Arkansas/ Lynn McSpadden [signature]/ Model M12W Jan. 2002 [h/w]/ #43687”.
All walnut body with solid sides, laminated back and pretty, deep-brown figured solid walnut top. Usual heart soundholes and walnut two part fingerboard, with zero fret, 6+ and 13+ frets, composite white nut and bridge (both cut for 3 or 4 course string layouts). Classic contoured walnut scroll and pegbox, latter with McSpadden’s own banjo tuners (white pearlescent buttons). “McSpadden” branded on fingerboard between strum hollow and bridge.
Overall length 36”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 0oz (920g), strings now 10/[10], 14, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
Fitted with black strap buttons, this is a good-looking, classic scroll McSpadden ready to go. Good condition with just a few very small nicks on the body and some pick marks at the end of the fingerboard. Must have been one of the last signed by the founder of the company, Lynn McSpadden, given that the company changed hands in 2001 and he had officially retired.
2.159 1995 M-12W 4 String Hourglass Scroll Head #31854 £Sold
Mid-period oblong label – “McSpadden/ Mountain Dulcimers/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Richard Stoltze [h/w]/ Model M12-W 7-1995 [h/w]/ Made in USA/ #31854 [printed]”.
Absolutely pristine all walnut body, with solid wood bookmatched tops and sides, and laminated back. McSpadden style heart soundholes. White, composite bridge and nut/guide with zero fret, 6+ and 13+ frets. Built-up walnut fingerboard with “McSpadden” written script-style between strum hollow and bridge. Flat profile tail with recessed areas for string anchors (mushroom-headed pins) and small vent. Elegant walnut scroll with narrow pegbox, fitted with Grover Sta-Tite friction pegs and walnut buttons.
Overall length 36”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 03oz (992g). Strings now 10/10, 14, 23w. Has 6+ and 13+ frets.
2.139 August 2003 McSpadden FH12CR #46253 NB Has 1+ fret £Sold + £15 padded case
Usual printed label with detail as follows: “#46253…[h/w] Richard Stoltze…FH12CR…Aug.2003”.
Late Lynn McSpadden era dulcimer. Solid cherry sides and cherry laminated back with solid redwood top. Name printed in script to the right of the strum hollow. Flat standard later head Cherry fingerboard with (original?) 1+ fret. Chrome strap buttons each end. Signed by one of the most experienced McSpadden craftsmen.
Overall length 35¾”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 1lb 16oz (901g), strings now 10/10, 14, 23w. Has a 1+, 6+ and 13+ fret.
Probably the best combination – cherry body and redwood top. Shows some signs of usage – a few small marks on the redwood top – but looks good generally and sounds exactly as it should.
2.137 July 1997 McSpadden FM12W £Sold
Usual printed label of this era with the following handwritten, “Lynn McSpadden/ FM12W July 2007/ #35905 [printed]”.
Solid walnut top and sides, the former bookmatched, with a nice gradation of colour as the board moves into the sapwood at its edges. Laminated walnut back, but solid walnut two piece hollow fingerboard; zero fret; composite nut and bridge; cross-grained walnut string strainer and stainless mushroom-headed pins as string anchors; chrome Gotoh tuners – standard features of the FM12 model. Strap buttons at head and tail. Bigger flat headstock with routed concentric ring logo.
Overall length 36⅛”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (956g), strings now 10, 14, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
In excellent condition, unmarked, with original leather hanging strap still round headstock. Really attractive gradation of colour on the (solid) walnut top. A clearly articulated, but slightly softer sound than the solid walnut versions.
2.136 November 1990 McSpadden FM-12W Special: £Sold
Standard early 90s label, printed in brown, with following handwritten, “Richard Stoltze/FM-12W Special/ 11-1990/ #22366 [NB the serial number is h/w rather than usual machine numbering].
Has what appears to be carefully-chosen woods, with a straight-grained, bookmatched solid walnut top and rippled bookmatched walnut back, with centre purfling. Has interesting chunky longitudinal central strut and lighter cross-struts on the back. Bigger 1990s routed head with concentric circle logo, usual two piece walnut fingerboard, composite nut and fixed bridge, cross-grained walnut string strainer, zero fret – as on standard FM12 of this period. But it has chunky Grover chrome tuners, not Gotohs, and there are MoP markers at frets 3, 5, 7 (double), 10 and 13 (?!).
Overall length 35⅞”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 3oz (1006g), strings now 11, 14, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
There is a very small mark on one edge, but this instrument is otherwise immaculate. Sounds warm and as crisp and clear as a new all-solid McSpadden. Excellent value.
2.102 July 1998 McSpadden Ginger G-WS – £Sold inc. original good quality soft case:
Usual printed label, as 2001 below, but with: “Lynn McSpadden [h/w]/ Model: G-WS July 1998 [h/w]” etc. This must be an early short-scale Ginger. It has a walnut body made from a high quality laminate (as all standard McSpaddens did at the time) and a solid spruce top with good, close grain. Hollow, two-part walnut fingerboard with no overlay, and plain flat walnut headstock with chrome Gotoh tuners. Walnut endblock is routed for the string anchors, but these are just straight copper (?) rather than chrome mushroom-headed pins (the loops tend to slip off when changing strings!). Has the standard zero fret and composite nut, but the composite bridge is floating, presumably to allow compensation for alternate GDG and DAD tunings. This became fixed in later production Gingers, I believe. “McSpadden” name is branded on the fingerboard just between bridge and strum hollow. Heart soundholes are typical McSpadden shape, pointing to tail. Overall length 29¾”, upper bout 5⅜”, lower bout 7⅛”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 23¼” (short scale), weight 1lb 16oz (901g), strings now 12/12, 15, 26w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
These Gingers are in great demand, especially from players with smaller hands. This example has been well used, but is in good condition, with just a few marks on the fingerboard and top near the strum hollow. It plays easily, has good volume and the sound is pleasing, but it perhaps lacks just a little of the clarity and responsiveness of a full-size McSpadden equivalent.
2.101 June 1996 McSpadden FM12CR: SOLD
Usual printed slip as 2001 below, but “George Looney [h/w]/ Model: [h/w] FM12CR June 1996….#33666” etc. Body is high quality laminated cherry, with a solid redwood (bookmatched) top. Has the short-lived flat, classical guitar type cherry headstock with routed concentric circle logo and nice gold Gotoh tuners (which complement the red cherry perfectly). Standard two-part hollow cherry fingerboard, with “McSpadden” branded onto it, just between bridge and strum hollow. Composite nut (with zero fret) and fixed bridge. Cherry endblock is routed for the chrome mushroom-headed string anchors. Importantly, this appears to have original 1+ and 8+, as well as 6+ and 13+ frets. Overall length 35⅝”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 1oz (948g), strings now 10/10, 14, 23w. Has a 1+, 6+ , 8+ and 13+ fret.
As with so many of the cherry/redwood McSpaddens, sounds great – clear and full with more cut-through than the walnuts. Good condition, but some tiny signs of use on edge of fingerboard and top. With its extra frets, an excellent instrument for a decent player who wants to progress.
2.100 June 2001 McSpadden FM12W Special – EFB: SOLD
Usual printed label, “McSPADDEN/ Mountain Dulcimers/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ [h/w] Lynn McSpadden/ Model: [h/w] FM12W Special-EFB/ June 2001/Made in USA”. The Specials seem to have been made in limited numbers, usually to order. At a time when the standard McSpadden had a laminated back and sides, these were all solid wood and fully bookmatched, some (all?) with a contrasting wood overlay on fingerboard and endblock. This has a walnut body with a nice figure, bookmatched top and back with a white wood purfling strip down the centre back. The usual hollow two piece fingerboard has a lovely brown-flecked ebony overlay, continuing onto the tail block after the strum hollow. It has mother of pearl markers on frets 3, 5, 7 (double), 10, 12, 14 (double) and 17. The “McSpadden” name is branded onto the strum hollow. It has the flat, almost classical guitar type head, with the short-lived concentric ring routing. Chrome Gotohs, composite nut and fixed bridge, zero fret – as on standard FM12 of this period. Routed end block with chrome mushroom-headed pins as string anchors, but strainer is a block of ebony (to match fingerboard overlay) rather than usual walnut. Overall length 35½”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 1lb 16oz (901g), strings now 10/10, 15, 23w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
Excellent original condition with no marks. Sounds precise and clear, with some sustain and the typical sweetness of walnut. Action and intonation are excellent. This is a really nice piece of lutherie, almost comparable to a product of one of the low volume, hand-builders. Pictures not available.
