Early and Mid-Period McSpadden 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 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.
2.321 Mid-80s [? 1985] McSpadden M12-W missing label but probably #12000-#14000.
From: “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ [?unknown luthier] [h/w]/ Serial No. [unknown] Model: M12-W [h/w]”.
Pretty scroll-headed dulcimer with solid walnut bookmatched sides and top, latter richly figured, and usual laminated walnut back. Box section, two level walnut fingerboard with quite narrow frets, 6+ but not 13+. Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners on dark walnut pegbox, with walnut or rosewood buttons. Caramel-coloured (light brown) composite nut/zero fret and bridge. ‘McSpadden’ in black script between strum hollow and bridge. End grain block to act a string strainer, leading over to vertical/straight, non-recessed tail with shallow vent to body and 4 mushroom-headed pins as string anchors. Script McSpadden on fingerboard suggests later than 1970s (blank fingerboard) or early 80s (stylised M close to bridge). Recessed tails seemed to come in during mid-late 80s. Overall length 36”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7⅛”, height 1⅞”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 3oz (981g). 6+ not 13+ fret. Strings now 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.023w.
Excellent condition for its age, with a few light scratches on the back, very little on sides or top at all. Clear, light sound with good volume. A classic dulcimer from a classic mid-Lynn McSpadden era when all the luthiers in the workshop had been there pretty much from the beginning, 15 years before.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.310 1987 McSpadden M12-S #15072 4 String, 3 or 4 Course Hourglass [Ex-2.282] £Sold
This is the classic middle period instrument from probably the best known and most reliable larger scale dulcimer makers in the world – and signed by the individual craftsman who made it.
Usual early-mid period printed label: “3-1987 [h/w]/ The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/George Looney [h/w]/ Serial No. 15072 [h/w] Model M12-S [h/w]”.
Excellent condition example of one of the most successful early McSpadden models. This has a walnut body, with solid sides and a good quality walnut laminate back; solid spruce top with tight, straight grain. Darker brown walnut scroll and narrow pegbox, originally fitted with Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners, but now with genuine McSpadden planetary geared tuners. Fingerboard is the usual two layer walnut box section (hollow underneath), with 6+ but no 13+ fret, and ‘McSpadden’ inscribed just in front of the bridge. Ochre composite bridge and ‘nut’ with zero fret. Tail has usual cross-grain reinforcement on top and a routed tail with shallow soundport into the body. String anchors are mushroom-headed pins. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 3oz (1006g). 6+, no 13+ fret. Strings now 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.024w.
Good condition instrument which has seen limited use. A few light scratches on the back and small nicks on top, but cosmetically pretty good overall. The sound is full and has real presence – plenty of punch if required, but by no means harsh. This is one of the best wood combinations in these earlier instruments and, with the updated tuners, constitutes a very playable instrument for all abilities.
2.294 (ex-2.117) McSpadden M12-W Hourglass #14589 £Sold
Mid-80s M12-W #14589 4 String Hourglass: printed label, “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Lynn McSpadden [h/w]/ Serial No. 14,589 Model: M12-W [h/w]”.
Classic scroll dulcimer from the McSpadden stable with laminated walnut back and solid walnut sides and top. Walnut two part fingerboard with zero fret and 6+ but not 13+ frets. Walnut tail and the iconic McSpadden moulded scroll headstock, this one in a nice rich walnut. Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners with rosewood buttons. Composite nut and bridge.
Overall length 36¾”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 1oz (933g), strings now 11/11, 14, 24w. 6½ fret.
Clear, sweet and well-articulated sound, with plenty of volume. In excellent condition with very few surface marks for its age. Comes with original brown shell case in good condition.
Click on images below to enlarge
2.291 1981/82 McSpadden M12-W Special Hourglass #8037 £Sold
Printed label, “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Larry McSpadden [sign]/ Serial No. 8037 [h/w] Model M12-W SPECIAL [h/w]”.
Typical early 1980s scroll head hourglass McSpadden design, a special order model made from select solid wood and with mother-of-pearl position markers on the fingerboard. Straight-grained walnut sides, pretty bookmatched top (with curly grain) and stunning bookmatched back (with entral purfling line, curly grain AND some lighter sapwood colouring). Two piece box-section walnut fingerboard with 6+ (but not 13+) fret and mother-of-pearl position markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10 & 13 (sic). Caramel-coloured composite ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge, with short-lived stylised “M” logo to right of strum hollow. Elegant solid dark walnut scroll and narrow pegbox. The original Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners and rosewood buttons have been replaced with the much more practical planetary-geared tuners (genuine McSpadden with pearl buttons). Concave tail, with mushroom-headed pins for strings anchors and a string strainer made from transverse grain walnut. Usual McSpadden heart soundholes, pointing to tail. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 7⅛”, height 1¾”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (977g), strings 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.023w. 6+ fret, no 13+.
Condition is excellent for its age, with just a few small dings on back and top. A little wear on melody-side frets and on the fretboard surface in two spots. Sound is soft and full (for a McSpadden) with excellent sustain. A really pretty instrument, which shows how skilled these long-serving luthiers were – when they were free to choose the best materials in the shop.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.250 McSpadden M12 1981/82 (?) #8399 £Sold
Printed label, “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Larry McSpadden [sign]/ Serial No. 8399 [h/w] Model M12 [h/w]”.
Typical mid-80s scroll head walnut McSpadden with spruce top. Walnut sides, with very light laminated walnut back; good quality bookmatched solid spruce top. Two piece box-section walnut fingerboard with 6+ (but not 13+) fret, cream composite ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge and stylised “M” logo to right of strum hollow. Elegant solid dark walnut scroll and narrow pegbox, with Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners, each with their own rosewood buttons. Concave tail, with mushroom-headed pins for strings anchors and a string strainer made from transverse grain walnut. Usual McSpadden heart soundholes, pointing to tail. Overall length 36½”, upper bout 5⅝”, lower bout 7”, height 1¾”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 0oz (916g), strings 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.023w. 6+ fret, no 13+.
Strong sound with good presence, playing cleanly well into the 2nd octave. Intonation is very good, even without the compensated bridge of the modern instrument. Very good condition for a 40 year old dulcimer – the body is almost unmarked, with just light pick damage on the fretboard above the 11th fret and (almost invisibly) to the nearside top.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.245 1988 McSpadden M12-W #17,447 4 String Hourglass with 1+ and 8+ frets £Sold
“7 – 88 [h/w]/ The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Richard Stoltze [h/w]/ Serial No. 17447 [h/w] Model M12-W [h/w]”.
Well-preserved all-walnut early/mid period McSpadden hourglass. Lovely dark chocolate solid walnut with hints of lighter sapwood near the centre; mid-brown solid straight-grained walnut sides; blander light brown laminated back. Dark brown scroll with narrow pegbox, fitted with expensive and very smooth Wittner geared viola pegs (replacing the temperamental original friction pegs). Yellowing composite nut/zero fret and bridge. May well have been professionally re-fretted (by McSpadden?) and now boasting 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets. Mushroom-headed pins on recessed tail, small vent under fingerboard; strainer block on top of tail, with contrasting grain direction to support string path to bridge. Overall length 36¼”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 6¾”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 1oz (931g). 1+, 6+, 8+, 13+ fret. Strings now 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.024w.
A stunning example of a scroll, hourglass McSpadden from a classic period, enhanced with extra frets. Sounds great – good note separation, clear balanced tone, some volume if required. Intonation seems fine. In excellent condition for its age, with only one or two light marks on the back, elsewhere, unmarked.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.190 McSpadden T34-W 1980? 4 string, 3 course teardrop #5528 £Sold
Printed label: “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ [h/w] George Looney/ Serial No. [h/w] 5528 Model [h/w] T34-W”.
Classic teardrop design with attractive dark walnut solid top with walnut laminate back and (?) sides, showing a bookmatch-type figure. Typical McSpadden walnut scroll and closed pegbox; Grover Sta-Tite tuners with brown plastic buttons; two part walnut fingerboard with original 6+ fret (no 13+ fret). Rosewood “nut” with zero fret and bridge. Stylised hand-cut f-holes on a shallow body; early McSpadden stylised “M” logo branded on fingerboard immediately in front of bridge; cross-grained walnut strainer; brass mushroom-headed pins for string anchors, set directly on concave tail.
Overall length 36”, lower bout 6⅞”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 28⅜” (long scale), weight 2lb 1oz (943g). 6+ but not 13+ fret. Strings now 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.023w (extra melody string can of course be added).
Immaculate condition considering its age, with only a few light abrasions. Plays very easily and sounds clear and resonant. Comes with (probably) original shell case in good condition, with one small edge tear.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.140 Mid-1980s McSpadden M12-W #10,137 £Sold
Printed label, “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Richard Stoltze [sign]/ Serial No. 10,137 [h/w] Model M12-W [h/w]”.
Typical mid-80s scroll head all-walnut McSpadden in superb original condition. Bookmatched solid walnut top and sides, with laminated walnut back. Single piece walnut fingerboard with 6+ (but not 13+) fret, composite bridge and nut, zero fret and stylised “M” to right of strum hollow. Elegant solid walnut scroll and pegbox, with Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners, each with their own walnut buttons. Mushroom-headed pins for strings anchors with string strainer made from transverse grain walnut. Usual McSpadden heart soundholes, pointing to tail.
Overall length 36⅛”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (969g), strings 0.010/0.010, 0.014, 0.023w. 6½ fret, no 13+.
Excellent example of an earlier walnut McSpadden with great balance and easy action. Almost unmarked, despite its 30+ years!
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge each photo:
2.178 Mid-80s McSpadden M12 #12,502 4 String Hourglass £Sold
Small oblong printed label with brown text/scroll decoration: “The Dulcimer Shoppe/ Handcrafted Instruments by McSpadden/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Lynn McSpadden [h/w]/ Serial No. 12,502 [h/w] Model: M12 [h/w]”.
From time when M12 was the standard offering – scroll head, walnut body and spruce top. Solid walnut sides with straight-grained spruce top and laminated walnut back. Rich, darker walnut scroll with closed pegbox, fitted with Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners and real walnut buttons. Typical two layer walnut fingerboard; 6+ but not 13+ fret; “McSpadden” name stamped just in front of bridge; brown composite bridge and ‘nut’ with zero fret. Mushroom-headed pins on non-recessed tail, small vent under fingerboard; strainer block on top of tail, with contrasting grain direction to support string path to bridge.
Overall length 36½”, upper bout 5½”, lower bout 7”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28⅜” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 2oz (950g), strings now 10/10, 14, 22w. 6½ fret no 13+.
An almost pristine example, with very few visible signs of wear. Sounds crisp and clear with plenty of resonance. Plays well up into the second octave. Like most great-sounding pre-millennium McSpaddens would be an even more desirable working instrument with a geared tuner upgrade. Has a rare upgraded hardshell case with soft padded velours interior.
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge.
2.114/2.75 McSpadden M12-S 1989 #19,977 £Sold
This is the classic middle period instrument from probably the best known and most reliable larger scale dulcimer makers in the world – and signed by the craftsman who made it.
Printed label inside: “McSpadden/ Mountain Dulcimers/ Mountain View, Arkansas/ Richard Stoltze [h/w]/ Model M12-S [h/w] Date 9-1989 [h/w]/ #19,977 [h/w].” Walnut sides and single piece laminated back, solid spruce top. Beautiful walnut scroll headstock and Grove Sta-Tite friction tuners with rosewood buttons. “McSpadden” printed on fingerboard in front of bridge. Four McSpadden-style heart soundholes; walnut two piece, hollow fingerboard; composite nut and bridge; zero fret.
Overall length 36”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 7⅛”, height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28¾” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 1oz (936g). 6½ fret. Strings now standard McSpadden gauge: 10/10, 14, 23w.
Clean condition with a few small dings on the edges. Action good and sounds bright and forward. Period shell case in good condition.
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge each photo:
