Bonnie Carol Dulcimers
Bonnie is a mountain and hammered dulcimer player/teacher who discovered the dulcimer after playing piano and guitar in her youth. Her partner Max Krimmel was a guitar builder in Colorado and presented her with her first mountain dulcimer in 1971. In the later 70s, having lost her full-time job in mental health, she decided to go into music full time, teaching, producing festivals and performing across the U.S. By this time, she was also making dulcimers, taught by Max. After a long and eventful partnership – and having been a major influence on playing and making in the dulcimer world – Bonnie and Max decided to retire in the 2020s, having reached dulcimer #511. Each Bonnie Carol dulcimer is individual and different, influenced by the choice of wood, though the basic design, shape and sound are still distinctly those of the workshop. Common features include wide, shallow bodies, flat headstocks, chamfered soundholes and exotic timbers.
2.361 Bonnie Carol 4 string 3 course hourglass £795 + top end fitted padded soft case £35
Heart-shaped printed label: “Bonnie Carol/Dulcimers/www.BonnieCarol.com/ Bonnie Carol [sign.]/Max Krimmel [sign.] #356/2006”.
Body is entirely made from beautiful highly-figured burr or curly walnut, bookmatched back, sides and top. The large heart soundholes are bevelled or chamfered round the edge, as are the top edges of each bout (less so on the waist). Short, flat, figured walnut head with gold Schallers and squarish pearloid buttons. Heavily arched walnut fingerboard with deep ebony overlay. Heart-shaped MoP markers at frets 3, 7, 10 & 14. Bone nut and slanted (not compensated) bridge. Simple pins as string anchors, leather pad on top of tail acting as a strainer. Gold strap buttons. Overall length 34¼”, upper bout 7⅜”, lower bout 8¾”, depth 2”, FBW 1½”, VSL 24½” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 11oz (1231g), strings 0.012/[0.012], 0.015, 0.025w. Has a 6+ and 13+ fret.
In immaculate condition, this is a very pretty and well-built instrument. It has great sustain, excellent balance and a sweet, very persuasive tone. The action is very comfortable. A very classy custom instrument from a legendary maker.
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