Doyn Lammers Dulcimers
Handmade by Doyn Lammers, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Rare instruments from a low volume maker. Born 1921, Doyn was still alive when I bought my first Lammers dulcimer, though he was no longer making instruments after breaking his hip. His dulcimers used to sell at between $400 and $500. Now deceased, his granddaughter said in March 2025: “He had a small shop in his backyard where he made these dulcimers and banjos. He also made wooden kid toys for the arts and crafts fairs he frequented in his retirement. I believe he bought a kit dulcimer and the hobby grew from there. He was an artist with wood.”
2.364 Late 80s? Doyn Lammers 4 string hourglass £350 + good shell case £30
Printed oblong label: “A Quality Hand Made Dulcimer/ A Musical Instrument Made in Hot Springs, Arkansas/ Handcrafted Mountain Dulcimers/ Doyn Lammers/ 111 Wildwood Ave/ Hot Springs AR 71913/ [telephone number]”. No date.
Solidly built, nicely proportioned body made from solid, purple/brown Walnut, bookmatched on the back with a maple central purfling strip and some hint of sapwood colouring; also bookmatched on sides and top. Top has Lammers’ trademark ‘bunch of hearts’/dogwood soundhole design. Walnut closed pegbox and routed scroll, laminated from two pieces of walnut; Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners with rosewood buttons. Unusual T-section fingerboard, wider on the top face with a narrower base (presumably to maximise the sound/vibration of the top). 6+ no 13+ fret. Star shape deeply incised into fingerboard between strum hollow and bridge. Ebony (?) ‘nut’/zero fret and bridge. Overall length 35½”, upper bout 5⅞”, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 28½” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 6oz (1069g). 6+ no 13+ fret. Current strings 11/[11], 14, 23w.
Despite its solid build, produces a good, warm sound with good responsiveness up the fretboard. It also has remarkably accurate intonation across and up the strings. Good shell case. Well-constructed and decent sounding, this would be a rewarding intermediate/pro dulcimer.
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2.86 1990s? Doyn Lammers £Sold
Printed label: “Handcrafted Mountain Dulcimers and Banjos/ Quality Hand-made Instruments/ And Dulcimer Kits created in/ Historic Hot Springs, Arkansas/ by/ Doyn Lammers/ Hot Springs AR 71913/ 111 Wildwood Ave [crossed out] 111 Woodberry [h/w]”. No date, but hardware and general feel suggest 1990s. Seller thinks might be 1988 – it was his mother’s.
Beautifully coloured solid curly red cherry, particularly attractive on the back, where it is bookmatched and has dark (walnut?) purfling centre line. Pegbox and scroll continue with central strip, scroll being routed out. Grover sta-tite friction tuners with plastic pearl buttons. The solid cherry fingerboard is quite deeply undercut at the side along its length; Doyn Lammers’ signature burnt into fingerboard between zero fret and fret 1; 6+ but no 13+ frets; star shape deeply incised into fingerboard between strum hollow and bridge; darker wood markers on frets 3, 5, 7, 10, 13. Two (only) mushroom-headed pins as string anchors. Lammers’ trade mark dogwood (?) soundholes, each made from 4 small heart shapes. Quite shallow sides given the size of body generally. Overall length 35½[36]”, upper bout 6¼ [5¾]”, lower bout 7 [7]”, depth 1¾”, FBW 1⅝”, VSL 28½ [28½]” (medium/long scale), weight 2lb 4oz (1021g). 6½ fret. Current strings 11/[11], 15, 25w….the bass is probably a little too dominant with this setup and it would benefit from a lighter set overall.
Surprisingly lively, given that the earlier one (made of thick wood) was sweet but quiet. Cherry makes it bright and, with slightly higher than average action, is reasonably loud. Intonation pretty good on all strings and responds well into the second octave. A most attractive instrument.
1980s? Doyn Lammers £Sold
All maple construction with nicely figured top and fingerboard. Unusual and attractive cluster of hearts soundhole design. Solidly built. Originally with zero fret but now ebony conventional nut for improved action/intonation. Overall length 36”, lower bout 7″, upper bout 5¾”, VSL 28½” (long scale). Non-geared banjo tuners. 6½ fret.
Pleasant, light sound with some finesse, but not loud. Easy action. An attractive, traditional-sounding mountain dulcimer.
