Folkcraft CSH Series – 4 String Hourglass
Folkcraft is one of the two big US builders of mountain dulcimers, with McSpadden. It prides itself on always using sold woods in its handmade instruments. David and Melissa Marks started Folkcraft Instruments in Vermont in 1974, moving to Winsted, Connecticut in 1980. David was a music teacher on the look out for cheap, easy to learn instruments when he came across the mountain dulcimer. First he worked with students to build dulcimers, then set up on his own, working part-time. By 1975, the business was booming sufficiently for David to give up teaching. In 1989, Folkcraft bought the Rugg and Jackel FolkRoots business and took over its product line. Folkcraft was sold in 2007 and the workshop moved to Woodburn, Indiana.
The CSH range is Folkcraft’s semi-customised dulcimer with better quality woods and fancier design details.
2.284 1988 Folkcraft CFSHCeW #506 £325 + shell case in good condition £20
Printed label (torn/wet in past?) which seems to have been moved inside the body: “Handcrafted by/ Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted CT 06098/ Model [h/w] CFSHCeW 506/ Date [h/w] 7-14-88”.
Iconic Folkcraft body, made from attractively figured Black Walnut, bookmatched on the back, with a lighter purfling line down the centre. Khaki-coloured cedar top with weeping heart soundholes. Walnut hooked scroll fitted with new black tuners. Arched fingerboard is maple with a stripy wenge overlay and a single mother of pearl marker at fret 3. Similar wenge trim on end cap. Folkcraft standard composite nut and bridge, cut for various string configurations. Copper string anchor pins on top of tail. New gold strap buttons. Hairline crack from nearside, upper bout soundhole which has now been stabilised and is not moving. Overall length 37”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6¼”, body height 2”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 9oz (1164g), strings now 0.011/[0.011], 0.014, 0.024w. Complete with 6+ fret (no 13+ fret).
This came without hardware, perhaps stripped to re-finish? – but the body is very sound (a few dings on the cedar top) and the matte gloss finish suits it. Sounds good with good sustain, decent volume and punch, but capable of some sweetness also. A nice-sounding instrument with a very playable scale length.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.156 1988 CFSHW 4 String Hourglass #289 £Sold
Square printed label with black border: “Handcrafted by/ Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted CT 06098/ Model [h/w] CFSHW 289/ Date [h/w] 4.26.88”.
Typical intermediate model with bookmatched light walnut body and tri-colour purfling on the back. Cedar top with trailing heart soundholes; hooked scroll and narrow pegbox, with open-geared, white button tuners. Composite white nut and (new, replacement) fully compensated bone bridge. 6+, no 13+ fret. Nicely figure brown, flecked wooden overlay on plain maple arched fingerboard. Similar trim on end cap. Plain copper pins on tail for string anchors.
Overall length 37¼”, upper bout 5¾”, lower bout 6⅜”, body height 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 4oz (1022g), strings now 0.012/[0.012], 0.014, 0.022w . Complete with 6+ (no 13+) fret.
Quite heavily used, with some marks on the fingerboard, soft cedar top and sides, but unmarked back. Plays well with some volume and finesse. Nice looking instrument.
2.95 – 1993 CFSHCeW #642 – Walnut, Cedar and ?Padauk/Osage Orange – 4 String Hourglass – £Sold
Printed label, “Handcrafted by/ Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted, CT 06098/ Model: CFSHCeW – 642 [h/written]/ Date: 11/9/93”. Solid bookmatched walnut body with cedar top, weeping heart soundholes and a lovely figured orangey-brown wood for the fingerboard overlay and tail veneer (possibly padauk or osage orange). Has the standard maple arched fingerboard, scroll head and guitar-style vertical tuners; plastic nut and bridge; copper pin string anchors for loop or ball end strings.
Overall length 37”, upper bout 4¾”, lower bout 6¼”, body height 2”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 7oz (1107g). Complete with 6+ (but not 13+) fret. Strings now 10/10, 14, 23w.
A lovely-looking instrument in near-perfect condition, with very few signs of wear – minimal marking on the normally vulnerable cedar top, no scratches on the back etc. Sounds warm but quite punchy if pushed, with a very balanced, typically dulcimer sound. A strong competitor to one of the better sounding, more recent solid wood McSpaddens. See pictures 4-6 below.
2.71 1990 CFSHCW #423 – £Sold
This one is a CW: a CSH with Cedar top and Walnut sides and back. This has a bookmatched walnut back with a nice figure and a rosewood or wenge inlay strip up the middle. It has walnut sides and headstock, with four guitar-style open tuners. Maple cantilevered fingerboard with contrasting wenge overlay (like ebony or dark rosewood with v straight grain). Western red cedar top with “weeping heart” soundholes. Wenge cap on tailblock, with pin anchors suitable for ball- or loop-end strings.
Printed label: “Handcrafted by / Folkcraft Instruments/ Winsted, CT 06098/ Model CFSHCW 423/ 12.26.90″. Overall length 37¼”, upper bout 4¾”, lower bout 6¼”, body height 1¾”, FBW 1⅜”, VSL 26⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 7oz (1118g). Complete with 6+ and 13+ fret. Current string gauges 10/10, 14, 23w.
Solid and attractive construction, but produces a strong and balanced, very “dulcimery” sound. A very close equivalent to one of the better sounding McSpaddens.
Click on images below to enlarge.
