Modern Mountain Hourglass Dulcimers
Dulcimers from David McKinney’s Modern Mountain Dulcimer workshop, Batesville, Arkansas. David had a dual career as sales trainer and cabinet maker, before in 1994 discovering a way to combine his woodworking skill and musical knowledge in a new career as a luthier. He apprenticed under Zeke Eltzroth in Mountain View, Arkansas to learn to build mountain dulcimers and psaltries. Since then he has built more than 2000 high quality mountain dulcimers. He strives to build high performance dulcimers with accurate intonation and great playability. His dulcimers are a popular choice for many top professionals in the US. The design is David’s own – a big-bodied dulcimer with a modern guitar-style one-sided headstock and (usually) a resonator back, built specifically for modern chord-melody play, especially fingerpicking.
2.271 Modern Mountain (Non-Resonator) #1411 2009 (?) Possibly a Prototype? £375 inc. soft case
In pencil on inner back: “A.O.W./ #1411/ 21/x / Thanks! [no signature visible].”
An unusual, possibly unique instrument with a very different design to the classic big-bodied MMD – possibly a prototype for a lower cost entry model? This has a conventional solid walnut body, bookmatched on back and sides, with a darker, softer hardwood top (also bookmatched). Large heart soundholes. Odd-shaped walnut ‘scroll’ with narrow, conventional pegbox, fitted with two-hole capstan guitar tuners (shafts and buttons vertically upwards). Hollow walnut fingerboard mounted above holes/slots drilled into the top, to increase reverberation. Just 6+ fret fitted, no other extras; mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7 & 9. Fretboard is not continuous along top, there being a gap where the strum hollow would normally be. The bridge is mounted on a separate tail unit, the strings running over the end to simple copper pins. Bridge and nut look like Folkcraft composite accessories but could also be ebony. Very light construction. Overall length 36⅜”, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 7½”, depth 2⅜”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝”, weight 2lb 1oz (940g), strings 0.010/[0.010], 0.014, 0.023w. Has 6+ but not 13+ fret.
This is a really punchy dulcimer with quite a strident tone, though it can be sweetened with a light right hand and a smooth left hand. Might be particularly effective for finger-picking? The separate bridge provides volume and punch, but gives a little less sustain. Intonation good. Very good condition with just a couple of pressure marks (which could be original). Probably going to be a marmite instrument!
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.295 (Ex. 2.273) 2003 3 String Hourglass (non-resonator) Dulcimer – £Sold
In pencil on inside back, “AOW Thanks/ 10/03 #722/ David McKinney [signature]”. Non-resonator back model with an all walnut body, nicely figured particularly on the bookmatched back, with some lighter sapwood tones. Bookmatched spruce top. Older style angled guitar-type headstock, made from walnut. Chrome Gotohs and strap buttons. Walnut fingerboard with MoP markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17. Has 6+ and 13+ frets but not extra 1+ or 8+. Bone (?) nut and compensated bridge. Usual cantilevered fingerboard at the bridge location and simple soundhole design, made from different size circles. Mushroom-headed pin string anchors are inset in tail and run through deep channels in the end of the fingerboard. Overall length 37½”, upper bout 6⅝”, lower bout 8″, depth 2⅜”, FBW 1½”, VSL 27″, weight 2lb 7oz (1199g), strings 0.012, 0.014, 0.024w. Has 6+ and 13+ frets.
Sounds very similar to the resonator-back models – clear, balanced and loud (but not shouty). It also shares the family characteristics of easy playability, with good intonation and straightforward action. A very impressive dulcimer.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.260 2018 Modern Mountain (Resonator) #2156 £Sold
“A.O.W. Thanks!/ 7/ 18 #2156/ David C. McKinney”. Cherry body, including bookmatched resonator back, with a stunning orangey lacewood top. Possibly cedar inner back – straight grained but not close-grained softwood. Modern style angular, flat headstock fitted with gold Planet Waves locking/self-trimming tuners. Smooth ebony fingerboard, with a slightly brownish tinge. A later soundhole design with a string of 5 holes on each side at the LB, 3 on each at the UB. 1+, 6+, 8+ an 13+ frets with the usual MoP markers and later, longer but more shallow strum hollow. Overall length 37¾”, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8⅜”, depth 3”, FBW 1½”, VSL 27” (medium scale), weight 3lb 09oz (1632g), strings 12, 15, 24w. Has the full complement of 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets.
This is essentially brand new, practically unplayed. This very striking custom Modern Mountain would currently be around £1300 if you ordered and imported it now – and there are strong rumours that David McKinney has retired from dulcimer building…so you might already be too late. All the usual benefits of a Modern Mountain: beautiful tonewoods, super smooth ebony fingerboard, clearly articulated notes. This one is VERY loud – particularly strong on the middle string, but not unbalanced. Generally a brighter sound, given the cherry body, but clear and full-toned for picking and gives plenty of punch for fingerstyle playing.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.184 2009 3 String Hourglass (Resonator Back) Dulcimer #1498 £Sold
In pencil: “AOW Thanks!/ 7/’09 #1498 /David C. McKinney [signature]”. Walnut resonator body, with bookmatched walnut sides and resonator back, latter with a black purfling strip down the middle. The top is thin, lively paulownia, as may be the inner back. Resonator mounted on 14 spacers with head and tail blocks. The flat head is darker walnut in the modern, angular shape, with black self-trimming Planet Waves tuners. Black ?buffalo nut and compensated, fixed bridge – not the usual pyramid-profile on top of the fingerboard. Walnut ?hollow fingerboard with ebony overlay, cantilevered under the bridge. Mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7 (twin), 10, 12, 14 (twin). Fingerboard – unusually – extends to 18th fret, meaning that the strum hollow is a little shorter. Usual MMD string channels through end of fingerboard to mushroom-headed strings anchors, routed into the tail. This instrument has a pickup mounted internally on a floating plate, in the middle of the back, running out to a jack on the nearside of the lower bout. Black strap buttons at each end.
Overall length 38″, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8⅛”, depth 2¼” [3” with resonator back], FBW 1⅝”, VSL 27″, weight 3lb 2oz (1414g), strings now 11, 14, 24w. Has the full complement of 1½, 6½, 8½ and 13½ frets.
Overall good condition, with just a few small dings. Lovely to play, as with all MMDs – plenty of power but allied to refinement, easy action, clarity and good tone. In this example, the sound is particularly clean, with good responsiveness and some force behind it.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.177 2011 3 String Hourglass (Resonator Back) Dulcimer #1741 £Sold
In pencil: “AOW Thanks!/ 5/’11 #1741 /David C. McKinney [signature]”. Resonator body with walnut sides and bookmatched resonator back (black purfling line down the middle). Inner back is a white, textured hardwood, possibly paulownia or chestnut. Top is fairly wide-grained spruce with the standard MM soundholes, comprising designs made from different sized holes. Later, angular flat head, with gold self-trimming Planet Waves tuners. White bone nut and pyramid section bridge, slanted slightly from a scribed mark on the treble side. Very smooth ebony fingerboard with mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7 (twin), 10, 12, 14 (twin). Fingerboard extends to 15th fret. Usual MMD string channels through end of fingerboard to mushroom-headed strings anchors, routed into the tail. Gold strap buttons at each end.
Overall length 38″, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8″, depth 2¼” [3” with resonator back], FBW 1⅝”, VSL 27″, weight 3lb 6oz (1548g), strings now 11, 14 25w. Has the full complement of 1½, 6½, 8½ and 13½ frets.
Generally good condition, just a few dings, notably on the headstock and far side lower bout, and the beginnings of wear on the treble side frets. Lovely to play, as with all MMDs – plenty of power but allied to refinement, easy action, clarity and good tone. In this example, the inherent warmth of the walnut body complements the edge of the spruce top very effectively.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.146 #?? 2016?? Short-scale (25″) Hourglass 3 String Non-resonator £Sold
Unusually, NO internal markings to show date or serial number. Purchased from original owner who believes he bought it in 2016.
Standard (i.e. non-resonator) short-scale hourglass model with fully bookmatched (sides and back) walnut body. The walnut is straight-grained with a good figure and a black purfling line runs down the centre of the back. Walnut top with the standard concentric circular MM soundholes. Later (sharp-edged – post-2010?) angled walnut flat headstock with gold Planet Waves self-cutting tuners. Walnut fingerboard has a wenge overlay; usual 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets; MoP markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14; usual rounded profile at tail (but with no arch underneath as the resonator ones); bone nut and broad (slightly angled) bridge. Mushroom-headed anchor pins, set into the tail, from which strings run through deep channels in the end of the fingerboard/top of tail. Strum hollow has a dimple on the far side for stabilising a finger (ring or pinkie) when fingerpicking. Gold strap buttons on each end. Overall length 37½”, upper bout 6⅜”, lower bout 8⅜”, depth 2⅜”, FBW 1⅝”, VSL 25⅝” (short/medium scale), weight 2lb 12oz (1238g), strings (?original) 14, 16, 25w. Has the full complement of 1½, 6½, 8½ and 13½ frets.
Almost perfect except for one light indent mark on the nearside UB and some light scuffing on the end of the headstock. Fairly heavy strings give some power without losing sweetness, accuracy of intonation or ease of playing. A lovely instrument, with only a fraction less depth of tone than the more expensive resonator instruments.
2.58 2008 3 String Hourglass (resonator) Dulcimer – £Sold
In pencil: “AOW Thanks!/ 08/11 (?) #1221 (?)/David McKinney [signature]”. #1221 is made almost entirely from an attractive dark Peruvian walnut, including the fingerboard overlay. Only the inner Galax-type back is maple (?). The outer back is bookmatched with a darker strip down the middle. 2½ octave fretboard with hardwood nut and bridge and 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets with mother of pearl dots (smaller at treble end) on 3,5, 7, 10, 14 etc. David’s innovative cantilevered tailpiece adds volume and the strings are inset to the right of the bridge, allowing players to rest the edge of their hand on it for extra stability when picking. This has the earlier rounded point on the RH side of the headstock. There is a pickup mounted internally on a floating plate, in the middle of the back, running out to a jack on the nearside. Gold Gotohs and strap buttons. Overall length 37¾”, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8″, depth 2⅜” [3” with galax back], FBW 1½”, VSL 27″, weight 3lb 1oz (1402g). Has the full complement of 1½, 6½, 8½ and 13½ frets.
Lovely full sound, as with all the other MMs, but perhaps a little softer and sweeter as a result of the all-walnut construction. Usual great action and intonation, with the added bonus of an original under-saddle pickup for sound reinforcement. See pictures 5-7 below.
2.80 2003 #667 £Sold
Handwritten in pencil, directly on the back of the dulcimer, “A.O.W. Thanks!/ 4/03 #667/ David C McKinney [signature]”. Body is made of poplar, including the resonator back (with central mahogany? purfling line), and it has a spruce top. Fingerboard may also be poplar, but with an attractive osage orange overlay; MoP markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 14 (twin markers on the octaves); extra frets at 1+, 6+, 8+, 13+. Bone nut and compensating bridge. High fingerboard, with distinctive arch over tail, behind the bridge. Fender-style flat, angled peghead fitted with Gold Gotohs. Unlike later models, has a conventional 4 string layout. Overall length 37¼”, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8⅛”, depth 2⅜” [3” with galax back], FBW 1⅝”, VSL 27″, weight 2lb 12oz (1242g). Has the full complement of 1½, 6½, 8½ and 13½ frets. Current strings 10[/10], 14, 22w.
Purchased by the previous owner from Aaaron O’Rourke, one of the best known of the younger generation of MD players and a favourite teacher at US dulcimer festivals. He was winner of the 2010 US National Mountain Dulcimer Competition, held in Winfield, Kansas. Aaron’s signature is on the back. Plays very easily, with an almost guitar-type tone. Loud, as you would expect, but not overwhelming and well-balanced. Very responsive to different styles of playing. Delightful!
