New Harmony Dulcimers
The New Harmony Dulcimer Company, based in New Harmony, Indiana, was founded in 2013 by engineer and luthier Rick Gooden. He has been working with Joe Collins, mountain dulcimer champion, teacher and builder in his own right, to develop a market-leading range of instruments. New Harmony has rapidly become one of the most prestigious – and popular – choices among the dulcimer community, renowned for their excellent construction, imaginative wood choices, good looks and balanced sound.
4.43 2022 New Harmony ‘Command Performance’ 3 String Hourglass #22043 £Sold
White marker, handwritten, inside: “Rick Gooden/ May 2022/ 22043/Rob Woodring”.
Top-of-the-range ‘Command Performance’ model with deep red-brown, figured Bolivian Rosewood (Pau Ferro) body and straight-grained Sitka Spruce top. The F-shaped soundholes have brown (rosewood?) edging, and rosewood chamfers on the waist and tail – making less of an edge when leaning over the dulcimer or angling it up to play. The body has a high gloss, rock-hard ‘Pinnacle’ finish. The fingerboard is also rosewood, with a deep ebony overlay; 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets; mother of pearl markers at 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14; cryogenic gold frets (hardened surface to reduce wear). The end of the fingerboard does not extend fully to the tail and is undercut, the ball end strings being anchored by slots (rather like a Keith Young dulcimer). The flat head is angled (but not angular), having the New Harmony logo at one end and the cursive CP logo of the Command Performance model at the other. The serial number is stamped on the back. The Hipshot Gold locking tuners have unusual black knurled buttons which work very smoothly. The ‘nut’/zero fret and ‘Accutune’ bridge module are made of a black composite, the latter allowing individual adjustment of each string’s intonation (rather like an electric guitar). Fitted with a double pickup as standard and black jack socket/strap button on tail (other strap button on neck also present).
Overall length 37″, upper bout 6¼”, lower bout 7¾”, depth 2⅜”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26″ (short/medium), weight 3lb 13oz (1735g). 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets. Original strings 12, 16, 24w.
These dulcimers have a heft to the sound that is outstanding, without losing their sweetness or clarity. They have good tonal balance, no bass boom and good sustain, especially given the undercut tail design. The intonation is excellent and easily adjustable for different string choices. The low action and modest scale length make it easy to play, notwithstanding the chunky strings. The accessories/fittings are top class. For these reasons, this particular model is now the first choice of many top US players and has a long waiting list.
Click on images below to enlarge. Close-up of headstock and tuners is from an earlier but identical Command Performance model.
4.44 2022 New Harmony ‘Whaletail’ 3 String Hourglass #22044 £Sold
White marker handwritten : “Rick Gooden/ May 2022/ 22044/Rob Woodring”.
This is New Harmony’s standard model, but based on the same basic body size and with many of the key design features of the premium models. Has a beautiful dark chocolate Peruvian Walnut body, bookmatched on sides and back, with a Harmonist Poplar top which uses the bookmatched yellowy/grey tones of the wood to striking effect. The soundholes are a Man-in-the Moon design in the lower bout and stars in the upper bout. It has the new slanted head design (without hole) fitted with black Hipshot locking tuners. The fingerboard also walnut and hollow, with a very hard and smooth brown Katalox overlay. The frets are hardened cryogenic frets on a 25” scale length and a 1½” fingerboard. 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets are present. The ‘nut’/zero fret and ‘Accutune’ bridge module are made of a black composite, the latter allowing individual adjustment of each string’s intonation (rather like an electric guitar). The undercut tail delivers more power by allowing the top to vibrate more freely. The body has an oil finish. Black strap buttons, including a jack socket on the tail linked to a single piezo pickup. Overall length 37½”, upper bout 6¼”, lower bout 8”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 25″ (short/medium), weight 2lb 13oz (1271g). 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets. Original strings 12, 16, 24w.
Plenty of volume but with excellent balance, easy action and a very reachable scale length. A slightly harder quality to the sound than the Performance Model perhaps, but still an amazingly accurate and versatile dulcimer for all styles of playing.
Click on images below to enlarge.
4.35 2021 New Harmony 3 String Hourglass £Sold
Felt handwriting inside: “Rick Gooden/ August 2021/ 21056/Rob Woodring”.
Beautiful dark chocolate Peruvian Walnut body, bookmatched to back and sides, with greeny-yellow tinged Harmonist Poplar top. Soundhole design depicts a man in the moon, with stars in the upper bout. Hollw, box-section walnut fingerboard with ebony-like Katalox overlay. 1+, 6+, no 8+, 13+ frets. Cryogenic frets with mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7 (double), 10, 12, 14. Flat, angled walnut headstock, fitted with chrome, Hipshot locking tuners. Chrome strap button/jack output on tail – but no pickup fitted. Water-based finish. Accutune bridge module with individual adjustable saddles; ‘nut’ made of similar composite material with zero fret. Overall length 37″, upper bout 6¼”, lower bout 8⅛”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26″ (short/medium), weight 2lb 14oz (1292g). 1+, 6+, 13+ frets. Original strings 12, 16, 24w.
Slightly more bassy and perhaps a little less rounded than its more expensive sibling, but superb action and intonation, a great sound, good volume – and so pretty!
Click on images below to enlarge.
4.36 2021 New Harmony ‘Private Reserve’ 3 String Hourglass £Sold
Felt handwriting inside: “Rick Gooden/ August 2021/ 21053/Rob Woodring”.
Stunning bubinga body, fully bookmatched, with reddish figuring and some curl. Swamp ash top. Mahogany fretboard with ebony overlay, having frets 1+, 6+, 8+, 13+. Mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14. Full 16 frets to the strum hollow. Bubinga , swirl-shaped flat head without the accustomed round hole, with green NHD logo just behind the nut. Black, Hipshot locking tuners, cryogenic frets, oil finish. Accutune bridge module with individually adjustable saddles; ‘nut’ made from similar hard composite material with zero fret. Short, cantilevered tail, leaving top able to vibrate freely. Under-saddle pickup and black strap button-cum-jack plug on tail. Overall length 37″, upper bout 6¼”, lower bout 8⅛”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26″ (short/medium), weight 3lb 10oz (1643g). 1+, 6+, 8+ and 13+ frets. Original strings 12, 16, 24w.
Very full sound with excellent balance between treble and bass. Intonation also spot on – and adjustable for different string gauge choices. Some volume, but not harsh or boomy, with a very rounded tone. Effortless action. NB takes only ball end strings.
Click on images below to enlarge.
2.248 2019 New Harmony Dulcimer, #19077, 3 String 3 Course, Hourglass £Sold
Handwritten internally on back: “Rick Gooden/ Rick Gooden [sgnd]/ June 2019/ 19077.”
Big body made of bookmatched mahogany, with wormy/curly ambrosia maple top, soundholes with cherry dogwood blossom inserts, a mahogany hollow fingerboard and reddish Patagonian rosewood overlay. Flat, angled mahogany headstock with big circular cutout (for hanging it up?). Fitted with Grover 18:1 chrome tuners. Rosewood ‘nut’/zero fret and lozenge-type fixed bridge with saddle made from a fret. Fingerboard is hollow/box sectioned with tail end cantilevered like a Keith Young (but shorter) with ball-end strings held by slots/teeth on the end (for quick re-stringing). It has a matt water-based finish. Chrome strap buttons with tail end incorporating ¼” jack plug, but not fitted with any internal pickup. Short scale but still with just over 2 octaves. Mother of pearl markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 10. 6+ and 13 + frets present. Overall length 38″, upper bout 6½”, lower bout 8¼”, depth 2¼”, FBW 1½”, VSL 25″ (short/medium), weight 2lb 15oz (1348g). 6+ and 13+ frets. Replacement strings 12/[12], 14, 25w.
Attractive appearance with good quality construction and excellent wood selection. Plays very easily and has good balance with an accurate, neutral tone – i.e. no odd harmonics or wolf tones – and good intonation with moveable bridge. Very playable!
Click on images below to enlarge.
