Walnut Valley Cedar Creek Sage Institute Dulcimer 1988 - Natural Walnut, New Strings

Warm up to a beautiful Walnut Valley Cedar Creek Sage Institute Dulcimer 1988 - Natural Walnut, New Strings. A really cool Dulcimer with some history. Serial Number CC-088-36. This indicates it was made a Cedar Creek model for the Sage Institute in 1988 and it was the 36th one made that year. So nice and a rare find. A neat dulcimer from a reputable company, this easy-playing instrument has a lot going for it.  Great condition, very low action (without buzzing), mellow sound with good mids, this is a good intermediate purchase.

Here's what I know....The Walnut Valley Dulcimer Company was originally The Whitewater Dulcimer Company and owned by Les Slaughter, a lute maker in Burns Kansas (a small town where scenes from Tim Burton’s “Mars Attack!” were filmed).  The company was sold to Jack Brunner in 1992, according to my informant, and its name changed to Walnut Valley.  But I have seen dulcimers from 1988 with the new designation, so perhaps the change in ownership was earlier.  The name of several operatives at the time, including Carol Callahan and D Brunner, appear on some labels.  There was also some kind of affiliation with the Sage Institute of Ohio, mentioned on some labels.  Models included the WM (Wild Mountain), SR (Smoky River), CC (Cedar Creek) and SC (Stone County). 

This Model is the slightly better appointed version of the WV teardrop, but still with a simple construction of a single staff (continuous) fingerboard and headstock.  This one is all-walnut, with a pretty bookmatched back and central purfling.  The walnut fingerboard is arched (cantilevered) to allow maximum movement of the walnut solid top and is particularly highly figured towards the strum ‘hollow’ (more a chamfer!).  The flat headstock has Grover Sta-Tite friction tuners with real rosewood buttons.  Attention to details results in a leather string strainer to stop marking on the tail and guitar-like bridge pins for string anchors.  Overall length 35½”, upper bout n/a, lower bout 7″, depth 1¾”, FBW 1½”, VSL 26⅝” (medium scale), weight 2lb 0oz (885g).

Get a beautiful Walnut Valley Cedar Creek Sage Institute Dulcimer 1988 - Natural Walnut, New Strings.  for a great price. Shipping cost won't cause any sour notes either because fast shipping with tracking is only $18.00! Check out the actual pictures and feedback so you'll know that you will not be disappointed!