Clifford Glenn 3-String Appalachian Dulcimer (1963), handmade gig bag case.

Clifford Glenn 3-String Model Appalachian Dulcimer (1963), made in Sugar Grove, North Carolina, natural finish, Cherry body, handmade gig bag case.

Watauga County, North Carolina was a cradle of culture as a renewed interest in traditional folk music swelled in the nation as the 1950s followed WWII. Clifford Glenn was the son of largely self-taught luthier Leonard Glenn and learned the art of making folk instruments directly from his father. The Glenns as well as several other notable dulcimer makers were descended from Eli Presnell who created a standard dulcimer pattern from what was thought to be the original classic hourglass Appalachian dulcimer. Clifford and his father's instruments came to be in fairly high demand in the area and with traditional musicians all around Appalachia.

This well-constructed example of a classic 3-string Appalachian dulcimer is made from cherry. This was a tonewood indigenous to the area, easily and readily available in the woods surrounding the Glenn workshop. The entire instrument is made of cherry including the nut, bridge, and traditional friction pegs in the narrow lump-scroll headstock; it has a single screw endpin and stainless steel frets. The label inside is water damaged but still legible enough for identification. It still bears the family tradition hourglass body with those ever-charming heart shaped soundholes, the top and back have elegant scribed lines all around the outer edges.

Crucially, the Glenns are widely known to have built many historically significant Appalachian folk instruments for their neighbor, Frank Proffitt Sr. Proffitt is not only renowned as a builder, but as a folk performer who made a major contribution to American musical history including being featured in Alan Lomax's essential "Folk Songs of North America." Clifford and his "made to be played" instruments remained a constant in the community until his passing in 2015. This is a beautiful traditional instrument, finely built with exacting attention to detail delicate touches particular to this family's instruments.

Length is 35 in. (88.9 cm.), 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth at deepest point. Scale length is 28 in. (711 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/8 in. (35 mm.).

This is another visibly higher quality instrument from the long line of Glenn dulcimer makers. The cherry body is well-kept with only a few little camouflaged scratches and no major scratches or dings. The narrow 3-string peghead is clean as a whistle outfitted with three traditional friction pegs; the original nut and bridge as well as the stainless frets are healthy and little worn.

Clifford learned well from his father, and the superior craftsmanship shines through in the smaller decorative details such as the classic heart soundholes, the subtle taper of the fingerboard beyond the frets, and the subtle decorative etching around the top and back. The label inside is still attached, though has faded greatly from time and perhaps some humidity and is difficult to make out without close inspection and light. It would almost certainly have not left the shop in an original bag or case, but it now cozily resides in an specially ordered Amish-made dulcimer bag. Overall Excellent Condition.