Woodburn, Indiana
‘Folk Craft Instruments’ 

Wood, metal
2007
Length: 28.75 in
Strings – Zithers 

Printed label inside: Handcrafted by / FOLK CRAFT / INSTRUMENT / www.folkcraft.com / Model: FCT2-2310275 / Serial #: 20071071 / Luthier: S. J. Ash / Date: 7/14/07

While there are many differences in recent mountain dulcimers, the two main shapes of dulcimers that are most popular today are the hourglass, and the teardrop designs derived from older traditional dulcimers. The hourglass comes mainly from the Eastern Kentucky designs of J. Edward Thomas, and the teardrop Appalachian dulcimer is found mostly in early nineteenth century dulcimers from Virginia and east Tennessee.

This teardrop Appalachian dulcimer was custom handmade for Dr. Fred Willman, a dear friend and colleague of mine at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.  It has four strings arranged as a three-course instrument.  Two of the string are close together (1/8” apart) and tuned in unison.  The other two strings are further apart serving as a middle and bass string done when the two melody strings are played, creating the traditional melody with drone style of playing. Tuned ddAD

Resource: https://www.bearmeadow.com/smi/rockwell.htm