MODELS & DETAILS All CapriTaurus dulcimers are high quality professional instruments:
Available details:
There are two models: a standard scale model and a short scale model. |
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 Standard scale model dulcimer |
 Short scale model dulcimer |
STANDARD SCALE MODEL
This professional instrument is the original "California style" dulcimer with a big body and a big voice. Created for the discerning musician who wants more volume from their dulcimer. Be heard while playing with others! This high quality dulcimer comes with a choice of either a 26" or a 28" scale length. 6 1/2 and 13 1/2 frets are standard; other frets can be added upon request. Sound holes and binding options are available for this model.
The 26” scale dulcimer can be tuned to the standard DAD or CGC tunings. With heavier strings, it can be tuned to the baritone tunings of GDG and AEA.
The 28” scale dulcimer can be tuned to the standard DAD or CGC tunings. With heavier strings it can be tuned to the baritone tunings of GDG and AEA. It also can be tuned to the bass tuning of DAD with heavier stings.
Base price: $695.00
SHORT SCALE MODEL
This professional instrument is specially made for travel and small hands. The scale length is 23". This dulcimer has a huge voice despite its size! It is tuned to standard tuning DAD or GDG. 6 1/2 and 13 1/2 frets are standard. Comes with standard heart shape sound holes only. Binding option is not available for this model.
This dulcimer is designed to be tuned to the standard tuning DAD or GDG using lighter strings. We DO NOT recommend tuning the 23” scale dulcimer to the lower CGC or other lower tunings. Doing so may result in intonation issues. If you need a dulcimer tuned down to CGC or lower, consider buying a 26” or 28” scale length
dulcimer.
Base price: $375.00
WOOD COMBINATIONS
Each dulcimer has its individual sound. Each wood combination will have a certain tonal quality. However, each dulcimer made with the same wood can have a slightly different tonal quality. If you travel or perform frequently with your dulcimer, binding is recommended for soft wood (redwood, spruce, and fir).
BASIC WOOD COMBINATIONS
THE CALIFORNIAN MODEL
23” short scale using all California wood: California redwood top, California walnut back and sides.
Perfect for travel, small hands, and beginning to intermediate dulcimer players looking for a dulcimer with a mellow yet warm tone. It’s great for fingerpicking, strumming, and singers who have a gentle voice.
$375
THE WALLY MODEL
23” short scale with the top, sides, and back in California walnut. California walnut has a beautiful dark reddish chocolate brown color with wavy grain figures and an occasional purple cast.
Perfect for travel, small hands, and beginning to intermediate dulcimer players looking for a dulcimer with a bright tone. It’s great for strumming, flatpicking, and singers who have a medium to big voice.
$375
WOOD COMBINATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICANS
FINGERPICKER MODEL
26” standard scale with a California redwood top, California walnut back and sides, and binding.
This combination produces a mellow and warm sound with a good balance between the treble and bass. With its long even sustain, it’s perfect for fingerpicking. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
$815
GENTLE SINGER MODEL
26” standard scale with a California redwood top, redwood back and sides, and either a or walnut binding.
This combination has a similar sound as the Fingerpicker Model with an even mellower sound. This dulcimer helps to bring out the subtle nuances from singers who have a gentle voice. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
$815
THE HARD WORKING SINGER MODEL
26” standard scale with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides.
This combination produces a sound that has a bright tone but is louder than other wood combinations. It’s designed for the hard working singer with a big voice.
$695
OLD TIME AND BLUEGRASS JAMMER MODEL
Option 1:
26” standard scale with a fir top; either mahogany or walnut for the back and sides, and a passive pickup. $815
Option 2:
26” standard scale with California walnut top, back, and sides, and a passive pickup. $815
The Old Time and Bluegrass Jammer Model combinations produce a bright, crisp, and punchy sound. The fir top has a clean tone and the walnut top has more “bite.” It’s a dulcimer that can be heard when played with other instruments. Use the passive pickup to plug into an amp for an even bigger sound.
DELUXE WOOD COMBINATIONS
Wood combinations for beauty and sound
Travel in Style I (The Redhead)
23” short scale with a redwood top, walnut back and sides, binding, F heart sound holes, mother of pearl position dot markers, and the classic peg head.
It has a mellow yet warm tone. It’s great for fingerpicking and strumming and for singers who have a gentle voice. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
Call for wood availability and price for this model
Travel in Style II (The Blond)
23” short scale with a fir top, quarter saw oak back and sides, an oak fret board cap and maple binding, F heart sound holes, mother of pearl position dot markers, and the classic peg head.
It has a bright and crisp tone. It’s great for strumming, flatpicking, and singers who have a medium to big voice. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
Call for wood availability and price for this model
TRAVEL IN STYLE III (The Brunette)
23” short scale with a walnut top, back and side, ebony fret board cap, binding, F heart sound holes, mother of pearl position dot markers, and the classic peg head.
It has a bright and warm tone. It’s great for strumming, flatpicking, and singers who have a medium to big voice. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
Call for wood availability and price for this model
PERFORMER IN STYLE
26” standard scale with a Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, rope binding (maple and burl redwood), ebony fret board cap, mother of pearl position dot markers, and a passive pickup.
This combination produces a sound that has a clean and bright tone with plenty of volume. It’s designed for the hard working singer with a big voice or an instrumentalist who plays with a lot with other musicians. Use the passive pickup to plug into an amp for an even bigger sound. The binding is for beauty and protection from everyday wear and tear.
Call for wood availability and price for this model
WOOD
These are the woods I typically have on hand. They have been stored in my possession for more than 30 years. Availability varies.
Standard top wood are:
California walnut, mahogany, California redwood, fir, and spruce.
Standard side and back wood options are:
California walnut, mahogany, and California redwood.
The default peghead wood is same as choosen back and side wood.
Peghead and fretboard wood options are:
California walnut, mahogany, and California redwood.
Any other woods not listed by custom order.
Fretboard Cap
Standard fretboard cap is California walnut. (No extra cost.)
Fretboards can also be capped with:
with premium cost of $25
Ebony with premium cost of $25
Santos mahoganywith premium cost of $25
Inlay of mother of pearl dots wherever they are needed on fretboard cap: $25
Binding
Available for standard scale model only. Bindings can be made using any of the following hardwoods:
California walnut, mahogany, , or santos mahogany. Cost is $120 and up.
and ebony binding cost $120
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Rope binding cost $150 |
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Walnut binding cost $120 |
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Wood Description
California Walnut A dark reddish chocolate brown with wavy grain figures and occasional purple cast. |
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Mahogany The wood is medium to light reddish brown depending on the slab with wood grain varies to straight to figured.No extra cost. |
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California Redwood
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 For an extra cost, I have some special redwood with occasional curly, bird eyes, or burl (sometimes referred to as “lace”). This redwood is not from the water tank. Limited quantity. Email for availability and price. $100 and up. |
Spruce: Italian and Sitka |
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Fir Fir is quartersawn and tight grained. Similar to Spruce and also used only for the soundboard. |
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Santos Mahogany
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Ebony This hardwood is used only for the fretboard. The color is usually black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Occasionally dark brown or grayish-brown streaks may be present. $20 extra. |
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Classic The classic peghead is standard for the standard scale model. No extra cost. If you want the classic peghead for the short scale model, the cost is an extra $40. |
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Simple The simple peghead is the standard for the short scale model. It can also be a choice for the stand scale model. No extra cost.
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Scroll A scroll peghead is $160 for either model.
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Heart Shape Both models come with heart soundholes at no extra cost. |
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F Shape
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F Heart Shape F heart holes cost $50
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CUSTOM DULCIMER BRIDGE PICKUP
Because of the unique needs of the dulcimer, I have designed a custom under the saddle pickup especially for the CapriTaurus and Folk Roots Dulcimers. It has ebony or rosewood bridge, bone saddle, rod piezo pickup, and a 1/4” strap button jack.
This is the only pickup I provide for the dulcimers I build. It’s reliable, has a clean acoustic sound, and replacement parts are available from Howard Rugg. Extra cost $120.
INSTALLING A CUSTOM DULCIMER BRIDGE PICKUP ON YOUR OLDER CAPRITAURUS OR FOLK ROOTS DULCIMER
This bridge is specifically designed for the CapriTaurus Dulcimer and has a passive pickup for those who want to amplify their instrument. Older CapriTaurus and Folk Roots dulcimers can be converted with this conversion bridge. Cost is $180 (parts and installation). $120 for parts only. Cost does not include shipping and handling.