New Harmony Dulcimer: The Pudge

 

Two years ago, when I was just beginning on my dulcimer journey, my husband and I were in the magical towns of Nashville and New Harmony, Indiana. Nashville had a music shop (sadly, now closed) called Weed Patch Music Company. That was where I first saw New Harmony dulcimers. And they are beauties.

They have a style called The Pudge that is just a tad smaller, with a shorter Vibrating String Length that works well for people with small hands. Thus, the name The Pudge.

The New Harmony Dulcimer Company has been building a solid reputation for making beautiful instruments. I put this one on my One Day/Wish List.

Occasionally, I would look online at places like Facebook Marketplace, but it was rare to ever find anything from this maker, let alone this model.

That is, until just a few weeks ago when I found a lady in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who was selling hers at a fantastic price. Barely used, only four years old, and half of what I'd pay for a new one.

But how to get to it?

We arranged a meeting point. She crossed the Mighty Mac Bridge and met me in Grayling, three hours north of me. I had a lovely time meeting her and her beloved. Dulcimer people are just the nicest people!

Was it worth the six hour round trip drive? Definitely!

Look at these beautiful sound holes!

And the head stocks of NH dulcimers feature this hole, perfect for hanging from a peg.

Just look at those wood grains!

I'm calling this one my Psalm 8 dulcimer:

"When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

I feel truly blessed to have found this treasure, and I'm going to love making beautiful music with this one. Considering that David was a musician,  I'm sure he'd understand.