The Masterworks Ultralight 16/15 is the perfect instrument for a player who wants to have portability but not give up the extra notes that come with a 16/15. Weighing just 17 pounds, including its case!, this instrument offers fantastic bass response and a brilliant treble range. Built with canary-wood endrails, rosewood bridges, a mahogany top and hard-maple pin block this dulcimer is also more attractive than most - check out the pictures.

This instrument has been upgraded by adding the custom wound strings offered by Russell Cook to upgrade the sound of the lower bass and treble notes. As Russell puts it: “These custom strings produce a “bigger” voicing of the lower bass and treble bridge notes.

This dulcimer is in absolutely mint condition and comes with all of its original kit:

Tuning wrench
Soft-sided Master-works case
Note-strips
Russell Cooks “Understanding and Fine Tuning the Hammered Dulcimer

Here is a link to the maker’s website: http://www.masterworksok.com/products/1615.html

And here is what the maker has to say about their Ultralight 16/15:

The Master Works Ultralight Hammer Dulcimer is a professional quality musical instrument that has a voice that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Its full and mellow tone can only be out-shined by its durability, stability and portability. It has 16 treble courses and 15 bass courses of 2 strings per course providing 2 1/4 chromatic octaves in the center of the instrument and over 3 octaves top to bottom yet it weighs a very portable 14 pounds (varies slightly with different types of wood used in the endrails). Each and every part of the Ultralight design has been thoroughly researched and developed to obtain the optimum balance between sound, strength and durability. All unnecessary bulk is eliminated from the bracing, pin blocks and endrails. Each quartersawn Genuine Mahogany soundboard is hand tapered to produce a much more active plate without sacrificing structural integrity. Proper string lengths and graduated string gauges produce an even tone throughout, and a firm, solid feel when striking the strings. Delrin bridge caps and a 45 degree angle on top of the Hard Maple pinblock not only help make tuning a snap, but also allow more accurate location of the strings to produce a perfect fifth interval of each treble course. This ultimately means that the instrument will hold its tuning longer and more accurately, and, if necessary, can be easily readjusted. The unique bracing system, developed through Russell Cook’s extensive experimentation over a period of 30 years, produces a wonderfully rich, mellow tone with strong responsive notes even down the bass bridge (highly uncommon to lightweight instruments). Rosewood bridges aid in producing a rich mellow tone. Separation of the bridge cap rods (normally a continuous rod of delrin on the treble and bass bridges) dramatically reduces sustain and can be done in the building process or altered at home. The laminated back provides a super stable lightweight foundation and has a port for sound as well as ease of handling. Another feature unique to the ULTRALIGHT is the video camera tripod attachment! Use your existing tripod as a fully adjustable and portable stand! No other instrument on the market utilizes this logical concept. The ULTRALIGHT is available in two models - the standard diatonic model 16-15 and the full chromatic 16-15c. You can even have the chromatic option installed at a later time making the MASTER WORKS ULTRALIGHT HAMMER DULCIMER the most flexible instrument in the country!

This instrument sells new for $1,335 with case and the wound strings option. You would have to add shipping if you order one. Compare this with our price of $1,000 for a truly mint instrument. Shipping is around $60, but will provide an exact price on request with zip code.