Roosebeck 12/11 Hammered Dulcimer, Rosewood Body 23 Courses
Roosebeck 12/11 Hammered Dulcimer, Rosewood Body 23 Courses
Ideal for: Intermediate players and anyone ready to step up from a 10/9
A hammered dulcimer with the range to grow with you.
The 12/11 gives you 23 courses across two bridges, enough range to play in multiple keys and handle the full traditional repertoire without hitting a ceiling. The color-coded bridge saddles take the guesswork out of learning, and the included hammers, tuning tool, and extra string set mean you can sit down and start playing the same day it arrives.
Rich, Resonant Sound Across a Wide Range
Twenty-three courses of paired strings give you a full, bell-like tone that sustains beautifully whether you are playing fast dance tunes or slow airs. The rosewood body contributes warmth and depth, while the light hardwood soundboard, set with two hand-carved rosette panels in a vine and leaf pattern, projects clearly across the room.
Built for Players, Not Just Display
The 12/11 layout, 12 courses crossing the treble bridge, 11 crossing the bass bridge, is the most widely used size in traditional hammered dulcimer playing. It covers enough range for the full folk and Celtic repertoire while staying compact enough to carry to a session or a festival.
The rosewood body has an opening in the back that doubles as a carrying handle. The two rosewood nuts sit along the sides, each 14.5 inches long. Forty-six metal tuning pegs thread into the body opposite 46 end pegs, keeping every string firmly anchored.
Tuning and First Steps
The recommended tuning is the Traditional Fifth Interval. The owner's guide includes a complete tuning chart so you are not guessing. Use the included T-shaped tuning tool to bring each course up to pitch, string courses are spaced 1 inch apart, which makes it straightforward to work across the instrument systematically.
For reference, the distance from the left nut to the first treble bridge position at the top should be 5.9 inches (150 mm), and from the left nut to the first bass bridge position at the bottom should be 10 inches (256 mm). The owner's guide has a clear diagram if you want to double-check your bridge placement.
Technical Specifications
| Courses | 23 (12 treble, 11 bass) |
| Strings | 46 (2 per course) |
| Body Wood | Rosewood |
| Soundboard | Light hardwood with rosewood rosettes |
| Nuts | 2 rosewood, 14.5 inches each |
| Tuning Pegs | 46 metal, threaded into body |
| End Pegs | 46 metal |
| Bridges | Rosewood with color-coded saddles |
| Recommended Tuning | Traditional Fifth Interval |
| Dimensions | 34.5 inches L × 14.5 inches W × 4 inches H |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs |
What's in the Box
Everything you need to start playing arrives with the instrument.
Have questions about this instrument? Contact us or browse all Hammered Dulcimers.
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Tradition you can feel, craftsmanship you can hear.