• Roosebeck Hammered Dulcimer 16-15 Rosewood Stock Photo
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Hammered Dulcimer

Roosebeck 16/15 Hammered Dulcimer, Rosewood Body 31 Courses

$849
$849
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16/15 Course 31 String Courses 62 Strings Rosewood Body Color-Coded Bridges

Ideal for: Advanced players and performers who need full chromatic range and volume

The largest hammered dulcimer we build.

The 16/15 gives you 31 courses across two bridges, 62 strings in total, which is enough range to play in nearly any key without retuning and enough volume to hold a room without amplification. This is a serious instrument at 17.25 pounds and 37.5 inches wide, built for players who have outgrown a 12/11 and know exactly why they want more. The color-coded bridge saddles carry over from the smaller sizes, and the opening in the back doubles as a carrying handle.

Full Range, Full Volume

Sixty-two strings paired into 31 courses produce a wide, sustaining, bell-like voice with real weight behind it. Two sound holes, each covered by a rosewood rosette carved in a vine and leaf pattern, let the light hardwood soundboard project across a hall. The rosewood body adds warmth and density underneath, so the instrument stays warm rather than turning brittle as you play harder.

About the tonewoods: Rosewood is a dense hardwood that adds warmth and sustain. The soundboard is tuned to project efficiently, so even a gentle hammer stroke carries well.

Thirty-One Courses, Two Bridges

The 16/15 layout means 16 courses cross the treble bridge on the left and 15 cross the bass bridge on the right, 31 courses in total, each made up of two strings tuned in unison. Course spacing stays at 1 inch, the same as the smaller sizes, so the reach between courses feels familiar if you are stepping up.

The rosewood body has an opening in the back that doubles as a carrying handle, which you will use. Two rosewood nuts sit along the sides, each 14.5 inches long. Sixty-two metal tuning pegs thread into the body opposite 62 end pegs, anchoring every string.

Stepping up from a 12/11: The extra 8 courses open up keys that previously required retuning, and the added string mass gives you noticeably more volume. Budget extra time for tuning day one; there is nearly 50 percent more of it.

Tuning and First Steps

The recommended tuning is the Traditional Fifth Interval, and the owner's guide includes a complete tuning chart. Use the included T-shaped tuning tool to bring each course up to pitch, working across the instrument systematically. With 62 strings, a methodical pass beats jumping around.

For reference, the distance from the left nut to the first bridge at the top should be 5.4 inches (138 mm), and from the left nut to the first bridge at the bottom should be 11.2 inches (285 mm). The owner's guide has a clear diagram if you want to check your bridge placement.

On the stand: At 17.25 pounds and 37.5 inches wide, this instrument plays best on a stand rather than a lap or table. The adjustable rosewood stand sets the playing surface where your wrists want it, seated or standing.

Technical Specifications

Courses 31 (16 treble, 15 bass)
Strings 62 (2 per course), 1 inch course spacing
Body Wood Rosewood
Soundboard Light hardwood with two rosewood rosettes
Nuts 2 rosewood, 14.5 inches each
Tuning Pegs 62 metal, threaded into body
End Pegs 62 metal
Bridges Rosewood with color-coded saddles
Recommended Tuning Traditional Fifth Interval
Dimensions 37.5 inches L × 18.25 inches W × 4 inches H
Weight 17.25 lbs
String care: Strings carry no warranty, and makers suggest replacing them every 3 to 4 months. Keep a spare set on hand, wipe the strings with a dry cloth after playing, and plan on fresh strings if the instrument has been stored for a while.

What's in the Box

Everything you need to tune up and start playing arrives with the instrument.

Pair of Hammers Tuning Tool Extra String Set Owner's Guide (PDF)

Hammers may vary from the photo. Stand (DHST) sold separately.

Have questions about this instrument? Contact us or browse all Hammered Dulcimers.

Questions about this instrument?
Talk to our team or browse all hammered dulcimers.
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Roosebeck 16/15 Hammered Dulcimer, Rosewood Body 31 Courses

$849
$849
Tradition you can feel, craftsmanship you can hear.
Solid tonewoods
Cured, cut, and chosen for sound.
Voiced by hand
Fretboards dressed, action set, bridges fit by our luthiers.
Made to be played
Built for working musicians, designed to sound better the more you play it.
Since 1973
Five decades of building instruments that last generations.