4-StringSolid RosewoodSpruce TopVaulted FretboardStep-Up Model
Ideal for: Experienced players and anyone ready to upgrade from a starter dulcimer
The Roosebeck step-up dulcimer, with refinement you can feel in your hands.
The Emma is Roosebeck's step-up mountain dulcimer, built for players who want a little more refinement in their instrument. While it shares the Grace's proven vaulted fretboard design and solid rosewood construction, the Emma features upgraded finishing details and enhanced tonal qualities that discerning players will notice immediately.
Warm, Full, Articulate Tone
The solid rosewood body pairs with a straight-grained spruce soundboard and f-hole openings for a sound that's warm, full, and articulate. The upgraded finishing on the Emma gives the instrument a more polished voice with noticeably better note definition, especially when fingerpicking.
About the tonewoods: Rosewood is a dense hardwood prized for warmth and resonance. The spruce soundboard responds dynamically to both strumming and fingerpicking.
A Refined Take on the Vaulted Fretboard
The vaulted fretboard lifts the playing surface away from the soundboard, giving the top more freedom to vibrate and project. It's a noticeable difference in volume and responsiveness compared to flat-fretboard dulcimers.
The Emma's upgraded fit and finish shows in the details: cleaner joinery, refined edge work, and a presentation that holds its own on stage or on display.
Why vaulted matters: On a flat-fretboard dulcimer, the fretboard sits directly on the soundboard, dampening vibration. The vaulted design creates an air gap that lets the soundboard resonate freely.
A Natural Upgrade for Experienced Players
Set up as a 4-string with two melody, one middle, and one bass drone, with DAD tuning recommended. Geared right-angle tuners with a 14:1 ratio provide smooth, precise tuning, and the full 18-fret layout with 6½ and 13½ frets gives you chromatic range for playing in multiple modes.
Ready to upgrade? If you have been playing a while and want an instrument with more presence and polish, the Emma is a natural next step. Players often notice the difference within the first few minutes.
Technical Specifications
Strings
4 (2 melody, 1 middle, 1 bass)
Scale Length
25.5 inches
Body Wood
Solid Rosewood
Soundboard
Spruce
Sound Holes
F-Holes
Frets
18 (including 6½ and 13½)
Tuners
Right-angle geared, 14:1 ratio
Nut Width
1.25 inches
Dimensions
34 inches L × 7 inches W × 3 inches H
Weight
2.5 lbs
What's in the Box
Every Emma Mountain Dulcimer ships with everything you need to start playing.
