{"product_id":"roosebeck-emma-mountain-dulcimer-4-string-vaulted-fretboard","title":"Roosebeck Emma Mountain Dulcimer, 4-String Vaulted Fretboard","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"rb-badges\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"rb-badge\"\u003e4-String\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-badge\"\u003eRosewood or Walnut\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-badge\"\u003eSpruce Top\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-badge\"\u003eVaulted Fretboard\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-badge\"\u003eScroll Peg Head\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rb-audience\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal for:\u003c\/strong\u003e Players who want the deluxe features of the Roosebeck dulcimer line and a reconfigurable string setup\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rb-tagline\"\u003eThe deluxe end of the Roosebeck mountain dulcimer line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rb-intro\"\u003eThe Emma gathers the best features of the Roosebeck mountain dulcimer line into one instrument. A straight-grained cream spruce soundboard, the vaulted fretboard that lifts the playing surface clear of the top so it can vibrate freely, four f-hole openings rather than the usual two, a crown-shaped tailpiece in gold, and a hand-carved scroll peg head. The bridge and nut are bone, and the nut is notched for more than one string arrangement, so the setup can follow your playing rather than the other way round. Choose a solid rosewood or solid walnut body; the instrument is otherwise identical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-nav\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"rb-acc-btn active\" data-panel=\"dmds4-sound\"\u003eSound\u003c\/button\u003e \u003cbutton class=\"rb-acc-btn\" data-panel=\"dmds4-design\"\u003eDesign\u003c\/button\u003e \u003cbutton class=\"rb-acc-btn\" data-panel=\"dmds4-start\"\u003eGetting Started\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-nav-row2\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"rb-acc-btn\" data-panel=\"dmds4-specs\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/button\u003e \u003cbutton class=\"rb-acc-btn\" data-panel=\"dmds4-box\"\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel-wrapper open\" id=\"dmds4-sound\" style=\"max-height: 600px;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLight, Reactive, and Open\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe completely spruce soundboard is light and straight-grained, and light is exactly what you want in a soundboard: less mass means it starts moving sooner and keeps moving longer. Paired with the vaulted fretboard and four f-hole openings, the Emma responds to a gentle touch rather than needing to be driven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRosewood or walnut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rosewood is the denser of the two, warm with a strong fundamental and long sustain. Walnut is a little lighter, slightly more open through the midrange, and shows a more visible grain under finish. Both use the same soundboard, the same fretboard, and the same hardware.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel-wrapper\" id=\"dmds4-design\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVaulted Fretboard, Scroll Peg Head, Four F-Holes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vaulted fretboard lifts the playing surface away from the soundboard, giving the top more freedom to vibrate and project. It is a noticeable difference in volume and responsiveness compared to flat-fretboard dulcimers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe classic hourglass body carries four f-hole openings instead of the more common pair, and the tailpiece is shaped like a crown in a gold finish. The peg head is carved into a scroll and fitted with four gold-colored mechanical geared straight tuners at a 4:1 ratio. The bridge and nut are bone. Body, neck, and fretboard are solid in your chosen wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhy vaulted matters:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel-wrapper\" id=\"dmds4-start\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour Strings, Three Ways to Set Them Up\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dulcimer comes as a 4-string with two melody strings, one middle, and one bass drone. We recommend traditional DAD tuning, where your open strings already form a D major chord, so strumming all four gives you music immediately. Many other tunings work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally the mountain dulcimer had three equally spaced strings: melody, middle, and bass. The 4-string came later, by changing the spacing and doubling the melody string to give the melody line more volume. The nut on this instrument is cut with extra notches, so you have options. Leave it as a standard 4-string; remove the inside doubled melody string entirely to revert to the traditional 3-string setup; or move the inside melody string and the middle string over one notch each for equal spacing across all four. Try them and keep what suits your hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe 6½ and 13½ frets:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most early dulcimers were strictly diatonic, fretted for a major scale with no half steps. Adding a fret between the 6th and 7th, and between the 13th and 14th, does two things: it lets you play a major scale starting from a different point on the open string, and it makes most songs with accidental notes playable. The tradeoff is that they take some getting used to if you have been playing without them.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel-wrapper\" id=\"dmds4-specs\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"rb-specs-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStrings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 (2 melody, 1 middle, 1 bass)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScale Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBody, Neck, Fretboard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSolid rosewood or solid walnut\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoundboard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStraight-grained spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSound Holes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour f-holes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFrets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18 metal (including 6½ and 13½)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeg Head\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarved scroll\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTuners\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 gold-colored geared straight, 4:1 ratio\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBridge and Nut\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTailpiece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrown-shaped, gold finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNut Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.25 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeck at Body Joint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.25 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDimensions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e34 inches L × 7 inches W × 3 inches H\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2.6 lbs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-callout\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eString care:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel-wrapper\" id=\"dmds4-box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-acc-panel\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's in the Box\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery Emma Mountain Dulcimer ships with everything you need to start playing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-box-items\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"rb-box-tag\"\u003ePick\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-box-tag\"\u003eNoter\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"rb-box-tag\"\u003e\u003ca title=\"Roosebeck Mountain Dulcimer Owner's Guide\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/3558507.app.netsuite.com\/core\/media\/media.nl?id=83892\u0026amp;c=3558507\u0026amp;h=_neLdTdNq25FWYfBsGxCOthAwaRLw4qM386A0-MotUZtj7JH\u0026amp;_xt=.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOwner's Guide (PDF)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rb-cta\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHave questions about this instrument?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact\"\u003eContact us\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mountain-dulcimers\"\u003ebrowse all Mountain Dulcimers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Roosebeck","offers":[{"title":"Rosewood","offer_id":46222047674504,"sku":"DMDS4","price":299.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Walnut","offer_id":46222047707272,"sku":"DMDWS4","price":299.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/1080\/6920\/files\/Roosebeck_Emma_Mountain_Dulcimer_4-String_Rosewood_front_view_DMDS4.jpg?v=1782727995","url":"https:\/\/roosebeck.com\/products\/roosebeck-emma-mountain-dulcimer-4-string-vaulted-fretboard","provider":"Roosebeck","version":"1.0","type":"link"}