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Ledford Appalachian Dulcimer

American History Museum

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    Object Details

    maker

    Ledford, Homer

    Description

    This Appalachian dulcimer was made by Homer Ledford in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1973. It is a double-bout dulcimer with a yellow poplar top and walnut sides, fingerboard, and back. It has four strings (one melody string and three drone strings), wood nut and bridge, 14 metal frets, 4 heart-shaped sound holes, 4 dark wood friction pegs, carved out pegbox, and rounded head. Inside of the dulcimer there is a printed label:

    HANDMADE
    BY
    HOMER C. LEDFORD
    WINCHESTER, KY
    Guaranteed No. 2297

    (and handwritten on this label):

    YELLOW
    POPLAR TOP FROM BEREA
    COLLEGE
    HOWARD HALL
    DORMITORY
    (1867)
    MODEL YP-1900
    Homer C. Ledford

    Location

    Currently not on view

    date made

    1973

    ID Number

    MI.73.32

    catalog number

    73.32

    accession number

    304684

    Object Name

    dulcimer

    Physical Description

    yellow poplar (top material)
    walnut (sides, fingerboard, back material)

    Measurements

    overall: 33 1/2 in x 6 1/2 in x 3 in; 85.09 cm x 16.51 cm x 7.62 cm

    place made

    United States: Kentucky, Winchester

    See more items in

    Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
    Music & Musical Instruments
    Dulcimers

    Data Source

    National Museum of American History

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-48b2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

    Record ID

    nmah_606077

    Discover More

    A Selected Bibliography of Hammered and Plucked Dulcimers and Related Instruments

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