Detail 01
24-inch scale length
Short scale, so string tension is low and fretting takes very little finger pressure.
Product detailSKU #1274319721424
Apple CreekDulcimer
1/2
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A budget Appalachian lap dulcimer with a 24-inch scale and maple neck, aimed at first-time players and casual folk pickers.
Strong match
Who this is for
- First instrument for someone who finds guitar chords too hard
- Playing folk and traditional tunes in open tunings
- Couch and campfire playing where a small instrument helps
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Players wanting a hammered dulcimer struck with mallets
- Anyone needing chromatic notes across all twelve keys
- Gigging players needing a built-in pickup and preamp
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Maple neck
Maple is hard and stiff, which keeps the fretted notes tight and resists wear from finger pressure.
Detail 03
Has a neck and frets
This is the lap-held fretted type you play with a noter or fingers, not the struck hammered kind.
Detail 04
$199.99 price tier
Entry-level build. Expect basic hardware and a setup that may need adjusting rather than boutique fit and finish.
Detail 05
Diatonic fretboard
Frets follow a scale rather than every half step, so wrong notes are hard to hit.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01No case, strap, tuner or noter is included unless a seller bundles them
- 02Check string height at the nut; entry-level dulcimers often ship high
- 03Standard tuning is DAD; a clip-on tuner makes retuning far easier
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Is this a hammered dulcimer?
No. It has a neck and scale length, so it is the fretted lap dulcimer you play with your fingers or a noter stick, not the struck hammered type.
02Is a dulcimer easier than guitar?
Generally yes. The fretting is diatonic and the short 24-inch scale means low string tension, so simple melodies come together in a first sitting.
03How do I hold it?
Flat across your lap while seated, fretboard facing up. It is not designed to hang from a strap like a guitar.
04What strings does it take?
Standard mountain dulcimer sets sized for a 24-inch scale. Bring the old strings or the scale measurement when you buy replacements.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsPlayability
- Scale Length
- 24
1 detailsBody & build
- Neck Wood
- Maple
