Ledford Double Dulcimers

It is uncertain how far back the history of double – also called “courting” or “sweetheart” – dulcimers goes. The Encyclopedia of Appalachia offers, “In some parts of the region, especially in eastern Kentucky, a young couple might be allowed to visit without parental supervision if they played the “courting dulcimer,” an Appalachian instrument possessing two fret-boards. As long as the nearby parents could hear both sets of strings being strummed, they could leave the couple unobserved, knowing that the young man and woman were properly preoccupied.”

Homer C Ledford (September 26, 1927 – December 11, 2006), made some 33 examples, from 1967 to 2002, the first being in December 1967 for Floyd and Edna Ritchie Baker who lived nearby in Winchester. [He described it as “(No. 1 Sp) Double (“courting”) dulcimer.”] We don’t know the precipitating factor but, several months later he made a second, “for my sweetheart Colista & me.” [This one was described as “(My no.2 Sweetheart dulcimer).”] They were never a substantial part of his repertory, only a few a year, perhaps because of their complexity or cost or demand (by couples).

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This is a complete list, from his ledger, of all double dulcimers, with their original owners.

[Only some have enough information to identify from photos.]

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#1352. Dec 1967. (No. 1 Sp) Double (“courting”) dulcimer. made sp for Floyd & Edna Baker, Winchester, 8/18/71 [? cryptic date, perhaps referring to his #2100 of that date for the Bakers (which is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 a double.)] Top yellow poplar from Berea’s Howard Hall (1862).

#1468. 1968 [ca April]. [number starred] Sweetheart dulcimer – made for my sweetheart Colista & me – Homer C Ledford (My no.2 Sweetheart dulcimer)

“0003” 1974. [between #2640 & #2641] Sweetheart dulcimer. Roy Wells, Jr., Birmingham AL

#2763. 1974. Sweetheart. Mrs Alex Cohen, Indianapolis IN [number starred] Special. Sweetheart dulcimer. Fine tuners.

#2824. Feb 18, 1975. Sweetheart. Mrs Bernice Moore, Frankfort KY. [number circled and checked] Special. Sweetheart dulcimer SH-005. 5th one I have made to date. Feb 18, ’75. [Was for sale on eBay 7-12-02 $500 1st bid! ]

#2825. Feb 18, 1975. Sonde Sondergelt, Cincinatti OH. [number circled] Special. Sweetheart dulcimer SH-006. 6th one I have made to date. Feb 18, ’75

#2901. 1975. Sweetheart. George F Smith. Cameron University, Lawton OK. (2901-05) Special. Sweetheart dulcimer. A gift for his wife

#2923. 1975. Sweetheart. Mrs Oscar Alley, Ashland KY. Special. Sweetheart dulcimer

#4021. 1976. Ambrose Martin, Berea KY. Sweetheart dulcimer.

#4082. March 1977. Faith Shine, Lexington KY. “Sweetheart Dulcimer”. Poplar top over 100 years old

#4301. November 1978. Robert French, PhD, Lexington KY. “Sweetheart” model

#4343. 1979. Ron Dobler, Morehead KY. Sweetheart dulcimer – poplar from 150 year old barge on Kentucky River

#4344. 1979. Dave Siler, New Albany IN. Sweetheart dulcimer, spruce top (will be moving to Virginia)

#4392 1979. Peter Scott, Wasau WI Sweetheart dulcimer – rosewood special. 7/16/84 – New owner: Mrs William (Eliz) Lutz, 5518 Pulaski Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144.

#4422. December 1979. Marshall Ferin, Saddle River NJ. Sweetheart dulcimer.

#4440. 1980. Jo & Sally George, Louisville KY. Sweetheart dulcimer. Special made for Jo & Sally George of Louisville KY. (cherry and spruce)

#4487. 1980. Mike Norman, Lexington KY

#4563. 1981. [Two dulcimers listed as #4563] Mara Wasburn, West Lafayette IN. [Two entries for #4563 – this one is starred] Special (Sweetheart – 6 string)

#4585. 1981. William Castleberry, Hamilton OH. Sweetheart dulcimer – special made.

#4768. 1982. Sweetheart. Mrs Maurice Alsop, Georgetown KY. [number circled] Sweetheart dulcimer.

#4795. 1983. Sweetheart. [no information] Sweetheart dulcimer.

#4808. 1983. Jenni Smith, Thomaston GA. [number starred] Sweetheart dulcimer – spruce top (for a gift)

#4860. 1983. Sweetheart. Carlene Harwick, Novi MI. Sweetheart model. (Dr Carl Clark’s relative)

#4861. 1983. Sweetheart. [no info]. Sweetheart model.

#4943. 1984. Cindy Prentice, Williamston MI [number circled] “Sweetheart” dulcimer – real old cherry – 2 heart sound holes – 1 round sound hole – 8 diamond pearl inlays

#5010. 1985. Sweetheart. George and Rhodie Jackson, Georgetown KY. number circled. Sweetheart dulcimer

#5011. 1985. Harry and Rachel Schmidt, Lexington KY. number circled. Sweetheart dulcimer

#5046. (ca. Dec. 1985). Sweetheart. Jan Arnow. Sweetheart “the duck” model, 1st of the sweetheart models with duck.

#5604. 1994. Double. David Bateman, Welch WV. [number starred] Double dulcimer – pearl inlaid, 8 string, 6 1/2 fret, walnut & butternut.

#5856. April 2001. Sweetheart. Monte Saulman, Morganton, NC. [number starred] Sweetheart dulcimer with wire frets plain – 1 3-string, 1 4-string fingerboard, poplar top 150 years old.

#5900. 2002. Sweetheart. Ron Penn, Lexington KY. Sweetheart dulcimer – pearl around center sound hole, 2 piece inlaid holly strip center joint – gears – 8 dogwood pearl inlays in fingerboards – 2 “heart” sound holes. Made especially for Ron Penn, Lexington, Ky.

#5914. Sep 24, 2002. Sweetheart. Bro Mark Liggett, Harlan KY. Sweetheart dulcimer – violin scrolls (2).

#5915. … Sweetheart. Carolyn … Cape Cod …[MA?] Sweetheart model.

Years made.

(NOTE: These were never a big seller but mid ’70s through mid ’80s were clearly the busiest years.)

1967: 1

1968: 1

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1974: 2

1975: 4

1976: 1

1977: 1

1978: 1