This is a great playing and sounding mountain dulcimer! The Folk Roots design goes back to 1969 when two brothers, Howard (a Capricorn) and Michael (a Taurus) Rugg formed CapriTaurus dulcimers in Felton, California. Michael was the dulcimer player and administrator, Howard the maker. Their main model was a big bodied, long scale dulcimer with plenty of power, yet also surprisingly well balanced from treble to bass. In 1973, they were joined by Stephen Jackel and the new partnership began to make their popular laminated wood dulcimers under the FolkRoots name. In 1976, Michael Rugg departed, leaving Rugg and Jackel (and their fellow workers) to turn out thousands of dulcimers. In 1979, the Rugg and Jackel company started making solid wood instruments – the D100, D550 etc. In 1989, the business was sold to Folkcraft who continued to sell their bigger bodied dulcimers under the FolkRoots label – now also called the D series. During the period 1969 – 1989, Howard estimated that they made between 18,000 and 20,000 dulcimers. This particular instrument has a wonderful tone and plays silky easy. It has hardly any noticeable wear and is in very good used condition. It comes with a chip case. Solid spruce top Walnut back and sides 29″ scale length (VSL) 1 3/8″ nut width Chip Case Made in USA