Wolff's Flea Market Vendor of the Week: JimBob's Instruments

By Guest Blogger Bianca Saputra

Vendor of the Week: JimBob's Instruments

This week, we are featuring JimBob's Instruments as our vendor of the week. Jim sells a variety of hand-refurbished dulcimer instruments. The hammered dulcimer is a percussion-stringed instrument, with strings stretched over a trapezoidal wooden frame. The strings are hit with a mallet or hammer to produce a sound similar to a harp. The dulcimer is not only a staple in American folk music, but is  also integral to folk music in parts of Asia, Central Europe, and the UK. 

Aside from the hammered dulcimer, Jim also sells santurs, the Indo-Persian version of the hammered dulcimer. The main difference from the traditional hammered dulcimer is that the santur is wider, more rectangular and has more strings. Both instruments are unique and extremely fun to listen to. 

Watching and listening to Jim intricately play the dulcimer was both interesting and enjoyable. Check him out yourself at Wolff's Flea Market in Rosemont and listen to a video clip of Jim's playing on our Facebook page!