NTFPspecialtywoods

We will cover only one here: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
The crafting of musical instruments is an art that has evolved over many years. During the 1800s
and early 1900s, musical instrument manufacture became very common as Appalachia became
increasingly more populated. Throughout the 1900s Appalachian folk music brought fame to the
region's hand crafted instruments.

Wood characteristics such as grain pattern, color, strength, and hardness influence the choice of
woods for instruments. These characteristics determine the instrument's aesthetic beauty and sound
quality.

The grain of curly maple, found in the region, is prized for its beauty in a finished and polished
instrument. The relatively rare curly grain results from abrupt and repeated right and left
deviations from the vertical in fiber alignment caused by tree growth in windy and steep slopes.
This characteristic is commonly considered an abnormal and a major defect due its loss of strength
for other forest products.

A musical instrument is often produced from materials obtained from various locations. Species
obtained from Southwest Virginia include , , , and . Commonly imported species used are , , , and .



	Mouth Bow

The mouth bow, often made of hickory or
red cedar, is the least common of all the
instruments. It is a simple wooden bow, like
a hunting bow, with a string or wire tied to
each end.


	Fiddle

The fiddle is the most widely accepted
Appalachian mountain instrument. Settlers
brought the first fiddles from Europe and
began manufacturing them from tree species
native to Appalachia.


	Banjo

The banjo is known as the only musical
instrument indigenous to America. However,
its forerunner may have been brought by
slaves from Africa or the West Indies. The
first banjo made in Appalachia was made by
Joel Walker Sweeney, born in 1810 in nearby
Tennessee.


	Dulcimer

The dulcimer, often made of pine or cherry,
has its origins in northern Europe and has
had a spotty existence in North America. It
was first found in Pennsylvania in the 1770s
and later in Appalachia, where the dulcimer
acquired a curvy shape, less rectangular than
the dulcimer of Pennsylvania.



	Guitar

The guitar came late to Appalachia in
comparison with the other instruments.
It wasn't until well into the 20th century
that the guitar gained acceptance. By
the 1930s the guitar was commonplace,
quickly becoming a vital part of the
popular Appalachia stringed band.

Marketing

Market outlets for musical instruments made in Southwest Virginia depend on the
quality of the instrument. Musical instrument making is highly competitive and
festivals, such as bluegrass festivals, are held where the makers show off, compare,
and sell instruments. Dulcimers are seen in gift stores in tourist locations such as
Abingdon, Virginia and at local craft shows and festivals. The market channels for
instruments usually involve word of mouth or specialized advertising. Many producers
use regional craft fairs or agents to sell their products.