Sturdy, thick wood, good for young children who are beginning players. It will not be suceptible to nicks and scratches. Keeps in tune - pegs are fine- and tone is fine. Since the nut is high, the strings are a bit high off of the fret board, making it a bit harder work for little fingers to press down on frets (action high); it would be fine if playing with a noter. For me, because the fret board is solid, the sound is very soft and does not resonate, making it impractical for a performance or intermediate adult player. A bit pricey for the quality (inflation?) . A good first/ kids’ dulcimer, especially if it needs to withstand being used in a class setting for a few years.