Discover
Meet the family
Handmade travel instruments, built to be played anywhere.
The Boondocker family is a line of compact, tough, handmade instruments — around 32" × 8" — all built to fit the same Boondocker gig bag. Grab one on the way out the door, play it at the campsite, and pick up right where you left off at home. The name comes from boondocking: dry-camping off the grid in the RV. Built to travel, built to be played.
The lineup
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Boondocker D2 — Dulcimer Guitar
Shop the D2Our dulcimer guitar: diatonic, 3 courses / 4 strings. You can't play a wrong note — the friendliest way into making music, fun from day one. Made in the USA.
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Boondocker Elite — Baritone Ukulele
Shop the Elite21" VSL steel-string baritone ukuleles and tenor guitars with a fast, narrow neck that plays quick and comfortable — noticeably slimmer than most ukulele fretboards.
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Boondocker G3 — Travel Guitar (New)
Shop the G3 GuitarA real travel guitar in the Boondocker footprint. Sapele body with through neck, rosewood fretboard (14" radius), 22.375" scale, 1‑5/8" Corian nut — familiar spacing and a fuller body without giving up portability.
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Boondocker G3 — Baritone Ukulele (New)
Shop the G3 BaritoneThe baritone uke for players who want a little more room. 22.375" scale, rosewood neck, 1‑3/8" nut — roomier than the Elite, same travel-ready size.
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Boondocker Trailhead
Explore the TrailheadSame travel size and easy, diatonic playability as the D2 at an approachable price. Its compass-inspired soundhole marks where you begin — pick a direction and go.
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DIY Dulcimer Kits
Shop DIY kitsBuild-your-own lap dulcimer kits — a satisfying arts-and-crafts project and a genuinely playable instrument at the end. Great for first builds, makers, and groups.
What's a dulcimer guitar?
A dulcimer guitar takes the friendly, diatonic layout of a mountain lap dulcimer and puts it in a guitar-style body you hold and strum normally. Diatonic means the frets are laid out to a scale, so the notes you land on sound right together — that's the “you can't play a wrong note” magic. It's the fastest path from “I've never played” to actually making music, and it stays fun as you grow.
How to choose
Which model is right for me?
New to playing and want instant fun? Start with the D2 or Trailhead dulcimer guitars. Want standard guitar spacing in a travel size? The G3 Travel Guitar. Prefer a ukulele feel? The Elite (fast, narrow neck) or the G3 Baritone (a touch roomier).
D2 vs. G3 Travel Guitar
The D2 is a diatonic dulcimer guitar — easiest to learn, can't play a wrong note. The G3 Travel Guitar is a true 6-string with a 22.375" scale and 1‑5/8" nut for players who want familiar guitar spacing. Both fit the same Boondocker gig bag.
Elite vs. G3 Baritone Ukulele
Both are steel-string baritone ukuleles. The Elite has a fast, narrow neck many players love. The G3 Baritone opens the nut up to 1‑3/8" for players who found the Elite a touch narrow.
Necks, scales & sizes at a glance
Whole family: ~32" × 8", one shared gig bag. G3 Travel Guitar: Sapele through-neck body, rosewood fretboard (14" radius), rosewood bridge, Corian saddle/nut, 22.375" scale, 1‑5/8" nut. G3 Baritone: 22.375" scale, 1‑3/8" nut, slightly thicker body. Elite: 21" VSL, narrow neck. D2 / Trailhead: diatonic dulcimer-guitar layout.
