Dusty Strings Music Shop, Seattle, WA
Explore Dusty Strings: A Beloved Seattle Hub Sharing the Magic of Hokema Kalimbas
At We Play Well Together, we're always honored to collaborate with music stores that bring heart, history, and craftsmanship to their communities. One such gem is Dusty Strings in Seattle — a cherished cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest music scene for over 40 years.
We connected with the Dusty Strings team to learn more about their journey, their community, and how Hokema Kalimbas have found a harmonious home in their inspiring space. Here's their story.
1. Can you tell us a little about your store?
For forty years, we've been the Pacific Northwest's premier dealer of high-quality acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, amps, pedals, folk harps, hammered dulcimers, mountain dulcimers, accessories, books, and much more. We also have a bustling music school! You can book private, one-on-one lessons with our professional and experienced teachers. Whether you're an existing student or have been thinking about starting lessons, it's always a great time to begin.
2. What makes your store unique compared to larger retailers?
Dusty Strings is far more specialized than most music retailers. We cater largely to the folk and roots music community of the Pacific Northwest — and there's no other location in our region with as extensive a selection of acoustic instruments as our highly curated showroom. Dusty Strings is also the main showroom for our own brand of harps and hammered dulcimers, which we manufacture right here in Seattle.
3. Why did you decide to carry Hokema Kalimbas in your store?
The founders of Dusty Strings first discovered Hokema Sansulas while visiting a music store in Europe. Since Dusty Strings harps and hammered dulcimers are carried by dealers in several European cities, our founders travel internationally often and frequently come across unique instruments. The Sansula was one such discovery — they brought it back to share with the retail team, and we were immediately impressed by the quality. It felt like a natural fit for our selection.
4. What has been the customer reaction? Any favorite stories?
There's one story that really stuck with me. A local Seattleite came into the store looking for inspiration and a new musical direction. He stumbled upon our Sansulas and was immediately captivated. He bought one, learned to play it, and later told us how it had changed his life in so many positive ways. That customer was Brandon Blake — now a featured artist for Hokema.
5. Do you or your customers have a favorite Hokema instrument?
Our store manager, Morgan, recently told me how much he loves his B11 Elektro Kalimba. He uses it with an EHX Freeze pedal and a looper to create ambient soundscapes that echo throughout his practice space — much to the curiosity of his cat.
6. Who are your typical customers?
We cater largely to the folk and roots music community of the Pacific Northwest — but that can mean anyone from absolute beginner ukulele enthusiasts to veteran bluegrass flatpicking virtuosos. Our selection ranges from high-quality entry-level instruments to truly boutique, handcrafted pieces from top American builders. We love introducing people to instruments they may never have had the chance to try before — Sansulas are a perfect example of that, as are our own harps and dulcimers. We see ourselves as a hub in the local and regional musical community, and we're here to support people in furthering their musical goals.
Where to find Dusty Strings:
3406 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA
Instagram: @dustystringsmusic
Facebook: Dusty Strings Music Store
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Intuitive Soundscapes Collections
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