Hi Wilco,

It is, or atleast it was, easy to become an Oscar Schmidt dealer. I used to be one and I bought them about 6-8 a year. But with Autoharps it is a by guess and by golly adventure. The good ones are pricey, The low to mid range are a toss up as far as quality and tune-a-bility is concerned. The high enders like an Orthey or a Keith Young are not for the beginners price wise altho' their quality is very good.

Regards Hammered and Lap Dulcimers. You might consider two. Dusty Strings Apprentice Models and the best of the nearby local builders.
Specialty builders can't afford to build a "Student Prince" but excell at the upper mid to high end boxes. Dusty Strings builds great affordable beginners as well as upper end stuff. I know nothing of Lap Dulcimers but I think the same logic would follow.

Don