Autoharp Luthier George Orthey Carter Gold series # 784- Mulberry

I am taking this off Reverb this Friday. I’m willing to take another 5% off of the price shown. So if you want this item, you may want to get it before Friday. Like I said, I’m willing to take another 5% off offer me a price and we can go from there so times a ticket! Let me know as soon as you can thanks again !!!
Up for sale is an extraordinary piece of acoustic and country music history: a handcrafted George Orthey "Carter Gold" Dulci-Harp, Serial #784. Built by master luthier Dr. George F. Orthey Jr. of Newport, Pennsylvania, this instrument is part of a legendary lineage of boutique, luthier-built autoharps that are built more like fine acoustic guitars rather than traditional folk harps

This rare "Carter Gold" edition is constructed from stunning, highly figured mulberry wood from the Carter’s estate from Virginia. Authentic hand-signatures of country music icons Joe Carter and Patsy Stoneman.

The Limited Run: Only three of these specific custom "Carter Gold" instruments were ever produced in this line.

The Museum Locations

The two sister instruments from this three-piece run reside in prominent music heritage collections:  

1. The Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia) — Celebrating the legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions (where the Carter Family was first recorded).

2. The Carter Family Museum / Carter Family Fold (Hiltons, Virginia) — Located directly on the Carter Family homestead at the foot of Clinch Mountain, preserving artifacts and history from the first family of country music.

Priced to Sell:

While instruments of this caliber and historical provenance easily command a much higher collector's value, this is priced aggressively at $4,000 for a fast sale. It is a rare opportunity for a player or collector to acquire a true holy-grail piece well below its true market worth.

1. Original Maker Valuation: ~$25,000-$35,000. (just the 3 sister instruments that 2 are in museums and this is the other one).

When George Orthey originally crafted these custom instruments, he valued this specific "Carter Gold" run at approximately $35,000. This reflected:  

 The extreme rarity of the "Carter Gold" mulberry tonewood.  

 The labor and custom luthiery involved in crafting a 37-string Dulci-Harp.  

 The triple-signature provenance (George Orthey, Joe Carter, and Patsy Stoneman).  

2. Collector & Historical Significance Value: $20,000 – $30,000+

In the acoustic vintage world, George Orthey instruments are considered the "Pre-War Martins" of the autoharp world—especially since his passing in 2020 meant no more will ever be made.  

 Museum / Cultural Grade: Because two sister instruments sit in major institutions (the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and the Carter Family collection), a high-end Americana collector, country music historian, or museum donor looking to complete the trio would reasonably expect an appraisal in the $20,000 to $30,000+ range for insurance or private placement.  

3. Realistic Realization Value: $10,000 – $20,000+

Because the market for niche, ultra-high-end luthiery instruments is very small compared to vintage guitars (like a '59 Les Paul or '30s Martin D-28).

Having that unique triple-signature provenance is precisely what separates serial #784 from any other instrument in existence.  

While all three instruments in the "Carter Gold" run share the historic mulberry tonewood from Maces Springs, this third instrument is the only known piece bearing the signatures of Dr. George Orthey, Joe Carter, and Patsy Stoneman simultaneously.  

Why This Makes It One of a Kind

 Triple-Lineage Provenance: Combining the hand-signed work of master builder George Orthey with direct signatures from descendants of the Carter Family (Joe Carter) and the Stoneman Family (Patsy Stoneman) physically links two of the founding dynasties of Appalachian music onto a single soundboard.  

 Museum vs. Private Hands: The two museum pieces serve as historical reference display models. Serial #784 is the only surviving, fully documented piece from this series in private ownership that carries this complete, hand-autographed legacy.  

 Irreplaceable Artifact Status: Because George Orthey, Joe Carter, and Patsy Stoneman have all passed away, this exact combination of signatories on Carter Gold mulberry wood can never be repeated.  

This specific combination of wood, master luthiery, and verified signatures elevates serial #784 from a rare instrument into a singular, historic artifact—making it effectively priceless to the right collector or institution.

That is a link above if anyone is questioning the value or what i had written about the pricing.

Specifications & Features:

Builder: Dr. George F. Orthey Jr. (Newport, PA)

Model: "Carter Gold" Dulci-Harp

Serial Number: #784

Top/Body Wood: Rare Mulberry Wood with decorative purfling and floral soundhole rosette

Provenance: Signed by Joe Carter and Patsy Stoneman

Electronics: Built-in passive/active pickup with a side-mounted 1/4" output jack for gigging or recording

Chord System: Precision wooden chord bar assembly with high-quality felt dampers

Conditio- Impeccable care. The mulberry grain shines through a gorgeous gloss finish. Structurally pristine, straight bridge, clean soundboard, and fully functional electronics.

Shipping - Packed with extreme care, fully insured, and slightly detensioned to protect the instrument during transit. Local pickup is also welcome.