Terry and Barbara McCafferty became passionate about mountain dulcimer playing and building in 1996 after discovering the wonderful folks in the North Harris County Dulcimer Society (NHCDS) and the dulcimer community in general.  It was a world they did not know existed and it was love at first site.  Terry is an R&D and product development engineer but was also trained from early youth as a cabinetmaker by his father.  He has always had a passion to “make things”.  Barbara is a quilter also with quite a talent for “making things” and an eye for detail.  Through NHCDS, the McCaffertys were soon befriended by the Barringers. 

The late Larry Barringer was a dulcimer builder in Houston Texas.  He built a Kentucky style dulcimer with a strong heritage back through Bob Mize, Homer Ledford, Jethro Amberge, and JE “Uncle Ed” Thomas of the mid-1800s.  Larry is also credited with taking the Strumstick concept and pushing it to a new level that is now known as the Pick’n Stick.  Larry shared his dulcimer patterns and warmly encouraged Terry to build dulcimers and pick’n sticks.  In 1997 when Larry and Silvia decided to retire from dulcimer building and travel fulltime, Larry “passed the torch” on to Terry.  In December of 2003 the dulcimer world lost Larry Barringer.  His smiling face and genuine warmth is sorely missed. 

As with each of the above builders, Terry has put his own touches and innovations to the evolution of this traditional model.  In addition, he has created several models of his own. 

In 2004, with over 25 years in industry, Terry had the opportunity to retire from the corporate world.   With the strong desire to spend more quality time together and the continued passion to do more in the dulcimer world, Terry and Barbara decided to move the dulcimer effort from a part time adventure to a full time endeavor.  They have a wonderful “high tech” studio located at their home near Pattison Texas where they work together daily to create fine mountain dulcimers and pick’n sticks. 

At many festivals, Terry performs the role of “dulcimer doctor”.  At these events he works diligently at a very reasonable fee to make those “not so playable” dulcimers or the ones with minor ailments a better instrument.