Timbre Line Music was founded by luthiers Randy Barnes and Mitch Pingel. Both have had interests in music dating back to their childhood days. They began building hammered dulcimers from scratch in 1983, after testing the waters with kit based instruments. They added building autoharps to their luthier repertoire in 1989.

Randy, an accomplished musician on many fronts, plays guitar, TimbreHarp, concertina and has taken home prizes in hammered dulcimer contests in Colorado and at the Winfield festival. He has moved on to other interests, primarily teaching, and is no longer involved in the day to day operations of the company.

Mitch plays banjo, TimbreHarp, and was the Colorado State Hammered Dulcimer Champion in 1986. He makes part of his living as a professional storyteller and musician.