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Here are photos and descriptions of some of the instruments I have built. Many of these were designed by the buyers, while others were built to my specs
to sell "off the shelf".
Please see "Instruments For Sale" tab in the bar above for more information on available instruments.
 "Langeleik" SDD 0046My second custom "non-dulcimer." A woman from Colorado contacted me about building a "Langeleik" for her. These instruments are believed to be one of the older Norwegian influences that contributed to the design of the Mountain Dulcimer. It is basically a rectangular box strung with eight strings. Only one string is fretted while the other seven are played as "drone" strings. There are also included some small "movable" frets that can change the tuning of the drone strings like a capo. |  Hourglass SDD 0014Aromatic cedar soundboard. Hard maple fingerboard. Scroll peghead. Orthodox cross soundholes. |  Back View of Sdd 0014Hard maple back. Laminated peghead. |  Hourglass SDD 0015Hourglass shape, hard maple fingerboard, aromatic cedar soundboard with "f" soundholes. Scroll peghead |  Hourglass SDD 0016Aromatic cedar soundboard. Hickory fingerboard. Four different soundholes as selected by buyer. Custom carved peghead (whale tail fluke). |  TEARDROP SDD 0018Teardrop shape, Sitka Spruce soundboard and Purpleheart fingerboard. Tapered scroll peghead. "f" soundholes. |
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 HOURGLASS SDD 0019Western Red Cedar soundboard on hourglass shaped body. Scroll peghead with down swept arch. Evergreen tree soundholes. Black walnut fingerboard with maple inlay dots. |  Hourglass, SDD 0020Aromatic cedar soundboard, hickory fingerboard. Horsehead and geometric dot soundholes. Tapered scroll and upswept arch peghead. |  Stand at first BazaarThe Spring Bazaar at the Evergreen fairgrounds in Monroe, our first event in 2015. |  SDD 0022Aromatic cedar soundboard with Penguin soundholes. Laminated peghead. Gold tuning machines with black knobs. Special order Ebony fingerboard. |  Hourglass, SDD 0025A couple of things to point out here. First notice the "Cannarywood" side on the body. This imported exotic hardwood has some beautiful grain patterns with colors ranging from browns to reds and oranges. Also the peghead has a different design. I was just experimenting while building it and ended up with something that reminded me of a turret on a castle. |  Hourglass, SDD 0024Classic "hourglass" shape with leaf soundholes. Western Red Cedar soundboard and scroll type peghead. |
 Hourglass, SDD 0027Sides are one of my favorite exotic woods called Canarywood. Usually has multiple colored grain streaks ranging from very light to deep reds and even purples. Standard hourglass shape with Aromatic Cedar soundboard. "Bubble" soundholes. |  Teardrop, SDD 0028Teardrop shape, stylish heart soundholes with dots above and below. Aromatic Cedar soundboard, |  Diamond, SDD 0034Diamond body with matching soundholes. A tribute to some of the very early designs primarily from the Melton's of Virginia. Western Red Cedar soundboard, nicely grained Cherry back and sides. |  Hourglass, SDD 0035Western Red Cedar on Hourglass shaped body. Padauk sides and back. Eight notes on upper "bout" and hearts on lower. |  Rectangle, SDD 0037Rectangular body with rectangular soundholes produces a nice, clear sound. Built with contrasting colors to produce a light/dark theme. Soundboard is light colored Poplar. Sides are a dark Walnut and back is a bright Eastern Maple. |  Hourglass, SDD 0039Fleur de Lis and Butterfly soundholes. Western Red Cedar sound board, Cherry back and Red Oak Sides. |
 Ellipse, SDD 0040Ellipse shaped, "f hole" soundholes. Soundboard is Red Alder, Backm is Black Walnut and sides are Cherry. |  Hourglass, SDD 0043Four different soundholes on an hourglass shaped body. |  Ellipse, SDD 0045Ellipise shape. |  Hourglass, SDD 0047Hourglass. |  0051Certainly one of my top five favorite instruments. I found a piece of poplar that was "marred" by a dark stripe within the grain of the wood. After some creative book-matching and milling I ended up with a unique looking soundboard for this elliptical dulcimer. |  Rectangle, SDD 0052Tribute to early builders that used whatever they could find for building materials. Sometimes they would use cigar boxes to construcg the body, creating an instrument with a rectangular shape like this one. |
 Ellipse, SDD 0053Eliptical shape with standing bear and howling wolf soundholes. |  "Very Custom" SDD 0054Ordered by customer in Vermont. |  Diamond, SDD 0055A little different view of a lesser used shape - diamond. |  "Trumpet" Shape SDD 0061A bit of a different design that I tried out in an attempt to come up with a less expensive dulcimer. It was not a lot less to build but did evolve into another "Economy" model that I am now building. |  Elliptical, SDD 0065Custom order instrument. Notice the laminated woods in the peg head. I enjoy doing this little extra touch and feel that it adds to the uniqueness of each instrument. |  Teardrop, SDD 0067This soundboard is Aromatic Cedar, also known as Tennessee Cedar. While it has been a popular option with many of my customers, I am finding that good quality lumber of this species is getting hard to get. |
 Rectangle, SDD 0076Basic model with some upgrades. Soundboard is Western Red Cedar. |  Hourglass, SDD 0077Hourglass shape, Crescent moon soundholes. |  Teardrop SDD 0083 |  Another commissioned Langeliek for a customer in North Dakota. SDD 0087 This is considered one of |  SDD 0088, Hickory bookmatched back with laminated racing stripe adds a distinctive personal touch. |  Peghear detail for SDD 0090. Laser edched initials or other items can also be added onto scroll typ |
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Custom Designed and Hand Crafted Appalacian Mountain Dulcimers
Thanks for visiting my Website. I hope many of your questions about Appalachian (Mountain) Dulcimers will find answers here and I hope you find out a little more about Sunny Day Dulcimers.
If you have questions that aren't answered, please email or call me. I look forward to getting to know you and would love to build you a personal, one-of-a-kind instrument.
Email: sunnydaydulcimers@Gmail.com Phone: (360) 322-7923
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