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.
 "Bowed Dulcimer" SDD 0041My first attempt, (and most likely my last) at a custom build of something a little different. This instrument is called a "Bowed Dulcimer." It combines various features of a mountain dulcimer, a cello, a violin and a guitar. As the name implies, it is played with a bow, much like a cello. |  "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. |  Courtin' Dulcimer, SDD 0031"Courtin' Dulcimers" were said to been a way to keep young people that were "seeing" each other on the straight and narrow pathway. The young couple would sit facing each other and each play their part on one of two fretboards. The parents could repose to another area to give the courting couple some privacy but when they stopped hearing two distinct parts to the music they would quickly make sure there was no hanky-panky going on! It could also be enjoyed by two players that weren'n courtin! |  Elliptical, SDD 0010Ellipse shape. Guitar type peghead and Fern Frond soundholes. Western Red Cedar soundboard. |
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 SDD 0013Western Red Cedar soundboard. Geometric dot soundholes. Black walnut fingerboard. Tapered scroll peghead. |  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). |  Cigarbox shape. SDD 0017Our least expensive model. Also reminiscent of what the early builders did with materials they had on hand such as cigar boxes glued together for the body. |  Cigar-Box SDD 0017One of the first images on this page was of this instrument with a diffeerent soundboard. At one of the recent festivals we had an unfortunate accident with a display rack falling over and the original soundboard was slightly split and a small divot was made in the top edge of the body. I could have sold it "as is" but instead I rebuilt it with this new soundboard. The larger soundholes actually increased the volume of the instrument a little. |  TEARDROP SDD 0018Teardrop shape, Sitka Spruce soundboard and Purpleheart fingerboard. Tapered scroll peghead. "f" soundholes. |
 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. |  BOOKMATCHING EXAMPLEGood example of how I "Bookmatch" the soundboards and backs of my instruments. A board is ripped in half lengthwise, then opened like the cover of a book and glued together creating a mirror image on each side of the now wider board. (this is the back of the Hourglass with the horsehead and dot soundholes) |  3/4 SIZE, SDD 0021Small, hourglass shape well suited for small players or children. Laminated peghead, Black walnut fingerboard. |
 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 0023Hourglass with wider "f" soundholes. Note the different treatment of the peghead by thining down the scroll part to make it look a little more streamlined. |  Terminology...This hourglass instrument gives us a good opportunity to learn some dulcimer definitions. The narrow part of the body is called the "waist". (kind of obvious...) The wider portions of the body are called the "bouts". In this case the upper "bout" is not as wide as the lower one. This design gives a nice look to the instrument but does limit the choices of soundholes. To put soundholes in the narrow bout they need to be of a slender design. |
 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, |
 Hourglass, SDD 0029Hourglass shape with rare old growth coastal redwood soundboard. Daisy soundholes and modified scroll type peghead. |  Hourglass, Sdd 0030Dove soundholes in sitka spruce soundboard on hourglass shape body. Guitar type peghead. |  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. |
 Hourglass, SDD 0036Hourglass shape with a Catalpa sound board. A very nicely grained wood. Back is black walnut and sides are another exotic... canary-wood, also colorfully grained |  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. |
 Rectangle, SDD 0042Rectangle, Western Red Cedar top, Black Walnut with White Ash stripe, Black Walnut sides. |  Hourglass, SDD 0043Four different soundholes on an hourglass shaped body. |  Teardrop, SDD 0044TearDrop with four fern frond soundholes. Sitka spruce soundboard, Purpleheart back and Canarywood sides. |  Ellipse, SDD 0045Ellipise shape. |
 Hourglass, SDD 0047Hourglass. |  Ellipse, SDD 0048Eliptical shape. |  Hourglass, SDD 0049Hourglass shape, Hummingbird & Vines soundholes. |  Rectangle, SDD 0050Another "basic" model, built to pay homage to the early "cigar-box" dulcimers. |
 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. |  Hourglass, SDD 0056Hourglass shape. "Trestle" cut-outs in fret board are not just decorative, they are actually designed to reduce the surface area that is in contact with the soundboard. This allows the soundboard to vibrate better, thus enhancing the sound quality. |  "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. |  Teardrop, SDD 0064Another special order from an experienced player that was very specific about what he wanted in the instrument. One variant was that he asked for six strings, (three pairs of two) |
 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. |
 SDD 0078kjbkjbkbki |  SDD 0XXX Ellipitical Shape,While this shape is not the most popular, it does provide a more mellow, sweeter tone when played. |
CUSTOMER CORRESPONDENCE
Whenever possible, I prefer to deliver my custom instruments in person. This gives me the pleasure of seeing the excitement of the customer upon first holding their instrument. Below are comments I have recieved when I could not have this option or sometimes even after the fact...
E-mail from K.L. in Colorado. She had seen my website and commissioned me to build her a “Langeleik”. (an old Norwegian folk instrument that is believed to have had a strong influence in the design of the Mountain Dulcimer) It was my first try at this instrument and I had little tech info other than a few photos from the internet.
MAY 11, 2018
The package just arrived in perfect condition, and I regret that I was not able to shoot a video of opening the box, since my husband is working in Denver until tomorrow, and I am here alone until then. I would have had him try to shoot a video, only I could not wait another minute to see my new instrument. So, sorry about that!
I want you to know that the langeleik so far surpassed any expectations I may have had that I actually got a little choked up opening it. It just took my breath away. This langeleik is an absolute work of art, totally original, and unlike any instrument I have ever seen online. The way you combined the light and dark wood, especially the striped peg head, is just spectacular and makes it really a one-of-a kind! All the details on the langeleik are just beautiful.
I honestly don't think I have adequate words to express how thrilled I am upon receiving this instrument. I am saying sincerely that I could not possibly be happier or more impressed with the care and workmanship that obviously went into creating this special langeleik for me. It truly will become a family heirloom, and I only wish my Norwegian grandparents were still alive to hear it played.
I appreciate the info and extras you included too. I can't wait to tune it, to read all the materials you sent, and to hear it in tune for the first time. I plan to take the entire evening becoming acquainted with the instrument. Until I have a chance to do that, I will just stare at it in awe!
Thank you so very much for this entire adventure from start to finish. I hope our paths do cross some time in the future. If you ever pass through this part of Colorado, please do give me a call! I would love to meet both of you in person. This has been so fun, educational, and what an end result. You really are a master of your craft, John.
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely, K. L.
20 minutes later:
..addendum to the last email:
So, it was easy to tune and sounds so much warmer than any langeleik I have heard on videos online. What a great tone! I can't wait to show it to my husband tomorrow. I know I will be obsessed with trying to learn to play it. I love the sound!
Thank you again. K. L.
the next day:
Check is in the mail. I so appreciate you making this langeleik affordable for me. I will enjoy it that much more. I have been playing it off and on all day, and watching videos on YouTube. I imagine it will be some time until I am reasonably proficient playing it, but what a lot of fun learning!
Thank you again, and I will stay in touch. Best to you and Teresa. This whole experience has been really special to me.
K. L.
This is K. L.'s "Langeleik":
Made with Eastern Maple and Black Walnut.
Body is rectangular with slight taper towardpeg head end.
Only one string is fretted, remaning seven strings are "drones".
Soundholes are Norwegian Lyres with a traditional heart
below. Peghead is a lamination of the two woods producing
a striped pattern. Tuning machines are Grover Ukelele
tuners in nickel with white knobs.
From C.S. in North Dakota
5/28/15
Thanks so much John. I wrapped the dulcimer in bubble wrap and it made it home just fine. I must say that I got some strange looks, but it made it home just fine.
I have learned one song but had to set it a side for a week or so. I have a craft business and I have a big show this weekend that I have been getting ready for. When I get a bit better I will send you a video.
Thanks again for everything, I love my dulcimer!!!!!
You are welcome anytime you are passing through. Take care!
C. S.
From D.F. in Spokane, WA (Purchased a 3/4 size dulcimer he had seen on
my website as a birthday gift for his wife.)
6/4/2018
It's here, and she's LOVING it!
D.F.
(Note, after having the instrument for a few weeks his wife decided it wasn't
really something she wanted. I refunded their entire purchase price and felt it was
only fair that they pay for the return shipping.)
From: Greg in Wisconsin
5/14/2020
We received our dulcimer and are really impressed with the quality of the build.
The one thing that sets you apart from other craftsmen is your special gift to work with and understand the needs of your clients. The other is your great customer service. It takes a special person to do what you do the way you do it. Thank you
Greg from Wisconsin.
From: Mike Lewellen, Skagit County, WA
December, 2021
My name is Mike Lewellen. I am a resident of Skagit County, WA. I would consider myself more of a music enthusiast than any kind of musician. I was at the county fair in the summer of 2021 and happened to walk by a vendor booth that had these funny looking stringed instrumentts that I had never seen before. I stopped to have a look, and that's when I met John and his wife, Teresa. Wonderfully pleasant folks!! I was able to play around with one of these fascinating instruments that I had not been familiar with, and knowing nothing about a dulcimer, I was pleasantly surprisde at the beautiful noise they make. I just had to have one! John owns and operates Sunny Day Dulcimers, and set up a date where we could custom design my piece. I was surprised at the amount of options I had to choose from to really make a one-of-a-kind completely hand made instrument of my very own! John was very professional with how he took my order, explained the options to me in a simple manner that anyone could understand. John and his wife kept me updated on the progress of the build regularly as my excitement gfrew. Then the day finally came to meet with John abd Teresa to pick up my new dulcimer! When I unwrapped it out of the hand made cloth case Teresa made for it (which I wasn't expecting...) I could have not have been more pleased! I would recommend Sunny Day Dulcimers to anyone looking for an authentic, hand made American mountain musical instrument. Thank you John and Teresa Ellis.
FROM: Selmer, Minot ND
Original purchase in Feb. 2022.
These comments received in Fall, 2023
Hello John, I hope all is well with you, as it is here in North Dakota. Our fallweather has been most enjoyable.
I wanted to tell you that yesterday and today I had the opportunity to share something of the instrument with some 4th graders here in Minot. There's a big Scandinavian festival here this week. One of the events is to have Festival performers play and talk to grade school kids about their instruments. I'm not performing but a couple of the perfromers I knlow invided me to join them to demonstrate the langeleik. It was a great success and a lot of fun.
So thank you for building the instrument. I have to confess I haven't played it as much as I should have, but this experience will change that.
Best,
Selmer
Note: This is the second "Langeleik" I have been commissioned to
build. The langeleik is beleived to be a source of some of the
design elements in the Mountain Dulcimers.
John
FROM: Dwight Holmes, La Conner, Wa
Two months ago I did not even know what a Mountain Dulcimer was. A lady in our ukulele group showed me both of her dulcimers that John Ellis – Sunny Day Dulcimers – had made. She let me attempt to play them both and I actually was able to play a song or two. I contacted John and he showed me several he already had made and let me try them out. There was one especially that I liked the sound and the woods used in its construction but I decided to have John make a custom one for me with a little different design/style. John and I chose the style, the different woods used, the sound holes style and an upgraded scroll peg head and golden tuners. John is very organized and typed up a details agreement listing all of the choices I had made. Different shapes of the instrument and the different available woods used can affect the sound of the instrument when all assembled/done. The price we agreed on seemed quite reasonable considering this is a custom made to spec instrument. John does not make his instruments to “make money”. John has been woodworking for many years and building Mountain Dulcimers about 8 yrs because he deeply desires to make a quality instrument for a reasonable price and to preserve the history of this unique instrument for future generations. John, having some Irish and Scottish genes wants to preserve this aspect of it also since aspects of the Mountain Dulcimer have Scottish and Irish background though the Mountain Dulcimer was actually invented in the US. I too have Irish genes so my choice of Shamrock and Cross sound holes personalized my instrument for me. Last week I took possession on my instrument. It is beautiful, made to my specs and sounds like I had hoped it would. Now to learn to play. On deliver of the instrument John provides a very detailed and organized book of information that he has organized. Wow, this booklet is about 30 pages of information on my specific instrument, care of your dulcimer, tuning, history of the Mountain Dulcimer and many links to more information on your instrument and how to play it etc etc.. If you order a custom dulcimer, which you should, there will be a little waiting time as good craftsmanship does not necessarily mean quick. It was worth the month or more wait. When I am not learning to play this Dulcimer I am looking across my office as it is displayed on a floor stand to show of its beauty. I am happy with my purchase – could you tell? He even provided a soft bag made especially for my dulcimer – nice.
