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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 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 |
FESTIVALS - 2024
April 6-7 : Skagit Wood Expo, Mt. Vernon, WA Fairgrounds
Last year was the first year for this venue and while we didn't have a chance to attend or participate, I did hear very good reviews from people that did! As the name suggests, it is all about wood and the great heritage of the wood industry in our area. Live exhibits of chainsaw carving, portable sawmilling, wood turning and lathe work. The Northwest Corner Woodworkers Association will have exhibits and there will be auctions of the wood products made on site as well as vendors with both wooden articles (like my dulcimers) and other arts and crafts vendors as well as food trucks and booths.
June 14-16 : Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival, Cashmere, WA
This will be our 5th or 6th time at this great Bluegrass Festival. (would have been 8th time except for that darn ol' pandemic! Great people, good food and wonderful music. Hope to see you there!
July 12-14 : Street Fair, Arlington, WA
Always great to be vendors at our home town. Arlington has a special mixture of
small town USA feelings while still being large enough to have everything one needs without having to go to the "big city". We love living here and hope you will love visiting the street fair.
August 9-11 : Mount St. Helens Bluegrass Festival, Toledo, WA
Last year was our first time vending at this venue and we are definitely going back this year. The music was great. The people running the festival were most helpful and very accomodating. It was hot but there was plenty of shade to stay comfortable in.
September 2-4 (Labor Day Weekend) : Oak Harbor, WA
As a U.S. Navy Veteran, I can't imagine a better way to end the summer than to spend it at a location that loves and celebrates it's own Naval Air Station families. Talking to the local Residents, Sailors and their families, gives us reason to be thankful for all of our military personnel, and for what they sacrifice to keep us free. I invite you to join us in Oak Harbor and when you see a sailor or veteran on the street, I encourage you to tell them thanks.