Sandy Creek Studios

I've retired 3 times and now build dulcimers for fun.  I started with a simple idea: To build top quality dulcimers in an ecologically green earth way.  Wherever possible I use reclaimed wood, trees blown down in hurricanes, old furniture, etc.  Some of the best wood I have ever found comes from pallets and shipping crates. A pallet company buys generic hardwood, so all kinds go into crates and pallets.  I have found white oak, birch, maple, red oak, beech, red gum and others mixed together.  Most of the time, defects or damage can be cut out.  In rare instances, they are included to enhance the beauty. 

 In addition, I design the soundboard holes to complement the wood grain rather than some arbitrary shape that's easy to cut.  That is why so many of my soundboards will use small knots or knotholes as flowers in an intricate pattern.  Sometimes, the wood color and grain will suggest something really different.  a good example is #8206 with red cedar top.  All I could see when I started thinking about it was "a journey to the stars."  So sailing ships to the stars came about. 

Most of the dulcimers are set up with Grover tuners and Folkcraft strings.  The usual string set is .011, .011, .013, and .024.  In addition, I color coordinate the nut, bridge and the tuner buttons in white or black.  I can do chrome tuners or other string gauges as well as left hand set ups on custom units if requested.  Most of the dulcimers are approximately 37 1/2" long, 7 3/4" wide and 2 1/4" thick; but no two are identical. 

I can build a matching wall hanger with red cedar hook for $50 on custom orders.  These wall hangers are made to fit a special hole in my peg head design.  They get the dulcimer off the floor stand and onto the wall where you and your friends can see it.  That way, it doesn't get damaged. 

If you wish, I can ship the dulcimer in a padded black hardsided carrying case that will protect it as you carry it about. The cases generally run $150 to $175.  Sometimes, I cannot get the wood you want in my normal way; so I buy from suppliers.  This generally adds $100 to $200 depending on the species of wood.  I finish all my dulcimers in hand-wiped satin polyurethane (gloss, is optional.)

I hope you find this interesting.  Please call or email any questions you have and I will try to answer as soon as possible.