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The Swan (See Cygnet, Serenade and Gemini below)

1996: When I first met Dave Thormahlen at the Vermont Harp Conference it was love at first sight (with the harps!) Compared to my other harps, it was like silk.
- Cynthia Lynn Douglass, Georgia, (with her Maple Swan)

2005: "When I first played on my new Swan, I felt like I'd come out of the desert and into an oasis of beauty, both in sound and in quality. While I have owned a few Thormahlen harps over the last 10 years, being without one for two years made me appreciate Dave's work even more. Never have I been moved to tears when hearing a new harp, but today was an exception. Thank you, Dave and Sharon, for your magnificent work."
- Cynthia Lynn Douglass, Alabama, (Cynthia has a new Cherry Swan)

I have a maple nylon-strung Swan 36 and love it. It's the best lever harp I've played. Thanks for building such great harps!
- Jan Jennings, Florida

When Jan received a new Serenade, she said: "It's so adorable!"

I play a Thormahlen Harp because it plays itself and reminds me of the reason I am a harpist. After studying pedal harp for more than 10 years, the Thormahlen Harp is my dream harp.
- Laura Zaerr, Oregon (with her Mahogany Swan below, Mahogany Cygnet, right, and her new Koa Swan Deluxe, lower right)

What a harp! It has a beautiful shape, rounded with care and love:
I let my fingers run over the neck and it seems I'm touching a silky skin. It's lighter than my old harp. And the sound! So loud, so sparkling, so sweet. (Even better than on the phone). Also my tuner noticed it: the needle was precise and not oscillating. I'm really happy to have a harp like this. I'm eager to learn to play better and to make beautiful songs. I really want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to let me have an instrument so enchanting.
- Marta Luchi, Italy (with her Koa Swan)

I, like many others, am the happy owner of a Thormahlen Swan. It's koa, with folk gut strings, and a sound I can only describe as "smoky." That's what really grabbed me - I had to have one. It stays in tune very well, even outside at the beach. It's lovely to look at (mine has a narrow band of abalone around the soundbox that adds a little "twinkle") and the staved back is very comfortable. It actually fits in my Honda Civic 2 door.
- Cornelia Van Aken, California (with her new Koa Swan)

My harp arrived, and he is beautiful! I knew he would sound wonderful, but I wasn't prepared for how beautiful the wood work is. I appreciate your attention to detail and your high standards. The way you worked with the grain of the wood is masterful. The inlay work is perfect. I don't see or feel a flaw.
- Kilian Metcalf, Arizona

Kilian's Walnut Swan with pearl inlay. This photo will have to do until she sends me a photo of her.

I, too, fell in love with the Swan and had to have one! It is the most beautiful harp.....the craftmanship is outstanding...but it is the tone that sold me. Everything I play sounds lovely! In fact, I can't stop playing!!! The sound is addicting! Not only do I have a gorgeous harp, but I feel like I'm part of the Thormahlen family. Sharon was so accomodating and helpful playing harps made out of different woods...the mahagony gave me goose bumps every time! She was very patient and answered all of my questions.  I am also in love with Sharon's original compositions...I ordered all three books along with my harp and they are wonderful! Thank you for making my harp dreams come true!
- Lynne, Connecticut (with a Mahogany Swan).

And by the way, Lynne is 5 feet tall and she has found the Swan to be "very comfortable and manageable to carry around."

I have been SO thrilled with my 36 string Thormahlen! The more so after my 1-yr. old granddaughter broke it, and I had to ship it back for repair. David Thormahlen is a genius! I cannot even tell WHERE it was broken now! But what I did not know when I bought the harp, was that I was also getting the music I have been looking for for years!  Sharon's music is not only unintimidating to learn and memorize but it is BEAUTIFUL! I like to say it is "simple" but NOT "simplistic"....her melodies are fascinating and just plain lovely!
- Peggy Glenn, North Carolina (with her Zircote Swan)

I just wanted you to know that a few weeks ago, I tried one of your Swan harps, and I need to tell you that it is without doubt one of the nicest instruments I have ever experienced. I can only remember one other pedal harp that had the same effect on me. I sat down to play it and immediately it felt like an extension of me. I bought it on the spot for a friend who has a very keen ear and sense of beauty and she is truly in love with it. I extracted the promise that were she ever to sell it, I had first dibs. What a beautiful, responsive harp. Thank you.
- Stephanie Curcio, New Hampshire

What an extraordinary harp. I have a Thormahlen that I absolutely love. I can yank the strings hard when I need to, and they respond very easily to a light touch as well. Everywhere I have taken this harp people (harpists and non-harpists alike) have oohed and ahhed about the sound. I have also recorded with this harp and it held it's tuning great for some rather lengthy sessions. I'd sell my pedal harp before I'd part with mine. It is by far my favorite harp (my pedal harp is jealous!). I can't recommend the harp highly enough, it's Awesome!
- Andra Bohnet, Alabama

We just shipped a Cherry Cygnet to Andra to add to her harp collection.

I wanted to let you know how much I am loving my harp.  When deciding what harp to purchase I did a lot of research, played a lot of different harps, and also talked with a lot of different people. After having decided to purchase your Koa Swan, I must say that I am happier that I even expected to be. It is a breathtaking work of art, and more importantly it sounds and plays beautifully. I really appreciate your taking all the time with me that you did in helping to answer all my questions, and discuss with me all my possible options. You really did help guide me exactly to the harp I was hoping for.                          I love the way the gut strings feel and sound. They have a very rich full sound without any of the "twang" that I hear in most nylon strung harps. The feel is incredibly "smooth." I have no problem whatsoever playing for hours and hours without my fingers getting tired or worn out even in the slightest I had only been playing the harp for about 6 months prior to the time when my Thormahlen harp arrived, but as soon as I started playing it, it was as if I suddenly had been given 6 free months of practice for nothing. I played clearer, faster, more accurately, and with a much more pure sound simply because your harp was so natural in my hands. It was a perfect fit.                               I had read some of your reviews stating that your harps tend to hold their pitch well. Here is what I found: after about two months of playing your harp every day (and not tuning it, because I am so lazy) I decided to tune both my harps so that my wife and I could play together. Even after two months there were only about 5 strings that even needed to be tuned at all (and I was using an electric tuner to verify it was in tune). Amazing if you ask me. Anyway, I cant say enough good things about the harp, and want to thank you again for all you did in order to get it to me. 
- Ryan and Kelly Melville, Texas (pictured is Jae Morgon, who is Ryan and Kelly's son)

I want to thank you one more time for my beautiful harp. Even when not playing, simply looking at my harp in the living room has provided a wonderful aesthetic calm for me. Everyone comments on what a beautiful instrument it is! Oh and thank you one more time for providing me with the method of removing paint from the finish after my cats knocked it over and against a wall. Sigh. They are VERY active cats and they are fascinated with the harps. For a while I had to keep towels stuffed into the openings in the soundboard because they wanted to climb in. When I play, they come and listen. It is adorable.
- Susan Spencer, Oregon

See Susan's Cat Cards at www.clawsandeffects.com

I received my Koa Swan yesterday - yippee! When I took the harp out of its case, I stood there speechless just admiring the beauty of the harp! I was in awe of the beautiful Koa wood, the Cedar soundboard veneer, and the gorgeous abalone inlay around the soundboard and down the T-brace. I tuned the harp so I could hear her sing. What a gorgeous tone! Every note just rang like a bell as I tuned the harp. When I played the harp, the tone and resonance was absolutely heavenly! I had to tend to some chores, but I kept peeking in the room where the harp was just to make sure that it was really there and was really mine! I am in awe of such beautiful craftsmanship, the precision and perfection of the abalone inlay, and the stunning tone. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! 
- Cynthy Johnson, Virginia (Cynthy's Koa Swan Deluxe)

You'll also see Cynthy below with her Cherry Cygnet

Dear Sharon and Dave, now that I have been playing my Swan for a month, I'd like to tell you of my experience with it. I don't yet have a picture of me with the harp, but will forward one to you when I can.

Playing my new koa Swan harp has been a deep and poignant delight, for my mind and heart, and especially for my soul. Each note I pluck feels alive and resonant under my fingers. My new harp has an incredible dynamic range and sensitivity to my touch. The mellow depth of tone in the folk gut strings sings through my bones and body, creating a feeling of reverence and awe--I never knew my music could sound so moving and expressive.
In addition, this instrument is beautifully crafted. The harp's woods and design meld to demonstrate artistry at its finest, even down to the bear claw marks on the soundboard! Thank you for bringing such an amazing harp into my life.
Jennifer Pratt-Walter, Oregon

My beautiful harp arrived yesterday. What a gift you have to be able to create an instrument that not only looks beautiful but sounds beautiful too. I even enjoyed tuning it. :-) The inlay is so lovely and so perfectly done. I hope you have some idea of the joy you bring to others lives by the work of your hands. This is my forever harp and hopefully at least one of my grandchildren will play and then one of their children and so on. I can't thank you enough...my Swan is just perfect in every way!
- Judith Rathbone, Georgia

Endorsements for Cygnets,   Serenades,   Geminis

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