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Acoustic differences between Vertical vs Horizontal Soundboards?

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Home Forums Harps and Accessories Acoustic differences between Vertical vs Horizontal Soundboards?

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  • #288200
    Sarah Ayende
    Participant

    To clarify:
    Vertical soundboard being: Marini Double Harp, Chineze Konghou Harp, etc
    Horizontal soundboard: Celtic/Pedal/Folk harp

    I know there’s some double strung harps who also take the form of a vertical soundboard and it can be thinner to carry.

    For those who have used one or both…
    Would you say there is more tonewood being used in a vertical harp or a horizontal one? I ask since… for the horizontal ones… the soundboard sits on the top.. meanwhile the vertical ones are all encompossing the body.

    Are the Vertical Soundboard harps truly easiser to carry/use than the Horizontal ones?
    And if portability is the main concern…
    Does the vertical soundboard small harps project more than the horizontal small harps do?

    Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!

    • This topic was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Sarah Ayende. Reason: Had to add the other picture example
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    #288224
    Biagio
    Participant

    Let’s start with a bit of acoustics. The SB acts as a means to transfer string vibration to the air in the box which in turn acts as an acoustic amplifier much like the body of a guitar or kettle drum. So the main question is whether the shape of the box is effective. Too deep for the SB’s thickness and volume will not be as strong. Too narrow and you may get unwanted echoing. I think you can be fairly sure that a competent maker has experimented with both.

    The argument has often been made that a solid wood SB of some strong elastic species (spruce, cypress, red wood, cedar, etc.) will be “better” than a high density laminate one such as found on harps such as the Ravennas, Musicmakers, Marini, etc.) because “vibrations travel along the wood grains.” true enough but for smaller harps I don’t think that makes much difference unless it is quite wide. Some may disagree with that opinion and more power to them.

    All of that is a round about way of saying that if you want a small portable “packable” harp the main question is the size of your suitcase!

    #288229
    Sarah Ayende
    Participant

    Ahhh I seee!!!

    This is so helpful, thank you so much Biagio for sharing your thoughts!

    🙂

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