40 string older Salvi Daphne – army green?

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This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by brook-boddie.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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January 21, 2010 at 10:50 pm #74738

john-strand
Participant

I spent some time yesterday with a Salvi 40 string Daphne – it was with its new 3rd owner and estimate probably around 10 to 12 years old – the original owner apparently was in north Texas. The serial number was not up on the action plate.

January 22, 2010 at 12:22 am #74739

Dwyn .
Participant

I have no knowledge of this, but my guess would be that it’s a custom finish.

January 22, 2010 at 3:01 am #74740

carl-swanson
Participant

John- Are you sure about the age of the instrument? Many of the older Daphne’s were made in Columbia South America. Salvi had a factory there years ago(he LOVES cheap labor and a total lack of worker benefits) and I was told that the harps were made from some cheap tropical wood that was very oily and didn’t hold a finish well at all. That may be the case with this instrument.

In the 18th Century that drab green was a common color for harpsichords. The color was called ‘Merde d’oie.’ I’m not kidding.

January 22, 2010 at 5:05 am #74741

john-strand
Participant

No, not sure of the age at all – the action plates were blank – now that I think about it, there was not even a Salvi logo on it. I thought if I had the serial, someone up at the factory might know about it.
The green is rather reminiscent of the green that appears on very old Les Paul goldtops where the protective clear coat has worn off and the gold has gone green.
Gibson also used a red color years ago for sunburst finishes that was famous for fading quickly even under the clear coat. (and it’s interesting that some of those old guitars are bringing the most money these days – go figure) Fender also experimented for a while with colors they called “wildwood” which was beechwood with dyes injected into the trees while they were still growing – blues, greens, browns, golds, in various combinations resulting in some very striking grain patterns and colorations – however, the few

January 22, 2010 at 11:08 pm #74742

tony-morosco
Member

“In the 18th Century that drab green was a common color for harpsichords. The color was called ‘Merde d’oie.’ I’m not kidding.”

I have to admit, although I don’t care for green harps I actually kind of like those green Harpsichords. I remember Derek Bell playing a green Zuckermann that I thought was very nice.

But on a harp that color wouldn’t be my first choice.

February 6, 2010 at 3:32 am #74743

barbara-low
Participant

I think the serial number is stamped/carved into the bottom of the base. The harp has to be tipped back to see it.

I heard the harps turned green because of the finish the factory used over the stain. My husband has refinished a couple of the ones that turned green, stripping them down to the maple, etc.

February 6, 2010 at 3:56 am #74744

brook-boddie
Participant

A friend of mine has one of these harps.
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