Bent neck-should I release the tension?

[unknown-user]

I have a Venus Grand Concert harp that is about 27 years old that has a neck that has been warping for a few years now. As a result the column is, of course, also tilting. I am currently going to college and do not have the money to get it repaired by a Technician at the moment. The worse part of the warp is near the column with the action plate being bent in the middle as it comes up to the knee-block. Does anyone know whether it would help to loosen the strings for a time. I moved the harp three years ago from California to NC and have seen it progressively get worse. It is more humid here, although I don’t know if that is attributing to the progress, or is just the stress from the strings, the aging of the wood, etc. Any help on the matter would be appreciated!

[carl-swanson]

I’m not certain from your description if it is the neck that is warping, or the column warping, or both. Columns do not generally tilt when the neck is warping. Most commonly the neck warps(mostly from age) but the column stays straight. However, if the column is warping, the neck may in fact be straight but looks warped because of the column tilt. In that case, if the column is straightened, then the neck is fine.

Whatever it is, you need to address this soon. You’re going to have irreparable damage to the action if you wait any longer. I would suggest you take it back to the Venus Company. If the column is warped and has to be replaced, then they are in the best position to do that.

[Dwyn .]

I would think loosening the strings (gradually, not all at once) would help avert further damage until such time as you’re able to afford a proper repair.

[katerina]

Carl is right: loosing the strings will not help at all; the best you can do is to replace the neck. Check if your column is straight. To do this you need a lace and one of your rings. Tie the ring to the lace and hold the lace at the top of the column (ring to be at the bottom). If it shows that column bends – you are in trouble, but it is about 2-3% of probability at all.

If you change the tension, it might crack immediatelly (simple physics – it will explode)

[unknown-user]

Just wanted to add that I have contacted the manufacture and am waiting for a reply from them, so you don’t need to contact them any more. Thanks. And by teh way, the column is not warping, but it is tilting from the base because of the pressure of the neck against the column.

[Tacye]

If the column is tilted to the right as you sit to play the harp are you sure this is more than the tilt the harp was made with?

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