Building a Small Harp

[Brenda Dodd]

Thank you for all the help. I finally decided to go with solid cherry reinforced with carbon fiber tape for the neck. That is what I think I can do best with considering my available wood, tools, and woodworking experience. I am using T88 epoxy that was recommended to me at a woodworking store — hope it is as good as advertised! If it doesn’t work, then I’ll know better next time! I am having a blast and am delighted to find what I can do with simple tools — a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and a small sander.

[Brenda Dodd]

Purple Heartwood soundbox and cherry pillar (rough sanded), luan back (rough cut)

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[Brenda Dodd]

Question: why is the stringer usually made out of maple? I have cherry scraps, but no maple. Will cherry work?

[Biagio]

As long as the wood is hard enough such that the grommets do not pull out, use what you have available. Most harp makers usually have hard maple in the shop so I guess that’s why.

Here’s a trick though: put a tiny dab of “crazy glue” on the SB before inserting the grommet, but be sure it does not get into the grommet shank. If it does though, or spreads around too much, you can clean it up with nail polish remover.

[Brenda Dodd]

Thanks for the tip, Biagio!

[Brenda Dodd]

Ready for strings!

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[balfour-knight]

Brenda, the harp is BEAUTIFUL! It looks like you have done a wonderful job! How exciting to be ready to put the strings on it now. What is the range of this harp?

Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Brenda Dodd]

Thank you!
The range is E to E — just realized the string table does not specify the octave! I am assuming E3 – E6.

[talfryn]

Wow Brenda, this is really impressive particularly if it the first build. From the photo the joints look really accurate, you’ve obviously spent a lot of time on the joinery. Congratulations…
When you string her up take care to bring it up to pitch gradually, try starting 3 notes below and raise her a semitone or 2 each day…You probably know that anyway.. For me it’s the most exciting time when you get the strings on and start to hear the voice, all the hard work and any problems experienced in the build are forgotten when the harp comes up to pitch..
Well done..

[Brenda Dodd]

Thanks, Talfryn. Yes, it is the first build — but I suspect it will not be the last!
No, I had not heard about starting a few notes below and slowly bringing it up to pitch. I had only heard about balancing the tension along the neck and not fully tightening one at a time from one end. Thanks for the hint!

[balfour-knight]

That’s good, Talfryn and Brenda. I like to get all the strings on the harp at a low tension, then pull up all the C’s to about 3 notes below. Then pull up all the G’s, since they are in the middle between the C’s. Then do all the E’s, then the A’s, etc. This will balance the tension along the neck and the soundboard. How exciting to get to hear the voice of this brand new, hand-made harp!

Congratulations, Brenda!
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

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