Disc adjustment

[cathysmith]

The bass D string will not go into the sharp position because the disc doesn’t reach the string to change it. The harp is quite old and the neck has been repaired once, but there are small cracks near the tuning pin. Can this be repaired during regulation or will another rebuild be involved?

[carl-swanson]

What make and model of harp is this? How old is the instrument? When was the neck replaced?

[cathysmith]

It is a Lyon and Healy Style 20 with serial number 759, likely built between 1905 and 1909. My grandfather bought it used for my mother in the early 40’s. The neck was replaced about 20 years ago. I just found out that when that work was done this issue was not addressed because my mother wasn’t playing much anymore.

There is also an issue with the sound board being pushed a bit forward on one side and on the backside it is cracked a bit and pulling away from the center sound holes.

Still sounds beautiful even with incredibly old strings.

Just trying to determine if it is worth the investment of regulating and getting new strings.

[carl-swanson]

There’s too much here that raises more questions. I would have to examine the harp in person to tell you what the condition of the instrument is and what needs to be repaired. I can tell you that all those 3 digit serial number Lyon & Healy harps have the same problem with the body shell, which you alluded to in your post. It took Lyon & Healy 22 years, from their start selling harps in 1889, to figure out how to build the body shell so that it would last. In their earliest version, which is present on all the 3 digit instruments, the body shell was made from two very thick layers of veneer with the grain direction the same on both layers. These body shells develop cracks, often big cracks, which really cannot be repaired. The body needs to be replaced. Beyond that, I don’t know exactly what is going on so can’t advise you. Try to get a good technician to look at it sometime.

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