Gestation of a harp – update

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This topic has 26 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by michael-rockowitz.

Viewing 12 posts - 16 through 27 (of 27 total)

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May 17, 2009 at 12:47 am #160472

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Rod,

I hadn’t heard of the use of hydrotherapy for tennis elbow before you mentioned it, but I’ve since read up on it some.

May 19, 2009 at 10:18 am #160473

unknown-user
Participant

Hi everybody.

Yes, we should never compromise safety, which may be taken to include how we move and play our harps to avoid strain and muscular tension etc. I guess this is where Pilates, Feldenkrais (think that’s the right spelling) or Tai Chi would help.

May 20, 2009 at 11:53 pm #160474

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Rod,

I believe the wood supports will keep the neck from falling over while just a few strings are attached.

June 4, 2009 at 11:19 pm #160475

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Hi to all again,

To my shear amazement, I have actually put the harp together.

June 4, 2009 at 11:49 pm #160476

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Hi again-

A correction – to enhance the sound, I may remove some non-structural stock from the sides of the soundbox.

June 5, 2009 at 9:26 am #160477

michael-rockowitz
Participant

And one more correction – the 4 lowest strings are .032s, not .024s.

June 5, 2009 at 6:01 pm #160478

Audrey Nickel
Participant

While physics certainly isn’t my strong suit, I can tell you that the neck on my 26 string Bard (brass strung) is attached to the shoulder only by two wooden dowels (unglued), and is held in place by string tension.

June 6, 2009 at 1:01 am #160479

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Audrey,

When I read through the harp-building CD (a collection of articles from the folk harp journal) that I ordered from Musicmaker Kits, I read about harps like the one from Dreamsinger, constructed just with dowels, mortise and tenon, etc.

June 6, 2009 at 1:08 am #160480

Audrey Nickel
Participant

The place where the neck (and the dowels) join the body is not recessed.

June 7, 2009 at 5:09 am #160481

unknown-user
Participant

Hi Everybody, Well, so you’re almost done, Mike!

Re tension of your wire strings. I could estimate this for you with my sonometer, if you wish, but I need to know the exact sort of string, it’s length, as well as its gauge. Between three and five strings from different places should do.

Re finishing. I’ve read that not too much varnish or whatever should be applied to the soundboard, to avoid filling up the wood pores and reducing the sound. I just put two coats of Scandinavian oil on my harps’ soundboards.

Enjoy your new harp, Mike!

Rod

June 7, 2009 at 1:27 pm #160482

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Rod,

Thanks for the offer, but I’ve already got the harp strung up!

July 6, 2009 at 4:07 pm #160483

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Hello to all,
I’ve gotten the harp to a point which I am, somewhat arbitrarily, going to call finished.
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