Soundboards & Transport

[kreig-kitts]

I have a question on soundboards not related to sound. I was curious if people have different experiences transporting extended versus straight soundboard harps, especially if flat loading. It seems like those “wing tips” for extended soundboards could by a little award laying the harp down, even on padding, compared to a straight soundboard where the soundboard edges are flush with the body. I saw thread where someone mentioned this as well. Has anybody who’s loaded both types frequently experienced a difference or had problems?

[adam-b-harris]

Bump.

I’m looking at getting an instrument with an extended soundboard next year and would like to know as well.

[kay-lister]

Hi Kreig,

I have an extended and I bought orthopedic dog pads from PetSmart which I use for the padding when I load my harp.

[barbara-brundage]

Yes, you have to be somewhat more cautious when loading a harp with an extended board, but it’s not a big deal. It also does mean that you need higher clearance in the back of the car, which can make a difference in shorter cars with angled back windows.

But I wouldn’t let that dictate what harp I got, for sure. Just get a good transport cover. You need some kind of padding under any harp, too, extended board or not, so that’s not an issue particularly.

[kreig-kitts]

Kay, thanks so much for reminding me of the dog pads. I read about them before (perhaps you’d mentioned them somewhere) and they sound ingenious. I’ll just have to remember to not accidentally buy the other dog pads for crating – probably not quite as supportive, though I suppose useful if my hypothetical harp gets excited in the car and has an accident.

Barbara, thanks for the advice, especially on vertical clearance. I should check our the crossover Zipcars and wagon taxis (we have minivans too fortunately) in town to make sure that won’t be an issue, though I think it should be OK. I mean I don’t plan on playing all over town 5 nights a week, just church and community band and whatever casual chamber music I can find, but I definitely want a harp that can leave the living room relatively easily. As

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