Which type of wood is best?

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This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 21 years, 5 months ago by unknown-user.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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August 2, 2004 at 4:00 am #167623

Katrina Szederkenyi
Participant

Actually I heard that cherry tree wood is good for a soundboard….but yes cedar is also
used a lot I think because it’s quite soft. I always get confused with tree types lol!

August 2, 2004 at 4:00 am #167624

unknown-user
Participant

Well, if I may contribute with my humble knowledge…

Yes, cedar is a somewhat common wood for soundboards (not nearly as common as, say, spruce? lol).

August 2, 2004 at 4:00 am #167622

Brittany Huynh
Member

Hi! i was wondering if Cedar wood was good wood for the harp. or is
it very low quality. thanks bye!

August 10, 2004 at 4:00 am #167625

unknown-user
Participant

That’s all really great advice. Just beware of Mahogany. It is such a beautiful wood, but it is VERY soft. Spruce is terrific for the soundboard for millions of reasons.
I say use Hard Maple for the body, and maybe a little Walnut here and there. These woods are durable, look great, and always give a pleasant sound.
Good luck.

August 11, 2004 at 4:00 am #167626

unknown-user
Participant

To Ms. Humphries!

Maybe she needs to be knocked over the head with a piece of mahogany to know it is classified as a HARDWOOD!

August 12, 2004 at 4:00 am #167627

alexander-rider
Participant

Now now Donald! my goodness the hostility towards Suzanne! what with the frosty reception she got with that britney Spears thread i’m beginning to worry our suzie’s gonna get a complex!

August 30, 2004 at 4:00 am #167628

unknown-user
Participant

Look Donald, until I personally attack you,

September 8, 2004 at 4:00 am #167629

Elizabeth Volpé Bligh
Participant

I have an absolutely divine-sounding Ron Wall harp. I recollect that he said he was using a
different wood in the soundboard now. I think he said it was alder. If you really need to
know, you could try contacting him.

November 16, 2004 at 5:00 am #167630

unknown-user
Participant

Donald is just highly expressive. He’s actually pretty nice. I know him well. And I disagree with him. Mahogany may be classed as a hardwood, but it sure is soft. I have a mahogany Salvi bench, and you can practically dent it with your fingernail! Maybe some kinds of it are hard, but in furniture it’s often soft. I was shocked to see that our new performing arts center auditorium was covered in mahogany panelling. That won’t last long. For a wood to be used in a harp one also has to consider the climate it will be in and the humidity. Where’s Carl Swanson when you need him?

March 10, 2005 at 5:00 am #167631

unknown-user
Participant

regarding the hardwood situation, the term hard and softwood does not always refer to the actual density.

March 16, 2005 at 5:00 am #167632

unknown-user
Participant

As far as I know, maple is almost the staple wood for harpbuilders…Lyon $ Healy and Salvi use it exclusively for their harps (just with different wood finishes) and I think all pedal harps are made from hard maple, for its strength and…well, hardness.
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