harp building
- adrianix
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harp building
Have you ever tried to build an harp by yourself?
I'm thinking about it. A very simple one with a heavy plywood frame, nylon strings and allen bolts passing through it as tuning pegs...
Any comment?
I'm thinking about it. A very simple one with a heavy plywood frame, nylon strings and allen bolts passing through it as tuning pegs...
Any comment?
No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better
(Samuel Beckett)
(Samuel Beckett)
- brewerpaul
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Re: harp building
I built one from a Heartland kit and it came out very nice. They don't make kits any more, but there are some companies that do, like these:
http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/mercha ... e=0001harp
They also sell plans, if you're handy enough to build from those.
http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/mercha ... e=0001harp
They also sell plans, if you're handy enough to build from those.
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
I would suggest you do some research, and perhaps try building a harp from one of the MusicMaker kits (as Paul suggested) before trying to build one from scratch.
Do you actually play the harp? Are you thinking of building a traditional wire-strung harp or a neo-Celtic nylon-strung harp?
Redwolf
Do you actually play the harp? Are you thinking of building a traditional wire-strung harp or a neo-Celtic nylon-strung harp?
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- missy
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Re: harp building
I'll tell harpmaker about this thread - but he's busy getting ready for the Dublin (Ohio) Festival, so may not be back on for a week......
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
Some other options:
If you don't want to build a kit, MusicMaker also sells harp plans. And if you're really handy already, they have a book on instrument building that would help you.
And if you just want to build a simple harp, there's always the piper harp:
http://www.johnkovac.com/piperharp.html
Redwolf
If you don't want to build a kit, MusicMaker also sells harp plans. And if you're really handy already, they have a book on instrument building that would help you.
And if you just want to build a simple harp, there's always the piper harp:
http://www.johnkovac.com/piperharp.html
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
Or, even simpler (and, by all accounts, actually a very nice-sounding instrument):
http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/mercha ... =smartharp
Also, Stoney End sells their harps in kit form:
http://www.stoneyend.com/harps.html
Redwolf
http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/mercha ... =smartharp
Also, Stoney End sells their harps in kit form:
http://www.stoneyend.com/harps.html
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- unregulated
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Re: harp building
hi all
can anyone suggest a source of really good set plans Scots / Irish harps.
thanks
un.
can anyone suggest a source of really good set plans Scots / Irish harps.
thanks
un.
some tunes on 6 & 12 string guitar
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams
- unregulated
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Re: harp building
hi all
Adrian, I wouldn't make it from ply wood, if your going to the trouble of building something thats going to be playable which means using a decent set o' plans.
That'll give you the right string lengths and spacing so it is a pleasure to phisicaly play it, you might as well use materials that would, if put together fairly well have the potential of sounding good. Then you'll have something that play's well and sounds good.
I suggest you do a search for and check out "Luthier Supplies" and "Tonewood",
Maple and Walnut are good tonewoods and cheaper than you might expect. Don't be afraid to email them with your requirements (dimensions) and ask their advice on "cuts" of wood depending on the aplication, structural / soundboard etc. most are very helpful.
I see your from Spain so heres two of the big Spanish suppliers.
http://www.madinter.com/b2c/index.php?idioma=2
http://www.maderasbarber.com/main.asp?lan=esp
good luck
un.
Adrian, I wouldn't make it from ply wood, if your going to the trouble of building something thats going to be playable which means using a decent set o' plans.
That'll give you the right string lengths and spacing so it is a pleasure to phisicaly play it, you might as well use materials that would, if put together fairly well have the potential of sounding good. Then you'll have something that play's well and sounds good.
I suggest you do a search for and check out "Luthier Supplies" and "Tonewood",
Maple and Walnut are good tonewoods and cheaper than you might expect. Don't be afraid to email them with your requirements (dimensions) and ask their advice on "cuts" of wood depending on the aplication, structural / soundboard etc. most are very helpful.
I see your from Spain so heres two of the big Spanish suppliers.
http://www.madinter.com/b2c/index.php?idioma=2
http://www.maderasbarber.com/main.asp?lan=esp
good luck
un.
some tunes on 6 & 12 string guitar
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
"Plywood" isn't necessarily a negative. The use of laminates is becoming quite common in harp building these days, especially for the neck and pillar. The Dusty Strings Ravenna line uses laminates in the soundbox, which results in an excellent sound and light weight (not to mention a harp that is less sensitive to temperature and humidity changes) at a fraction of the cost.
We're not talking Home Depot/cheapo plywood here, however...that's true.
You asked about Irish harp plans...by that do you mean a traditional wire-strung harp? If so, you might want to ask on the wire harp list at Yahoo...a couple of people there build harps, and could probably steer you in the right direction.
Redwolf
We're not talking Home Depot/cheapo plywood here, however...that's true.
You asked about Irish harp plans...by that do you mean a traditional wire-strung harp? If so, you might want to ask on the wire harp list at Yahoo...a couple of people there build harps, and could probably steer you in the right direction.
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- ceadach
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Re: harp building
Hi all,
After building a few scores of these things I can offer you some advice.
Harp building is really unlike the construction of other stringed instruments. You don't have 30 strings at high tension pulling straight out of a guitar soundboard for example!
The last harp I made has 750 pounds ( 340.9 kg) of tension on it's soundboard. Guitars have a fraction of that.
Using high quality laminates for sound boards is perfectly reasonable, especially if you are dedicated amateur who doesn't have a great deal of money or time to invest starting out. I know my guitar making friends hate this idea, but it does work very well in harps.
I'd recommend strongly reading both Jerry Brown's and Rick Kemper's stuff on building. I also like the John Kovac's book on making Latin American style harps.
Here's Rick's site. http://www.sligoharps.com/
Rick's stuff is online and free. His construction methods are very complex and it gives you an excellent idea of how professional harp makers do their thing. Read it over as there is value tips on harp making at any level in there, like for instance how to make a neck with straight pins holes (sounds simple right?? It isn't) He also offers plans, one of which is free and downloadable for a very simple to build instrument. He has one wire strung harp plan.
MusicMakershttp://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
Offers kits, plans, parts and a good book on building your own from scratch. Nice sounding instruments.
And John's sitehttp://www.johnkovac.com/ His book Harp making made simple has very neat, easy to build harps in the Paraguayan style.
If you are seeking plans for a historical wire strung harp check David Kortier's site. He offer plans of five historical Gaelic harps.
http://www.kortier.com/wire.htm They do not come with directions or anything, but are very good clear plans.
This is the sort of instrument crazies like myself play.
CM
After building a few scores of these things I can offer you some advice.
Harp building is really unlike the construction of other stringed instruments. You don't have 30 strings at high tension pulling straight out of a guitar soundboard for example!
The last harp I made has 750 pounds ( 340.9 kg) of tension on it's soundboard. Guitars have a fraction of that.
Using high quality laminates for sound boards is perfectly reasonable, especially if you are dedicated amateur who doesn't have a great deal of money or time to invest starting out. I know my guitar making friends hate this idea, but it does work very well in harps.
I'd recommend strongly reading both Jerry Brown's and Rick Kemper's stuff on building. I also like the John Kovac's book on making Latin American style harps.
Here's Rick's site. http://www.sligoharps.com/
Rick's stuff is online and free. His construction methods are very complex and it gives you an excellent idea of how professional harp makers do their thing. Read it over as there is value tips on harp making at any level in there, like for instance how to make a neck with straight pins holes (sounds simple right?? It isn't) He also offers plans, one of which is free and downloadable for a very simple to build instrument. He has one wire strung harp plan.
MusicMakershttp://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
Offers kits, plans, parts and a good book on building your own from scratch. Nice sounding instruments.
And John's sitehttp://www.johnkovac.com/ His book Harp making made simple has very neat, easy to build harps in the Paraguayan style.
If you are seeking plans for a historical wire strung harp check David Kortier's site. He offer plans of five historical Gaelic harps.
http://www.kortier.com/wire.htm They do not come with directions or anything, but are very good clear plans.
This is the sort of instrument crazies like myself play.
CM
"Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has not kindness has not faith."
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
Are you a wire harper, ceadach? I just took up wire this year...whole different animal from lever, but I'm loving it!
Redwolf
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- ceadach
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Re: harp building
Oh yes. For the past 25 years now. And yes it is a whole different beast than nylon. The construction is somewhat different, and technique is radically different. I got into building when I did as there were few people making wire strung harps when I started out!
CM
CM
"Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has not kindness has not faith."
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
- Redwolf
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Re: harp building
I can believe it. They're still sometimes hard to come by, especially if you're in the market for a used instrument. I got outbid for a couple of Caswells on eBay before deciding to have my husband finish a Dreamsinger Bard for me instead (he's just getting into the idea of instrument building, and wanted to start off easy by finishing a harp rather than trying to build one.ceadach wrote:Oh yes. For the past 25 years now. And yes it is a whole different beast than nylon. The construction is somewhat different, and technique is radically different. I got into building when I did as there were few people making wire strung harps when I started out!
CM
Redwolf
...agus déanfaidh mé do mholadh ar an gcruit a Dhia, a Dhia liom!
- ceadach
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Re: harp building
Indeed it is!
As far as wire harps go there is next to nothing in kit form. The Dreamsinger instruments are a really good deal for the money, and have good spacing and sound.
As far as wire harps go there is next to nothing in kit form. The Dreamsinger instruments are a really good deal for the money, and have good spacing and sound.
"Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has not kindness has not faith."
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
Muhammad
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different."
T.S. Eliot
- unregulated
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Re: harp building
Ok Ok
I concede I;m liable to get things wrong in my enthusiasm.
750 pounds eh? sounds like harp makers will be going down the carbon fiber / nomex double top high tech route if they hav'nt already.
Thank's for keeping me right and the linx though.
And yeah the wire strung sound like the real thing to me.
yours Un.
I concede I;m liable to get things wrong in my enthusiasm.
750 pounds eh? sounds like harp makers will be going down the carbon fiber / nomex double top high tech route if they hav'nt already.
Thank's for keeping me right and the linx though.
And yeah the wire strung sound like the real thing to me.
yours Un.
some tunes on 6 & 12 string guitar
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams
the tune "Warrens Clean Slate" is playe ... ordieAdams