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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    9

    Default celtic type harps

    Looking for advice on building a 34 or 36 string harp.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    I have never built a harp but like everything else now there will be info on line. Other and easier way is to get one in kit form for a first go. I did my first dulcimer from the on line assembly instructions for a kit but I made the parts myself to save money. Just about to attempt a mountain banjo doing the same thing. Enjoy the build however you go at it and remember to post the buildalong for us all to watch.
    Regards
    John

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    Ringwood, VIC
    Posts
    575

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by trevor1944 View Post
    Looking for advice on building a 34 or 36 string harp.
    This or maybe slightly smaller is also on my list. I'd be interested in what you find out..


    Russ

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Central Queensland
    Posts
    26

    Default

    Check this site

    Building the Lever Harp

    it has a lot of good info

    Tom

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Thanks Tom that is a very interesting site.I have picked up quite a few good tips there.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    9

    Default Started to build

    Thank you for your replies gents.I have started to build my harp which is going to be a 34 string.
    I have laminated three 15 mm thick boards together giving me 45 mm from which to cut the harp neck.The wood that I am using is Kiaat.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterocarpus_angolensis.
    I will try to do photos as I go along.
    Greetings from RSA
    Trevor

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
    Posts
    1,436

    Default

    IMG_3640.jpg
    GRAYLORE LUTES

    This gentleman makes medieval instruments, some from a few illustrations in old books and some from measurements of instruments in museums.

    Pete

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Frankston
    Posts
    31

    Default

    I've made three - two 34 string irish harps, and a smaller one. At the time internet wasn't really around to help, so learnt a lot from two great Australian harp makers, both with different approaches. this was the smaller one, of purpleheart, mountain ash and a sitka spruce soundboard.

    It's a delight because there are no formulas - makers all have different approaches with different results. Happy to answer any questions.

    One of my most useful handmade tools was to get an inner tube and cut it into long pieces. Harps have awkward angles to clamp, so the inner tube is remarkably flexible way of supporting the clamping process.
    Also, one of my bigger harps had a nasty fall and split on the neck, because of course the grain can't follow the shape of the neck. To repair it I went from three to four laminations in the bigger harp and offset the grain in the centre laminations make sure there was grain in the direction of wherever the curve went. And the centre laminations were made of two pieces (see centre pic - that's why I'm clamping it) to achieve more grain directions - if that makes sense. The outer laminations are single pieces because it's a thing of beauty. The smaller harp only has three laminations on the neck - and the pillar only needs two but wanted to match the sandwich effect of the naturally purple timber with the white mountain ash.

    I do have a .pptx with a lot of the process captured in images.

    It's an exciting thing to string it for the first time and hear its voice.
    IMG_3006.jpg20140722_162528.jpg20140809_143905.jpg

    Where in South Africa are you? I get to Joberg most years.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Posts
    2,741

    Default

    That looks fantastic.

    What glue did you use?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Frankston
    Posts
    31

    Default

    In all my harps the primary glue is titebond (yellow PVA, crosslinked PVA). It's wonderful stuff for repairs as you can use heat.
    That includes -
    * joining soundboard pieces (even though I go down to 3mm at top)
    * Joining laminations
    * String bars
    * Body construction (I've done rounded, half rounded and square back).
    * Attaching soundboard

    The only joint I had trouble with on an Irish harp is the neck/pillar join on the 34 string models. On the rock maple harp no problem, but on the softer mahogany harp it wants to pull over. When I replaced the neck that broke I used marine epoxy.

    On the small harp pictured here I then used marine epoxy on a few critical joints. Neck/pillar... I think the shoulder to the neck (not neck to body, which is not glued!). I can't recall all the places I used it.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Hi bcp I live in the Western Cape province in a small village called Sedgefield. Are you in Oz or USA.Do you use Skype?
    I would very much like to stay in contact with you. I have just finished stringing my harp and trying to tune until it stabilizes

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