22 chord Chromaharp - comments?

Subject: RE: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 12:28 AM

I get the impression the chords were figured out for the kind of songs that were popular
when these instruments were first invented.

Not the most useful combination of chords these days ?

Subject: RE: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: beeliner
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:16 PM

I just acquired one of these - minus the chord bars - and I am also mystified.

The 36 strings are labeled from C#3 straight through to C6, with no halftones omitted, and in the normal left-to-right configuration.

The chord bar brackets appear to be normal 12-chord brackets, but positions 2-12 (with 2 nearest the tuning pegs) are separated by plastic inserts into halves, for a total of 22 half-slots plus the full width slot number 1.

There is a blank aluminum U-bar in slot 1. The other 22 bars are missing, as are all the springs save one - it's obviously quite tiny!

I can only guess that it might have been an attempt to produce a junior version of the Caroler, which had, as I recall, forty-some chords and was strung right-to-left like the Portaharp.

Can anyone supply further information about this oddity?

Subject: RE: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 10:38 PM

I had a traffic disaster and could not get back to the auction. I don't know what the extra chord was, but it went for $49! Now that I'd say was a bargain! Oh well, there are lots of bargains waiting.
Bruce

Subject: RE: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 05:09 PM

What's the 22nd chord?

Subject: RE: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 03:53 PM

So did you get it?
22 bars would be a bit more versatile, giving you extra chords. I could do with one like that, to keep up with friends who need odd minors or different keys that aren't on my Oscar 15 bar.
Robyn

Subject: 22 chord Chromaharp - comments?
From: GUEST,Bruce
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 07:47 AM

All,

I'm still learning about autoharps, and I've seen all the comments on the quality of various brands, but I need some thoughts on this 22 (yes, 22) chord hypbrid out on Ebay that is a Chromaharp (yep, I know the general feeling is those are inferior to OS and other harps) and has 22 bars. I know the price is likely to rise at the end of the auction (not that far off), and if there are any thoughts as if this might be a calculated gamble worthy of a bid (maybe tops, say $100?), I'd like any thoughts. Here is the item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280571757146&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Thoughts?