Gold Tone Autoharps?

Subject: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 12:36 PM

What do we know about:

http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Tone-CHORDAHARP-Chord-A-Harp-Natural/dp/B002RARBIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1299778306&sr=1-1

~Susan

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: PHJim
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 02:23 PM

Hi Susan,
I`ve never played one of these, but the shape reminds me of a Chromaharp. Johnson also uses this shape and perhaps they are made in the same factory. While I prefer the OS `harps to the Chromaharps, I think, for the price, you`d be happy with this one.

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 04:43 PM

Susan - My local guitar store might have the same item at 25 bucks less than the Amazon listing. Check the link to see if it's the same one.



Maple Street Guitars - Autoharp

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 11:29 PM

Yes, Wes, but my local has it even cheaper.

The advantage is said to be the narrow chord bars-- sized like an OS 21-chord, but NOT riding on the lousy plastic combs like all the Schmidts I've played (and broken). They ride on metal posts like an OS 15-chorder. The lack of plastic housing, usual on an OS-21, also leaves more of the soundhole open, and strum space.

I play hard (tabletop, upside down), so the less-breakable feature is the one I am most eager to try. The woods of this are the same as the lovely but ancient OS I have loved and am thinking of trading in-- before the last-installed combs start to give way. (It's recently felted as well.)

But if anyone has any bad news on these Gold Tones I want to hear it before I order.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 06:38 PM

reflesh

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: PHJim
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 11:05 PM

If you love your OS, have you thought about getting a new chord bar assembly?

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 09:48 AM

Well, I love the TONE of the old OS. The chord bars and aught else have been worked on extensively by several great luthiers, trying to make it work well for my playing style.... but really, about all I love about it is the tone and the color it happens to have been stained.

Because I play the style I do, the plastic combs that hold the bars take more stress than they were designed to take. Because of the plastic housing over them they are fussy to work with. Because of the pressure and I exert and the angle at which I play, the chord buttons tend to slide underneath the housing (stuck in the dampening position in mid-song). All of these factors make the Gold Tone design differences compelling-- and the woods are the same as my old OS.

The OS BTW I plan to pass along to a newer player who, in turn, will pass his older 15-chorder along to someone else. (He plays the same styule and in the keys I do, so the customized setup is right up his alley where it would not be right for someone else.) It's a good move, I think, all the way around-- UNLESS someone has had some bad experiences with a Gold Tone they can tell me about.

Our local luthier has sold a bunch, and is not reporting any unhappy owners-- or he wouldn't sell 'em anymore. He's sold out now-- not trying to unload a dusty non-starter off his inventory.
My decision will not make sense to a lot of folks. But if one has not heard me play, the first thing one would need to understand is that my particular playing style and resulting sound are not like anything you have ever heard as "the autoharp sound." (Purposely so-- not aiming to be Bowers, any of the Carters, Sebastien, etc., or even my friend Bill Day, LOL).)

I just thought it would be wise to ask here if there is anything I should be careful about with Gold Tone 'harps.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 11:15 AM

Am I remembering correctly that you play your autoharp laying flat on a table as opposed to holding against your body? I wouldn't think that position would be harder on the harp than any other. Of course I don't own or play an autoharp.

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 12:45 PM

Wes,

Yes, and upside down, and yes it is played MUCH harder, for numerous reasons.

But you could do me a favor IF your shop is nearby-- go strum one and see if it sounds sweet and full-- somewhere between a mandolin and a 12-string guitar.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 10:50 PM

~S~
Puder bad

Subject: RE: Gold Tone Autoharps?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 06:32 PM

reflex