Folk Harps

Subject: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 09:21 PM

For the last Three years I have been working on a folk harp (lap / knee Harp) that is affordable, IE, by comparison to a half decent guitar. This will give everyday folk the opportunity to own their own folk Harp @ the right price. They are not ready yet, But well underway. Harps & website should be up by this summer. In the meantime, I will be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the above and harps in general.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 10:14 PM

I have a 31 string lever harp which has a couple of strings which buzz & make me nuts. What can I do about them?   Thanks!

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Bobjack
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 03:33 AM

I need to slice hard boiled eggs on a regular basis, would they pass through the strings in uniform slices?

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 05:17 AM

Bobjack,I personally thing a banjo would do a better job

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Helen
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 05:59 AM

Bobjack,

Unless you got a wire strung harp, the strings could be too far apart and the slices would be way too thick.

Helen

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Bobjack
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 06:06 AM

Thanks for egg slicing advice everyone. I think I will stick with my 12string guitar.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 07:28 AM

I suppose the alternating thick and very thin slices are aesthetically interesting. But do the thin ones have any structural integrity? I would have thought they might be excessively floppy, and yolk in particular would be likely to decompose completely.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 07:32 AM

But the best instrument for slicing things is a mandolin - often demonstrated in shopping centers or on late night Television in Australia.

Robin

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Bobjack
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 09:46 AM

hmmmmmmmmmm There is much for me to me to think about here. You are right greg, the string spacings will produce irregular thicknesses of egg slices.
The only way around this is for harpmaker to build me a small, steel strung harp as a slicer. John, are you listening?

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Sooz
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 03:50 PM

Kaleea - I had the same problem when I got my harp. I found that the buzz was only with the lever in one position so I left it in the good position and tuned accordingly. A couple of months later and it seems to be "played in"
Harpmaker - take no notice of the slicers, get on with making some beautiful instruments and lets see the results!

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Helen
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 03:52 PM

Sorry John. Threadcreep.

Have you seen the small relatively inexpensive harps called Harpsicles. I'll find out the website address and post it here. I haven't seen one in the flesh, but the e-mail based Harplist has discussed it a bit. There has also been some regular discussions there about Pakistani harps some positive and some negative.

Helen

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 04:40 PM

Kaleea & Sooz, buzzing usually happens when a lever has come loose & lost its correct position. Move the lever away from the string (this only needs to be very slight) & thighten the two securing screws on the lever.

Helen, I look foreward to seeing the Harpsicles website. Thank's.

Oh, and Sooz, or anybody else, HERE are the harps I make! (note, no lap harp yet)

And finaly, a bit for the eggslicers, Your local store will supply you with one, but don't try to play it!

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: black walnut
Date: 02 Mar 04 - 05:42 PM

If you have a mailing list please put me on it. I would love to see what you end up with. I've had trouble playing my 36 stringer due to neck/ulnar nerve problems, but I do love that low string sound.

~black walnut (= the wood my harp is made out of).

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Helen
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 12:41 AM

Hi harpmaker,

In penance for my contribution to the eggy-threadcreep, here is the link.

Harpsicles made by Tasty Harp Co, a div of Wm Rees Instrument Co

I'm interested to know how you decide what goes into or is left out of a relatively inexpensive harp. There are some design issues especially regarding the amount of pressure on the soundboard and therefore the construction of the harp to withstand that pressure. The Harpsicle seems to be made of plywood so nice looking wood has been replaced, but the soundboard would still need to be spruce or something like it which is thin and flexible but strong.

Inquiring minds (well one, anyway) would like to know.

Helen

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: black walnut
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 07:14 AM

Make that two.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: John P
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 11:01 AM

I work for Dusty Strings, a well-known builder of harps. I've played on the Harpsicle. For $300 or whatever it costs, it's pretty good. A WHOLE lot better than the Pakistani harps, or "harp-like objects" as they've been called. But as a harp, the Harpsicle leaves a lot to be desired. The tone is a bit dull (but a WHOLE lot better than the Pakistani harps) and the lowest string is so close to the pillar that it is difficult to play. But for folks who want to try the harp it is an inexpensive way to get started. The instrument works in a basic way. It doesn't have any sharping levers, and I'm not sure they could be added, so the versatility is quite limited. It would be a good travel instrument or camping instrument, in as much that if it gets damaged it's not a great loss. In appearance, the Harpsicle is quite boxy -- it's literally a rectangular plywood box with a non-curved harp neck attached. The fun comes from the bright colors you get get, not from beautiful wood or graceful shape. I would say that the value to dollars ratio is very good, but the intrinsic quality of the instrument is so-so.

Harpmaker, I'll look forward to seeing your lap harp. That's a hard instrument to make, since no one wants to pay as much for one as for a larger instrument, but they require the all the same parts as a big harp. The Triplett lap harp is quite nice, but it's approaching $1000. The Here, Inc. harp sounds pretty good as well, but is not so nicely put together as the Triplett and still well above $500. If you can make a decent looking and sounding instrument for less than those, it will be a winner.

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 04 Mar 04 - 05:43 PM

Helen & Black Walnut, Its all down to the quality of materials used.
If the harpmaker is using low quality materials, he/she is going to make just an average harp. On the other hand, if high quality materials are used, the end result will be stunning (depending on the skill of the harpmaker) This type of harp takes a lot more time to make, hence big price difference. Black Walnut's harp for ex', I would imagine would fall into this category.
As re' mailing list, website is being updated @ the moment, you can always PM me in the meantime.
John P, thank's for your intresting post, very informative, I looked at the harpsicals website (thanks Helen), great value-but like any musicle instrument you only get what you pay for. John P's comments, I thought where pretty spot on. More about the lap harp soon.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 04 Mar 04 - 06:01 PM

This little lap harp (click) I made for a customer about three years ago, This is type of lap harp Iam working on, I would be very pleased to hear what you think of it.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 04 Mar 04 - 06:18 PM

Harpmaker, I have had a look at the Dolphin web site as requested. I am both a musician and an engineer the build looks incredible, when looking at it I could hear music coming from it, have I qualified as yet for a free harp. SERIOUSLY if I can manage serious for a moment it does look superb, good luck.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: Bobjack
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 10:01 AM

Meet the man himself and two of his harps tomorrow at 1pm at SPRING BANK TAVERN, HULL.

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 09:31 PM

Thanks guys for that. The picture above is off an old website of mine, and is no longer valid. The harp above tended to be too top heavy. New, lighter moddle is what Iam working on. With good looks. Incidentley, the harp above had a realy loud voice- the solid spruce soundboard saw to that!!

Subject: RE: Folk Harps
From: harpmaker
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 08:03 PM

John P , where art thou!