I am considering building my own wire strung harp. I would like to make it in the traditional manner with the box hollowed out of a single piece of wood. Has anyone ever made a harp like this?
I could use some advise on:
Wood - I live on the California coast and would like to use local woods if any are appropriate. Willow is the traditional wood for the box. Does anyone have any experience working with the willow that grows along the California coastal streams or used it for a harp? Other potential local woods: yew - the Kildare harp, built in 1672, is supposed to be of yew, and our local Califoria Nutmeg (Stinking Yew) is a close relative. Like Pacific and European yews, it is also highly resitant to worms and rot, and also being used as a bow wood by the Native Americans, it probably has similar properties. Oak - plentiful, strong, heavy - a good possibility for the harmonic curve and forepillar - the Dagda's harp supposedly was of oak. Box Elder is a close relative of maple - Jay Witcher uses maple on all of his wire strung harps.
Has any one used any of these woods to build a harp or worked with them? Any experience or advise on seasoning these woods?
Does anyone know a good source for seasoned willow or other woods milled to a size suitable for a harp with a single piece box? (at least 4"X12"X28")
Hardware: I will need tapered pins of brass and "shoes of the strings". Anyone know a source? I know of a couple sources for strings (brass harpsichord wire), but the more sources, the merrier!
Tools: I'll need a tapered reamer - I think I found one of these at a source I had found for tapered pins, but lost the link. Any suggestions? Any other special tools I might need? Augers and chisels for hollowing out the box, calipers tp guage thickness.....Any advise on what has worked for you , what tools were used historically or what modern tools might speed up the process?
Lots of questions, but any advise or encouragement is appreciated. I am sure this will be a long learning process and it will probably take several harps to get it right. But each harp will be unique and a new lesson.
Thanks,
Bob
I could use some advise on:
Wood - I live on the California coast and would like to use local woods if any are appropriate. Willow is the traditional wood for the box. Does anyone have any experience working with the willow that grows along the California coastal streams or used it for a harp? Other potential local woods: yew - the Kildare harp, built in 1672, is supposed to be of yew, and our local Califoria Nutmeg (Stinking Yew) is a close relative. Like Pacific and European yews, it is also highly resitant to worms and rot, and also being used as a bow wood by the Native Americans, it probably has similar properties. Oak - plentiful, strong, heavy - a good possibility for the harmonic curve and forepillar - the Dagda's harp supposedly was of oak. Box Elder is a close relative of maple - Jay Witcher uses maple on all of his wire strung harps.
Has any one used any of these woods to build a harp or worked with them? Any experience or advise on seasoning these woods?
Does anyone know a good source for seasoned willow or other woods milled to a size suitable for a harp with a single piece box? (at least 4"X12"X28")
Hardware: I will need tapered pins of brass and "shoes of the strings". Anyone know a source? I know of a couple sources for strings (brass harpsichord wire), but the more sources, the merrier!
Tools: I'll need a tapered reamer - I think I found one of these at a source I had found for tapered pins, but lost the link. Any suggestions? Any other special tools I might need? Augers and chisels for hollowing out the box, calipers tp guage thickness.....Any advise on what has worked for you , what tools were used historically or what modern tools might speed up the process?
Lots of questions, but any advise or encouragement is appreciated. I am sure this will be a long learning process and it will probably take several harps to get it right. But each harp will be unique and a new lesson.
Thanks,
Bob
