A recent commission comes from an Arizona musician who performs with autoharps and Guitarro at cosplay and Pagan festivals. She requested a light and colorful instrument with a “steampunk” vibe that she can play on her lap, in the traditional way, without crossing her hands. I created one of my smaller “Child ‘Harps” in a left-handed configuration.
The poplar soundboard and eight chord bars are colored burgundy with black for the remaining components. The finish is completed with several coats of satin lacquer.
A laser cut soundhole rosette is colored to resemble the Philodice butterfly that she uses as an online icon and identity.
This twenty-three string diatonic in the keys of G and D is tuned from A3 to D6.
Eight chord bars are carried upon combs with Delrin bases and #6 steel pins. This is an improvement over the slotted holders used in the past.
I have recently located a source of laser cut ornaments in a variety of subjects. Most are too large to inlay as a sound hole rosette but with many of them, I can trim away the bordering areas for a good fit.
Here is a new custom thirty-six string chromatic autoharp. My standard, one piece pinblock frame features a spruce sound board, laminate back, and 3/16 inch thick walnut veneered sides. Matching walnut was also used for the brass rod-capped bridges, tail piece, chord bar covers, bridges and chord bar covers.
The fifteen chord bars are made of curly maple. The contrasting buttons are capped with walnut.
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