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Are these harps the best of the best of the best? Are they the finest harps available as almost every ad for harps asserts?
I don't know. It wouldn't be for me to say at any rate, would it? That would be for the player to determine for
themselves. The only claim I will make for them is that they are good enough. I mean that in the sense as the late luthier
Robert Lundberg concluded when he had examined the lutes from antiquity made by master craftsmen. He came to
realize that being a craftsman didn't mean producing work that was glassy finished and laser beam perfect. Rather he
said:
The master craftsman makes a cut. He does it one time and it's good enough.
I have found this to be a much better guide than the illusion that the instruments are the finest available.
There are no design features of Folc harps that are by accident or convenience. Each choice was thought out,
considered, experimented with, and the result is a harp that looks and performs as intended. These harps aren't going to
fit the needs of every harper. See if they fit yours. Here are the characteristics of Folc harps:
I don't know. It wouldn't be for me to say at any rate, would it? That would be for the player to determine for
themselves. The only claim I will make for them is that they are good enough. I mean that in the sense as the late luthier
Robert Lundberg concluded when he had examined the lutes from antiquity made by master craftsmen. He came to
realize that being a craftsman didn't mean producing work that was glassy finished and laser beam perfect. Rather he
said:
The master craftsman makes a cut. He does it one time and it's good enough.
I have found this to be a much better guide than the illusion that the instruments are the finest available.
There are no design features of Folc harps that are by accident or convenience. Each choice was thought out,
considered, experimented with, and the result is a harp that looks and performs as intended. These harps aren't going to
fit the needs of every harper. See if they fit yours. Here are the characteristics of Folc harps:
The sound of the strings is the primary consideration. All other features and aspects of the harps are secondary
and subordinate to the sound of the strings. Foremost this has to do with the length of the strings. For a given
string material sounding at a given note with a given tone there is one ideal string length.
and subordinate to the sound of the strings. Foremost this has to do with the length of the strings. For a given
string material sounding at a given note with a given tone there is one ideal string length.
The harps are very sturdy. The jointry is substantial. The neck, pillar, stump, and knee block are all made of
three pieces of solid hard wood laminated together in order to confuse the grain in the wood and make warping
and splitting unlikely.
three pieces of solid hard wood laminated together in order to confuse the grain in the wood and make warping
and splitting unlikely.
The neck/pillar joint does not have a brace attached on the opposite side of the strings. This unsightly feature is
not necessary for Folc harps because of the way the joint is designed and the placement of the pins on the neck
not necessary for Folc harps because of the way the joint is designed and the placement of the pins on the neck
The harps avoid the look of a square soundbox with the neck/pillar holding on by the tension of the strings. The
entire harp is made as one piece with the neck appearing to grow out of the soundbox rather than looking
scabbed onto it.
entire harp is made as one piece with the neck appearing to grow out of the soundbox rather than looking
scabbed onto it.
The strings are all monofilament. Wound strings have different sound to them and nothing amiss with that. But
these harps have the characteristic all monofilament sound. Another benefit of this is that a spare set of strings in
not necessary. The harper need only have one length of each gauge of string for that harp to replace any string.
these harps have the characteristic all monofilament sound. Another benefit of this is that a spare set of strings in
not necessary. The harper need only have one length of each gauge of string for that harp to replace any string.
No dyes or colorings are used. The finish is natural tung oil. This means that any scratch or dent in the harp
can be refinished by owner and it will look exactly the same as it did originally. No finishes, dyes, or stains to
match.
can be refinished by owner and it will look exactly the same as it did originally. No finishes, dyes, or stains to
match.
The string spacing is one half inch. This is slightly narrower than many nylon string harps and slightly wider
than many wire string harps but very well suited to any style of playing. The half inch spacing makes the wire
strung harps playable with either the nails or pads.
than many wire string harps but very well suited to any style of playing. The half inch spacing makes the wire
strung harps playable with either the nails or pads.
The tuning pins are set at the very bottom of the neck. This takes most of the torque off the neck/pillar joint and
gives the maximum hand room for playing.
gives the maximum hand room for playing.
The soundboard is curved. This allows for maintaining the ideal length of the strings without an inconveniently
tight bend to the neck.
tight bend to the neck.
There are no bridge pins.
The tuning pins are micro-threaded, so called zither pins.
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