 |
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.
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.
pieces of solid hard wood laminated together in order to confuse the grain in the wood and make warping and splitting
unlikely.
No dyes, stains, 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.
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 soundboard is curved. This allows for maintaining the ideal length of the strings without an inconveniently tight
bend to the neck.
bend to the neck.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
All joints are mortise and tenon