$100 Bass Challenge - Double Trouble

[michaelwayneharwood]

PLEASE DO!!!

Considering the fact that guitar builds are posted to this forum without being removed I think a harp build may be OK. I will plan on posting my journey when I get there, but be warned that it's going to be a VERY detail oriented thread with tons of information on all of the calculations needed to design a harp from scratch.

 

[wraub]

Considering the fact that guitar builds are posted to this forum without being removed I think a harp build may be OK. I will plan on posting my journey when I get there, but be warned that it's going to be a VERY detail oriented thread with tons of information on all of the calculations needed to design a harp from scratch.

I, for one, would read the hell out of such a thread...

 

[mansjasont]

Considering the fact that guitar builds are posted to this forum without being removed I think a harp build may be OK. I will plan on posting my journey when I get there, but be warned that it's going to be a VERY detail oriented thread with tons of information on all of the calculations needed to design a harp from scratch.

Warned? That sounds like a sales tactic to me lol...

Oh ya, sorry about the guitar build thread

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Warned? That sounds like a sales tactic to me lol...

Oh ya, sorry about the guitar build thread

Don't be sorry! There are a ton of guitar builds documented on this sub-forum, and I for one LOVE seeing them.

 

[randyripoff]

I'd like to think that most of us reading these threads are happy to see builds of pretty much anything string instrument related. I'm certainly not only interested in bass guitars, and I doubt there are too many people in this particular forum that are much different.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Warned? That sounds like a sales tactic to me lol...

One thing to always keep in mind about me is the following:

1. I build instruments because I love it.
2. I don't advertise, or try to drum up commissions
3. I am not a professional luthier in any sense of the word
4. When building for others I will always strive to do my best work, but I cannot guarantee anything (see point three)
5. I am always happy to build things for others as long as they fully accept the first four points

All of that being said I would be very hesitant to build a harp on commission for the foreseeable future. Harps are fairly complex in their design, and many people have worked at it for years before they were able to come up with an instrument of their own design that sounded good and held up well under the string tension. I am hoping to be able to build a somewhat decent pair of harps for my kids that will hold up over time. We will just have to wait and see...

 

[vmabus]

^
titanium rods

 

[Rôckhewer]

Well, to be completely honest... I have, for a while now... entertained the idea that I would really like to create something similar to this:

But then there has always been the thought that there is definitely a market ready and waiting to buy these....if someone could make it so it actually works.

(like it did on the show)

 

[Jon Clegg]

Harp guitar, as played by my brother-in-law:

 

[vmabus]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Behold - a fresh cup of double strength tea! Oh...and the fret line jig is finished too. It's really just a long miter box, but I was able to fine tune the gap between the aluminum angle bars to make sure they are truly square, and that the pull saw fits snug enough to not move side to side. Tonight I will be sawing some fret lines, and this simple jig is going to make the job so much easier than this particular task has been for me in the last few go rounds.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

I am pleased to report that the jig works perfectly! The workflow is as follows:

1. Print out the 30" fret lines and tape it to the fingerboard
2. A dab of hot glue secures the neck centered on a 1/8" board that keeps everything nice and square
3. Line up a slot and cut
4. Rinse. Repeat.

These are the prettiest fret slots I have cut to date. If the fingerboards are left natural I have some leftover rosewood veneer scraps that I can use on the main reference slots (3, 5, 7, etc.), and the other slots will be filled with clear CA. If we go dark for the fingerboards then I will use some white styrene strips.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

I forgot to post one little detail - I cut out a section of the aluminum angle bracket to allow for easy slot placement. Action shot!

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

What's the best harp for metal? This one is.

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Well, to be completely honest... I have, for a while now... entertained the idea that I would really like to create something similar to this:
View attachment 623034
But then there has always been the thought that there is definitely a market ready and waiting to buy these....if someone could make it so it actually works.View attachment 623039 (like it did on the show)

There have been a couple of Vulcan harps built that actually played. I think that it's totally doable, but the feature set would need to be defined. Here's a set of blueprints that could serve as a starting point, and there's even a guy working on a build for it.

Here are also a couple of vids of some other interesting builds:

 

[Skarsoul]

So there I was...heading upstairs to hit the sack. I took a slight detour to the garage just to take one more look at the fingerboard and before I knew it I was gluing it onto the neck.

I HATE it when that happens! When I do it I realize how late it's gotten because my morning alarm clock is going off in the bedroom while I'm still in the garage. . .

 

[Rôckhewer]

There have been a couple of Vulcan harps built that actually played. I think that it's totally doable, but the feature set would need to be defined. Here's a set of blueprints that could serve as a starting point, and there's even a guy working on a build for it.

Here are also a couple of vids of some other interesting builds:

Yeah I've seen those....the grey hair dude "plays" that then flips it around to reveal a bunch of buttons on the back like it is just a little synthesizer that looks like a Vulcan lyre

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

Yeah I've seen those....the grey hair dude "plays" that then flips it around to reveal a bunch of buttons on the back like it is just a little synthesizer that looks like a Vulcan lyre

Mu understanding is that the one made by Peter Pringle is an actual instrument. I am not a huge trekkie so I could be way off base here.

 

[gsnad2000]

These are the prettiest fret slots I have cut to date. If the fingerboards are left natural I have some leftover rosewood veneer scraps that I can use on the main reference slots (3, 5, 7, etc.), and the other slots will be filled with clear CA. If we go dark for the fingerboards then I will use some white styrene strips.

That jig is totally awesome!
I gotta ask though, if your filling in most of the slots with clear CA, why cut them at all?

 

[michaelwayneharwood]

That jig is totally awesome!
I gotta ask though, if your filling in most of the slots with clear CA, why cut them at all?

Thanks! I am going to fill major reference slots (3,5,7, etc.) with either rosewood or walnut, and putting in some CA to fill the others has a faint line that is easy to see close up.