| Project by Rick M. | posted 377 days ago | 1411 views | 4 times favorited | 4 comments |  |
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Built from various scraps to test the principle, I can always build a fancy one later. Sides from birch ply, top and bottom from luaun salvaged from an old interior door that fell apart, the bridges are walnut scrap. Finished with four coats of wipe on varnish. The strings are 80# fishing line, anchored on one end with hex screws and zither pins on the other. I roughly tuned it and once the strings relax I’ll retune and hope for some wind.
Aeolian harps are played by the wind rather than plucking. The strings are all tuned the same and it produces a somewhat haunting, eerie sound.
-- -- Rick M.
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4 comments so far
Jamie Speirs
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3685 posts in 1029 days
#1 posted 377 days ago
These are great fun
Is this one designed for a window?
Jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Rick M.
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1512 posts in 553 days
#2 posted 377 days ago
It’s way too big for my windows, 48×12x6 inches, 10 strings total.
-- -- Rick M.
will delaney
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306 posts in 808 days
#3 posted 377 days ago
Wow!!I never heard of a Aeolian harp. I just looked it up on wikipedia and am now going to have to make one.Thanks for posting.
Rick M.
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1512 posts in 553 days
#4 posted 377 days ago
Things I would do differently:
I would change the bracing under the top and bottom. The bottom has no bracing, the top has 4 braces: one on either side of the sound holes and one on either end under the bridges. Since starting this, I have studied some about guitar making and they are well braced with a criss-cross lattice of lighter wood, if I make another that will be how I brace it.
Make the top and bottom 1/4” stock instead of 1/8”.
If I make a smaller one, I’m going to try using spruce for the top and back, maple for the sides and bridges.
Find something better than hex screws to anchor the strings.
-- -- Rick M.
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