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But I keep on learning. I removed the top of my first harp guitar since I had serious alignment issues with the fretboard and sound hole. There was nothing I could do about except toss it in the trash or go for a fix.

The new top has INCREDIBLE tone compared to the original. Notice the alignment holes too. Lesson learned. Its not perfect, its my training mule. Ready for spray up and neck attachment. Now, I gotta figure out how to cut a slotted peghead. Also, I like my new rosettes better.

BTW, if you will look closely, based on the grain banding in the top, you will see that the soundhole is not in the center of the top. For original Dyer Harps, that is a key characteristic.

Mike

good work, i await the finish product with great anticipation

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~shad peters

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersinstruments/
http://petersinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://petersinstruments.com/

great and good luck on the finish

Looks good. Are harp guitars characteristically neck-heavy, by chance? I've never held one.

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Kent

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That looks great Mike! Whats the B/S woods?

Mistakes?

the Padma, him make instruments ~ not makes mistakes.
Well not intentionaly...mistakes be waste of time.
Mistakes happen all on their very own. Is true.
Usually when me not paying attention.
Just learned me how to deal with them.



Blessings
the
Padma

_________________
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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Well.... this is my second build ever. On top of that, the plans are meager at best, so I end up guessing a lot. But the crucial error was not having locator holes for the top. There are so many odd angles on this thing I just have to slow down, ask questions, and analyze things. It has been an incredible learning process.

Neck heavy? Not really. Though it is more so than a normal guitar. The current design uses a 12 fret FB, so that helps a little. My next one will be more faithful to the neck joint. I used a Charles Hoffman idea here that greatly simplified the joint. But it is not faithful to the original. After that, I will build one the way I want it (14 fret), possibly no slotted head. It will still look like the Dyer, but more modern. Braces, etc.

You cannot imagine the complexity of that harp peghead and joint!!!!

If I ever figure out how to use this s/w I bought, I plan to draw up detailed plans for OLF (like the other plans you can get here via Stew-Mac).

The B/S is figured Bubinga. The top is Lutz (from Shane!). I really like that Lutz. Its so nice to work with and in no way in danger of overuse issues (yet). Plus Shane (Mountain Tonewoods) understands the needs of Harp builders in that he provides wonderfully sized top sets. My last top was built out of 2 pieces, not 3! I know folks dread working with Bubinga, but when handled properly, its wonderful to work with.

Mike

Were you humming it?

But I did it my way......

Mike