Let's talk about the history and music of the American Heartland

Visit our Sister Sites
CreekDontRise.com Home Page Visit our sister site, School of the Rock
Visit our Classic Train Songs Page
A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
 

It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:35 pm


To ask any question about the content on this site please use our Site Contact Page.

To sign up for this discussion forum, please use our Forum Signup Page.

Either way, we'll be very glad to hear from you - Paul Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to sign up for this discussion forum. Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:45 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
A reader writes:

I have a 12 chord autoharp that needs some parts. I need to know where I can find them. This is an instrument that I have learned on and played since I was about five. I play it across the chest. It is just the right size for me, and the chords are placed where I can access them easily, but it needs new felt and new buttons. Any thoughts?

------------------------------------

Thanks for getting in touch. There are two kind of 12-chord autoharps. Unfortunate they have both been discontinued. But if yours is that post-1967 kind, you may be able to buy parts that would convert it to a 15 chorder, or just buy the felt. Elderly also has the oblong buttons that were used on the post 1967 models, which might work on yours.

https://www.elderly.com/accessories/ins ... sories?p=1

If you can reply to this message and send me a photo of your autoharp, I can probably be more specific.

What kind of music do you use your autoharp for, if you don't mind my asking?

Best of luck,

Paul Race
CreekDontRise.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:49 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
Here's a followup: You can also get new felts here:

http://autoharpworks.com/felt/40-felt-strips.html

https://shop.daigleharp.com/products/1- ... 5-bar-felt

Best of luck; please let me know how things work out,

Paul Race


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:58 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
The reader sent photos.
Attachment:
autoharp.1.jpg
autoharp.1.jpg [ 55.67 KiB | Viewed 22242 times ]


Attachments:
autoharp.2.jpg
autoharp.2.jpg [ 105.24 KiB | Viewed 22242 times ]
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:59 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
The reader also wrote:

You can probably tell me more about my autoharp than I can tell you. I like the size, especially, because it fits me better than the 15 chord I have.

For the most part, I have been playing music my brother wrote. It sounds a lot like the folk music of the late sixties/early seventies. But I have auditioned to be in a Celtic band, and I thought that, if I make it, it might be nice to be able to contribute to the instrumentals as well as the vocals. However, with the felts worn out, my fingers aren't quite strong enough to get a good ring from the strings.

Thanks for your advice. I will continue my research for appropriate parts using your lead. I do appreciate it.


Also, another quick question: I was thinking of adding a strap to hold the weight if I stand and play, but I don't want to ruin the instrument. Do you think the knob for the strap would hurt anything?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:01 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 3:39 pm
Posts: 1004
My answer: You have a "Model A" autoharp which were made up until the 1960s, but you have an earlier one that could go all the way back to the 1920s or so.

There's a later Model A on this page:

http://stewartportguitars.com/pages/aut ... p-2-3.html

You can see that it's just a little smoother around the edges and has oblong keys instead of round ones. The "Model B" below is even smoother but has other design changes that are harder to see from the photos.

MOST autoharp restorers won't bother with a Model A since so many of them are falling apart, and the truth is they weren't all that well made in the first place. It wasn't until Chromaharp started making their version that Oscar Schmidt decided they'd better update their sound and their quality.

I have a type A that is even older than yours, and has a cracked face. Ironically it's still playable, so go figure.

If you're happy with a 12-chorder, you might talk to the fellows whose ad I just posted about getting his.

If you can find a 15-chord type A, the size should be about the same as yours. Another thing to consider is that Celtic music is usually played in keys like C, G, D, and A that are guitar and banjo-friedly. MOST autoharps don't handle those keys well. You might could look for a Chromaharp "Bluegrass" model or an Oscar Schmidt Appalachian model, which handle keys like D and A better.

There's more about those models here:

https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/auto ... unings.htm

I even have a Chromaharp Bluegrass model - I bought it when I was researching that article, but it needs new strings and a LOT of work.

I know that's complicated. In fact, my article about Making Your Autoharp Folk-friendly may not be all that clear to a non-musician, but you might take a look at it before you put a lot of money into rebuilding the harp you have.

https://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/auto ... toharp.htm

Hope this helps,

Paul Race
CreekDontRise.com


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron




To ask any question about the content on this site please use our Site Contact Page.

To sign up for this discussion forum, please use our Forum Signup Page.


Paul Race playing a banjo. Click to go to Paul's music home page.Whatever else you get out of our pages, I hope you enjoy your music and figure out how to make enjoyable music for those around you as well.

And please stay in touch!

    - Paul Race Click to see Paul's music home page Click to contact Paul through this page. Click to see Paul's music page on Facebook Click to see Paul's music blog page Click to hear Paul's music on SoundCloud. Click to sign up for the Creek Don't Rise discussion forum. Click to learn about our Momma Don't Low Newsletter. Click to see Paul's Twitter Page Click to see Paul's YouTube Channel.



All material, illustrations, and content of this web site is copyrighted © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 by Paul D. Race. All rights reserved.

Note: Creek Don't Rise (tm) is Paul Race's name for his resources supporting the history and
music of the North American Heartland as well as additional kinds of acoustic and traditional music.

Creek Dont' Rise(tm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.



Visit related pages and affiliated sites:
- Music -
Heartland-inspired music, history, and acoustic instrument tips.
Best-loved railroad songs and the stories behind them.
Visit musings about music on our sister site, School of the Rock With a few tools and an hour or two of work, you can make your guitar, banjo, or mandolin much more responsive.  Instruments with movable bridges can have better-than-new intonation as well. The Independent Christian Musician. Check out our article on finding good used guitars.
Carols of many countries, including music, lyrics, and the story behind the songs. X and Y-generation Christians take Contemporary Christian music, including worship, for granted, but the first generation of Contemporary Christian musicians faced strong, and often bitter resistance. Different kinds of music call for different kinds of banjos.  Just trying to steer you in the right direction. New, used, or vintage - tips for whatever your needs and preferences. Wax recordings from the early 1900s, mostly collected by George Nelson.  Download them all for a 'period' album. Explains the various kinds of acoustic guitar and what to look for in each.
Look to Riverboat Music buyers' guide for descriptions of musical instruments by people who play musical instruments. Learn 5-string banjo at your own speed, with many examples and user-friendly explanations. Explains the various kinds of banjos and what each is good for. Learn more about our newsletter for roots-based and acoustic music. Folks with Bb or Eb instruments can contribute to worship services, but the WAY they do depends on the way the worship leader approaches the music. A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.
- Trains and Hobbies -
Free building projects for your vintage railroad or Christmas village.
Visit Lionel Trains. Click to see Thomas Kinkaded-inspired Holiday Trains and Villages. Big Christmas Train Primer: Choosing and using model trains with holiday themes Building temporary and permanent railroads with big model trains Click to see HO scale trains with your favorite team's colors.
- Christmas Memories and Collectibles -
Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site. Visit Howard Lamey's glitterhouse gallery, with free project plans, graphics, and instructions. Click to return to the Old Christmas Tree Lights Table of Contents Page Click to sign up for Maria Cudequest's craft and collectibles blog.
Click to visit Fred's Noel-Kat store.
Visit the largest and most complete cardboard Christmas 'Putz' house resource on the Internet.
- Family Activities and Crafts -
Click to see reviews of our favorite family-friendly Christmas movies. Free, Family-Friendly Christmas Stories Decorate your tree the old-fashioned way with these kid-friendly projects. Free plans and instructions for starting a hobby building vintage-style cardboard Christmas houses. Click to find free, family-friendly Christmas poems and - in some cases - their stories. Traditional Home-Made Ornaments



Click to trains that commemorate your team!

Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group