Harp Guitar 'Gathering' 7: 10/31/2009

Once again, a wonderful time was had by all at the 7th annual Harp Guitar 'Gathering'.  This year the Saturday evening concert fell on Halloween and many tricks were played and treats heard.  This is just an amazing event and group of folks.  Thanks to Stephen Bennett for hosting this years event, to Gregg Miner who continues to amaze us with his scholarly work (and hilarious performances on halloween), and to all the musicans, luthiers and volunteers that made it work.  Keep up to date with the Harp Guitar Foundation (the umbrella organization) at www.harpguitars.net

The trio of Gregg Minder, Stephen Bennett, and Andy Wahlberg (from left to right) terrorizing my new thinline lap style harp guitar. They atctually sounded pretty good :)

Matt Thomas sounded just incredible when he demoed my new bass harp guitar.  He played some really cool funk grooves.  We may have some sound files comming soon!

Newest Harp Guitars

I completed two harp guitars (October 2009) just prior to this years Harp Guitar Gathering 7.  Both are photographed below.  Please refer to the 'Instruments and Options' page for more complete information on each of these instruments. They are both available for purchase.

This is a short scale (30") 6 string 'Bass' Harp Guitar, but it can also be setup as a baritone harp guitar simply be putting on a slightly lighter gauge of strings and adjusting the saddle . Redwood top plate, koa back plate on a mahogany rim, with koa and ebony appointments. Thinline acoustic-electric design with 3 seperate pickups, tunable mid-range and supra-treble strings, each with fine tuners.

Below is my prototype Lap Harp Guitar. Cedar top and back plate on a mahogany rim, with paduak and maple appointments. This is also a thinline acoustic-electric design with 3 seperate pickups, tunable sub bass strings and supra-treble strings with fine tuners.

New Electric Guitars Design

The 'Delta Prince' is the latest instrument to come out of the shop.  My friend Ernie Southern was looking for a light weight blues machine to suppliment his arsena of National metal body guitars.  I have a 1935 Rickenbacher Electro 'Spanish' guitar and a Supro Ozark (the one covered in MOT) that Ernie is fond of.  This instrument is sort of a hybrid of the two.  It has a small semi-hollow body of mahogany, with a Macassar ebony top plate, white & black striped ebony binding and fingerboard, and a Lollar P-90 pickup that just sounds sooooo good.  Everyone is happy!

'Little Luna'

Finally finished (I got side tracked), my new ukulele design. This instrument features a highly figured koa body, figured sapele neck, koa fingerboard and bridge, ebony binding with turquoise colored highlights, Grover gold platted geared tuners, and a high gloss lacquer finish.  More details can be found on the 'Instruments and Options' page.  This one goes to my good friends and fellow luthiers, Ken and Virginia Miller. 

Thor's Hammer

The newest harp guitar was actually completed the day before the 6th Annual International Harp Guitar Gathering

began.  It went down to the wire. It was great to see everyone gathering in Portland (Oregon) and Mike Doolin did a grand job at hosting this years event. I'd especially like to thank Don Alder for graciously demonstrating my new harp guitar at various times during the weekend!  I owe you (another) one Don!   Thanks also go out to Gregg Miner for continuing to keep things rolling along on harpguitars.net, and my friend Benoit-Meulle-Stef (Ben) for nicknaming my new creation, Thor's Hammer

Video Samples Are Now Up !!!!  Please check out the links to the video samples on the 'Players, Friends, and Links' page.  Many thanks to the players that have allowed me to utilize the video of their performances for my unabashed self promotion :)  Don't forget to select the 'view in high resolution' tab when you get to the You Tube ste.