Hello everyone,

I know there are a lot of luthiers lurking on the board. Here's my latest project. It's a Celtic harp. The inlay is just taped on right now. Actually the sound box is not even glued, I just put it together to test-fit it. I'm going to size down the background and move it up a bit before inlaying it. There will also be shells inlaid on the sides of the harp, and a Celtic knot on the head of the harp.

Before you get overly impressed, in order to save time I purchased a kit that had most of the shaping of the head of the harp already done. I figure that's cheating a bit, but all the inlays and other work will still give it my personal touch. I have decided to reshape the head a bit to make it flow better, just to make it more my creation. Also I'm going to tap tune it like you do when you build a guitar just so that it rings true. Tell me, any luthiers out there... should I leave the soundboard unvarnished? I'm thinking that would give it a nice warm tone, or can you recommend any hand-rubbed oil finishes that will let the wood ring true?

The harp is a Christmas gift, so I guess I'd better work fast. Boy, this thing's going to be much harder to string than a guitar... 29 strings. After you have strung it and tuned it about 20 times then you add the sharping levers which sharp each string so that you can play different chords. That's what's going to be a real pain to do...you have to get the sharping levers in just the right spot to make the sharp note, then drill the holes and screw them in. There is a degree of adjustment, but it's still pretty precise work. Wish me luck!!!

Rest assured that compass rose will be inlaid on my next kayak as well.

-Malcolm