fig.
1.3 - click for a larger view |
In musical terms, this part of the harp is also
called the "table" When the harpist strikes the strings near the "table"
it gives a special quality to the sound.
The soundboard is flat: that is to say, it is
made flat, but because of the sustained stress caused by the tension
of the strings (about 1500 lb) it acquires a certain curvature, and
the quality of sound improves in the process.
The soundboard is made of resinous wood such
as pine or- spruce, and the grain of the wood is across the table,
while the thickness is gradually less towards the top of the harp.
It should be about 7mm thick at the base and about 3mm thick at the
top.
To make it you require
two pieces of spruce, or Oregon pine of the best quality, 1000mm long,
180mm wide and 8mm thick. Cut the wood into short lengths to cover
the surface of the triangular table, leaving about 40mm excess on
each side; in other words, make a broader triangle than is actually
required. Now, you could plane some wood off the thickness of each
short plank until you gradually reach the thickness of 3mm for the
shorter piece, but it is not a very satisfactory process. It is much
better to make a jig as described in fig. 1.3.
