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Musicmakers BALLAD HARP KIT, Assembly Instructions Manual

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Musicmakers BALLAD HARP KIT Assembly Instructions Manual Download Page 17

651-439-9120

17 

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Apply glue to the inside cavity of the pillar where the neck will be attached. (fig. 42a) Use the 
provided #14 x 2” wood screws along with the #3 size square drive bit to draw the neck and pillar 
together firmly. (fig. 42b) Make sure to clean up all the excess glue that squeezes out. (fig. 42c) 
It will be very difficult to clean up the excess glue if you allow it to dry. 

NECK AND PILLAR ASSEMBLY

____40. The neck and pillar have been pre-fitted at our shop, but you should test these parts without 

glue to make sure the wood has not swollen from humidity. The neck should fit easily into the 
large slot at the top of the pillar. Lightly sand the area if the joint is tight. Be sure to avoid sand-
ing too much in the area that fits into the pillar, as you want to keep a nice fit. 

____41. Sand the neck and pillar. It is 

much easier to sand the neck 
and pillar before they have 
been assembled. Start with 
120 grit sandpaper, and work 
up to 180 grit. Do the majori-
ty of your sanding before you 
put these parts together. (fig. 
41a, b, c, d)

Make sure that you sand off 
all of the  scratches in the 
wood. Having good lighting 
will help you see the scratch-
es.  When you are sanding by 
hand you want to make sure 
you sand with the grain, so 
you are not adding scratches. 

Do NOT sand the top side of the pillar where it con-
nects to the neck. (fig. 41e) You will do this later once 
the neck and pillar are assembled together. 

HINT: 

Sanding scratches will be more visible once 

you have applied finish. So taking time to do a 
good job sanding,  will leave you with a better final 

product.

p

FIG. 41A, B

FIG. 41C, D

FIG. 41E

____42. It is crucial to be able to draw the neck and pillar firmly together when you glue them, so test 

your screwdriver/drill to make sure it has enough torque to turn the large #14 screws all the 
way in. Do a dry run before adding the glue. This will help you prepare for the task and give 
one more opportunity to sand the parts if needed. 

HINT: 

It helps to clamp the neck in a vise (with padding) or to your work surface so you 

only need to hold the pillar in position as you install the screws. 

p

Do Not 

Sand

Summary of Contents for BALLAD HARP KIT

Page 1: ...arp Tuning Pins Brass Driver for Tuning Pins 10 Threaded Bridge Pins Large Allen wrench 3 32 24 Threaded Bridge Pins medium Allen Wrench 5 64 24 Medium Brass Eyelets 1 8 10 Large Brass Eyelets 5 32 2 14 X 2 Wood Screws Square Drive 3 Square Drive Bit 8 Wood Screws 1 1 4 14 Wood Screws 1 5 8 3 Wood Screw 2 Wood Dowel 3 8 x 2 2 Maple Wood Plugs 3 8 dia Maple Wood Plug 1 2 dia Harp Medallion 3 4 dia ...

Page 2: ...ze out around the joint when clamping pressure is applied Too little glue may cause the parts to separate later whereas too much glue makes things messy Always keep a damp rag handy for quick cleanup as necessary It is especially helpful to keep your fingers clean while gluing because gluey fingerprints have the embarrassing tendency to appear on the finished product in prominent places NOTE Pleas...

Page 3: ...traight down you might split the wood of the sides FIG 2A B C No Gaps FIG 3A B C ____4 Apply glue to the sides where the base block connects as well as where the top block connects fig 4a 4b Then insert 1 5 8 wood screws to connect one side to the base block fig 4c Make sure to clean up the excess glue as you connect the sides to the both the top and bottom blocks fig 4d Insert screws to connect t...

Page 4: ...ase block and insert the screws for the remaining side fig 5a After the base block is attached insert the remaining screws for the top block Make sure to clean up any excess glue ____6 Place the frame on your bench so that the front is facing up fig 6a The front is both longer and wider than the back Find and check the fit of the inner brace Orient the brace so that the taper matches the taper of ...

Page 5: ...race around each end with a pencil on the inside of the soundboard Be sure that the reinforcement bar covers the highest hole fig 9b c ____10 Gather weights and clamps for pressing the reinforcement bar and dry fit the reinforcement bar with the clamps as well Apply glue along the length of the reinforcement bar and tape on both ends to prevent slippage once the weights or clamps are added fig 10a...

Page 6: ...avoid spreading glue around as you wipe Make sure all glue residue is removed This will save you a lot of time toward the end of the project while you are prepping to apply finish p INSTALLING THE BACK AND SOUNDBOARD ____12 While you are waiting for the glue to dry on the soundboard reinforcement strip you can work on sanding the sides frame of the soundbox Make a large sanding block to level the ...

Page 7: ... the cuts to ensure that you don t take too much material off of the back The rest can be cleaned up with sanding later on ____14 Mark where the back panel covers the center of the side edges on both sides top and bottom This will serve as a guideline for your staple or nail place ment You don t want staples punching through the sides of your harp Mark the centerlines on the top of the frame and e...

Page 8: ... where screws will be Do NOT nail staple whithin 1 4 of where these holes will be fig 18a You will also need to attach the soundboard scrap It is best to avoid nailing stapling in the middle of the scrap as that is where the pillar screw will come in Put a nail staple on each side of the soundboard scrap fig 18b Don t punch through the sides of the frame ____16 Apply a liberal amount of glue to th...

Page 9: ... are necessary for the soundboard because all of the string tension pulls on the front Wood glue is not sufficiant enough to hold the soundboard to the string tension This hardware helps prevent cold creep 2 Many people ask why we use laminated wood instead of solid wood for the soundboard The reason is that we get much more strength from laminated material than from solid and virtually no breakag...

Page 10: ...e sanding The back has a VERY thin hardwood veneer anditisveryeasytosand through the veneer Also there is no need for heavy sanding p FIG 23A FIG 23B C INSTALLING THE TRIM ____21 If you haven t already done so this is the time to remove the overhang from the top and bottom of the back and soundboard fig 21a Also use this time to double check that all the nails staples are driven down slightly belo...

Page 11: ...he mitered edges fit prop erly without leaving a gap anywhere fig 25a If the miters on the bottom trim strip need to be adjusted you can use a sanding block or disk sander fig 25b The width of this strip should match the width of the harp s soundboard at the bottom You may need to adjust one side more than the other to get the width and miters to match If you run out of wood to remove from the bot...

Page 12: ...___28 Sometimes when you fix the angle of the trim to correct the gap it will cause the inside cor ner of the miter to not line up correctly Adjust the side trim with a sanding block to bring the corner together fig 28a b c FIG 28A B C NOTE Once the bottom trim is installed you will want to make sure the top of the trim strip is flush with the inside top of the base board fig 26e Every once in awh...

Page 13: ...ainst the inside edge of the trim strips When using the tape think of applying each piece like a bandage where you are pulling tightly and ensuring the gap closes Loose tape holds nothing well fig 31a b Repeat steps 30 and 31 to install the second trim strip on the opposite side of the body You will also want to put a piece of tape diagonally across the bottom end of each side trim piece over to t...

Page 14: ... 80 grit sanding block or disc sander to flatten the top of the assembled box fig 34a b Check the surface with a straight edge to make sure that it s flat across the entire top fig 34c This will eliminate any gaps when fitting installing the arched cap FIG 34A B C ____35 Orient the arched cap block on the top block and check for the best fit Use two 2 wood screws and a ham mer to make punch marks ...

Page 15: ... use a hand sander to remove the excess just be careful to not make a divot in the trim FIG 37A FIG 37B C ____38 Sand the top block to be flush with the sides of the harp Then sand the front and back of the top block to be flush with the trim strips You can use either a portable belt sander sanding block or orbital sand er to do this fig 38a b c Do not sand the top of the block where the screws ar...

Page 16: ... base to provide extra support Position the base reinforcement on the bottom of the base lining up the hole to allow access to the pre drilled hole where you will attach the pillar Fig 39 5 Apply wood glue to the base reinforce ment and screw it to the base using six 1 1 4 screws Fig 39 6 FIG 39 5 FIG 39 6 Front of Harp Base Reinforcement Back of Harp Hole to attach pillar Base Guess what You are ...

Page 17: ...0 grit Do the majori ty of your sanding before you put these parts together fig 41a b c d Make sure that you sand off all of the scratches in the wood Having good lighting will help you see the scratch es When you are sanding by hand you want to make sure you sand with the grain so you are not adding scratches Do NOT sand the top side of the pillar where it con nects to the neck fig 41e You will d...

Page 18: ...r the dowel to connect the shoulder to the body of the harp Match this angle as you are drilling It will also help you make sure the neck and pillar match up cor rectly once the dowel is installed Make a mark on the opposite side as well fig 43c FIG 43A B C Draw your hash line from each side of the arch cap to the top fig 43d Connect the marks across the arched cap using a straight edge fig 43e Th...

Page 19: ...markedonthetopofthearched cap block and the under side of the neck use an awl to tap a starting hole at the centerpoint This will act like a pilot hole to help keep the drill bit from wandering fig 45a b Now drill a hole to the depth of your tape where you made your awl mark on both the arched cap block and the neck Rock the drill front to back about 10 degrees to give the dow el potential for a l...

Page 20: ... You can put the neck in a padded vise to help keep the pillar stable First put a dol lop of super glue in the bot tom hole fig 48a Then you and to tap the 1 2 plug into the hole with a hammer fig 48b FIG 48A B ____47 Use a hand sander to take off the excess bulk on the arched cap block as well as to soften the edges Do not sand inside the circle guideline you have made fig 47a b Sand the top shou...

Page 21: ... variations can occur that will require you to adjust the final fitting at the end of the building process p REMINDER The joint between the back of the neck and the top of the body will remain dry no glue the reason is to create a sort of knuckle that allows the harp to flex slightly under string tension over time It also allows you to take the neck pillar assembly off the body of the harp in the ...

Page 22: ...ake it easier to install the screw fig 50a You may need to ask someone to help hold the parts in place for this step Be sure to follow the angle of the hole that is already drilled in the base block You want the screw to match the angle of the pillar Then insert your 2 wood screw to hold the pillar in place If you did have a slight gap at the pillar body joint the screw will help close that gap he...

Page 23: ... length of the body With the body seperated from the neck pillar take time to smooth all corners and remove any machining marks from the entire harp Start with 120 grit sandpaper sanding with the grain direction Then 150 to 180 grit for the upper shoulder area to create a smoother surface on the most frequently touched parts of the harp Remember to sand the neck pillar joint flush with each other ...

Page 24: ...olyurethane is the easiest to apply because it does not drip or sag Just wipe on a thin coat and wipe of the excess The advantages of this finish are it s simple application minimal odor good durability and deep soft luster LACQUER Many professional instrument makers use lacquer for their finish The most readily available lacquer is called Deft Clear Wood Finish It is best to purchase a can of liq...

Page 25: ...you tip the harp back on your shoulder to play Mark the placement with an awl The pilot hole should be 3 4 away from the outside edge of the pad of the foot fig 56a Use a 7 64 bit to drill a pilot hole Use a piece of tape to mark the depth of 1 2 on the drill bit fig 56b FIG 55A Drill pilot holes with 7 64 drill bit Attach with 1 5 8 screws NOTE Be very careful not to drill through the top side of...

Page 26: ...is will be important later when you want to install sharping levers p ____59 Turn the neck pillar assembly over so the bridge pins are hanging over the edge of your work table but the neck is still firmly supported Use the brass driver in your hand drill to push and turn the 34 threaded black tuning pins into the upper row of holes in the neck from the oppo site side of the bridge pins DO NOT LUBR...

Page 27: ...bove the pin This leave enough slack in the string to allow 2 3 windings before coming taut ____3 Use the tuning wrench to turn the pin clock wise from the viewpoint of the back of the tuning pin and guide the windings neatly around the tuning pin fig 3a ____4 As the string begins to tighten place it in the groove of the bridge pin When you are satis fied with the installation of the string use a ...

Page 28: ...FIG 7A ____8 The next strings 060 055 050 thickness are plain monofilament nylon that have no knots tied in them yet We find it easier to insert these strings from the front of the harp and then reach inside the back to find the end Tie a simple overhand knot at the end as shown fig 8a Leave enough tail at the end of the string to push back into the overhand knot s loop fig 8b This knot is suffici...

Page 29: ...el and prevent the string from pulling through the two half hitch knots The dowel prevents the strings from pulling through the soundboard CROSS THE WINDINGS ____10 When attaching the nylon strings to the tuning pins follow the same procedure as you did for the bass strings However with nylon it is necessary to also anchor the tops of the strings securely to the tuning pins as follows Guide 1 1 2 ...

Page 30: ...e tuned to the natural C major scale white keys on the piano All the red strings will be C notes and the blue strings with be F notes Many people are not certain if they are tuning their harp strings to the correct octave Tuning the strings an octave too low will result in flabby harp strings that don t provide much volume Tuning the strings too high will cause strings to break To make sure you ar...

Page 31: ...e the position of the string by raising or lowering the brass bridge pin on which the string rests above the sharping lever Make sure the string is resting in the groove of that pin Use the small 5 64 Allen wrench provided to turn the bridge pin in or out watching how that moves the string in relation to the sharping lever If the problem is not located around the sharping lever you may have a loos...

Page 32: ...ater MN 55082 THE FINISHED BALLAD HARP When you are ready for some accessories we ve got you covered Visit our website to find a gig bag sharping levers harp wheels harp lights our harp desk books and more www harpkit com harp accessories ...

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