Telecaster Harp Guitar

[RocknDrTom]

A while ago, I made a harp guitar that was just to unwieldy and I never used it. Over the past year, I decided to rebuild it completely. I'm really happy with the results.

It started out like this:


and now it looks like this:


I documented the rebuild on another forum (didn't think anyone here would be interested). You can see it at: http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthre...e/1#Post845289

For all those that want to hear, I also just finished uploaded an audio demonstration. Plugged the harp guitar and a cheap vocal mike directly into the computer, used Audacity for the first time, and winged it. ENJOY!
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10126475

Don't listen too closely at the Bmin chord which sounds slightly out of tune....

[<jbc>]

Cool!

RocknDrNick ???

[guitarbuilder]

How much impact does being a solid body have on the harp part? Do you pluck it or is it just sympathetic vibrations causing the strings to vibrate?

[NYbill]

That is pretty cool!

...oh my, I have enough trouble with 6 strings. ;)

[Tele-Monster]

Good call on the rebuild.....AND the beard!

[Mightyaxeman]

Nice!! I like both versions of it.

[RocknDrTom]

Originally Posted by guitarbuilder

How much impact does being a solid body have on the harp part? Do you pluck it or is it just sympathetic vibrations causing the strings to vibrate?

It's actually hollowed out - mainly to make the instrument lighter. To play it properly, you pluck the strings.

[turmite]

Dr Tom,

What kind of acoustic pickup did you use at the bridge, and can you give photos of how you installed it? I loved that sound. I don't expect to ever play one of these harp guitars, but the bass notes certainly did add to the music.

Mike

[RocknDrTom]

Originally Posted by turmite

Dr Tom,

What kind of acoustic pickup did you use at the bridge, and can you give photos of how you installed it? I loved that sound. I don't expect to ever play one of these harp guitars, but the bass notes certainly did add to the music.

Mike

I gutted a Peavey guitar. Got it cheap from Musician's Friend clearance section. It looked kind of like a white tele, and I never got used to the feel of the instrument. I ended up using the electronics from the Peavey in the guitar side of the instrument. I also replaced the stock Peavey humbuckers with (neck) GFS vintage split Fender pickup, and (bridge) GFS Dream 180.
The bass/harp strings use a telecaster bridge pickup screwed right into the body. The angle of the pickup was straightened out a bit to line up with the slightly wider string spacing.

[acalan]

That is real cool,I'm with NYbill I have a tough time with 6 strings

[turmite]

Originally Posted by RocknDrTom

I gutted a Peavey guitar. Got it cheap from Musician's Friend clearance section. It looked kind of like a white tele, and I never got used to the feel of the instrument. I ended up using the electronics from the Peavey in the guitar side of the instrument. I also replaced the stock Peavey humbuckers with (neck) GFS vintage split Fender pickup, and (bridge) GFS Dream 180.
The bass/harp strings use a telecaster bridge pickup screwed right into the body. The angle of the pickup was straightened out a bit to line up with the slightly wider string spacing.

DrTom in the clip you demonstrated what you called an acoustic pickup. Is that the bridge GFS 180?

Mike

[RocknDrTom]

Turmite - what I call the acoustic pickup is built into the saddles of the bridge. Each saddle has a wire that goes to a PCB inside the electronic cavity. I call the dream 180 the "bridge pickup" and the split fender the "neck" pickup. I hope that helps. Keep in mind that you are also hearing the instrument plugged directly into the computer. The electric pickups were really designed to be played thru a guitar amp. Maybe one day I'll get to do some serious recording and perform with this one.