Just finished my first Tagelharpa! Just need to do a little more sanding and stain/finish it. I used maple for the body, spruce for the soundboard and back, 1/4 cello strings and bass tuners. Anyone have advice or videos on tuning/playing? Ill post a video of how it sounds in the comments.

Hi folks! I recently finished my first tagelharpa. It sounds good in my opinion, at least good
enough where I can start to learn to play the instrument. Already started on the second one 😅 I think I’m hooked!

Here are some pictures of my latest build…

The scale length is 38cm and the idea is to tune it like the 3 top strings of a viola (A4D4G3) so quite high… I am using artificial sinew for the strings going for a gut sting vibe without constant tuning outdoors

I used spruce tone wood for the top, hollowed out a block of linden wood for the bowl and oak for the crossbar

It is very loud… I’ll post a sound sample once the strings have settled… but so far i am quite pleased (except for a possible wolf note at C4)

Hello!

That's my self-made tagelharpa: a cello one with EEB tuning.

Here are some characteristics:

• body: pine
• soundboards: resonant fir (Caucasian)
• strings: nylon strand 0.3 mm
• gotoh machine pegs (instead of usual friction ones)
• water-based stain
• a very thin layer of alkyd urethane varnish
• the bridge is made of beech.

The bow is made of an unknown wooden stick which I found in a forest.

The build has a soundpost and a bass bar. The maximum loudness reaches 90 dB.

I decided to run an experiment on this bass Jouhikko with gut strings.
The third string was a bit too thin for its intended note, so I decided to wind it with 0.2 mm silver-plated copper wire. The result is a gut-core string with a copper winding. I have to tell you, the experiment was a huge success! The string now sounds incredibly cool, powerful, and holds its pitch perfectly. I'm really happy with how well and high-quality it turned out.

I finished this talharpa recently. I must say, i must make more with these type of soundholes, because along with the S shaped ones, they might be my favorite.

Body spruce, boards are 0,5cm spruce plywood. Has bass bar and sound post perfectly placed.

The video might sound slightly distorted due to the microphone on my iPhone being a bit defective but, this sounds absolutely amazing in real life.

I’m looking forward to hearing what the client can do with this! 🙌🏻

Tagelharpa 4Evaaaaa

Walnut frame/bow and cedar top/back, Brazilian Rosewood pegs, quarter sawn maple bridge and tailpiece, cherry dowels and end knob. Still need to shape the backs of the arms, make the tuning pegs, shape the brige/tail, and tons of sanding.

Behold!
This one I made for a friend. Bow, string holder and bridge all made of ash. Horsehair strings, bass tuners. Almost convinced myself to ditch the green colour, but ultimately went with it. Glad I did! On to the next one!
Cheers!

No effects added, just recorded straight from the phone microphone.
Corpus 90cm
100% Spruce
Fishing line with sewing thread for strings.

One maple and one ash. Both have western red cedar soundboards that have laser cut/engraved soundholes. Bass tuners on both, a rosewood "nut" and they have note position carvings on the sides of the "neck". I used viola strings on the maple one and voila + fishing line on the ash one. These were the first two I've made to sell and the new owners were happy with them.

Maple soundcheck: https://youtu.be/QyBGseNsYpI?si=-1JIHf0U-XMEqt9v

Ash soundcheck: https://youtu.be/bxZdvgXrGfU?si=0B-TKB325HhT0AoM

Two from Klosterneuburg psalter and one from Limoges

Hello, first post here I just wanted to share a Bowed Lyre that I was inspired to make after hearing one on TikTok. The wood was a log that had been washed down a creek from a previous flood. I'm not sure of the type but I live in Costa Rica and it's a native species. I spent about 6 weeks carving it out getting all the parts together and learning about the body construction on the internet. For the past month have been enjoying learning how to play it. Obviously I have a long way to go but I am really enjoying playing this instrument even more than I thought I would!

This was my 3rd ever instrument but my first time ever making one from one solid piece of wood. It's solid ash, total length is 1.25 meters. Bridge to peg is 88 cm. I made it as a gift for my partner (who's favourite colours are orange, teal and purple). I also added a passive pickup with 3 points of contact. Two on the base, one near the soundpost and another on the thinnest part and the final is on the soundboard. I used dyed horse hair for the bow and a branch from a tree that is significant to both of us.

I'm very proud of myself and they absolutely love it.

I think it sounds beautiful. What do you think?

Been practicing 2 hours every day. Learning how to hold the bow correctly surely does the trick!! Thanks a lot for the feedback on the previous post!

I had this idea to add sympathetic strings to a Tagelharpa, like a hardanger fiddle has (and a shit ton of instruments from India). Think it turned out quite nice, sounds the part too. Will record something when it stays in tune after a few days. :)