The Chamber Harp

by John W. Pratt

Here is a snap-shot photo of another instrument.

The “Chamber Harp” is a non-pedal harp suitable for beginners and experienced harpists. The design is based on traditional French lines with the fluted column and rounded “ram’s head” style crown. The sound board has been extended and is of the same design as in large concert harps: veneered sitka spruce with hard maple center strips. The sound board and body construction combine to give a rich, well sustaining tone quality that you would expect in larger harps. The Loveland sharping levers are correctly installed and regulated for trouble-free performance. The string spacing is identical to that of concert harps, eliminating adaptation problems when moving up to a pedal harp, or when alternating between this instrument and a pedal harp.

Here are three close-up detail shots:

The neck and base are of hard maple, the column is of birch, and the body panels are of solid birch laminate, reinforced at all joints. The sound board veneer is book-matched cherry, complemented by walnut side strips and walnut lower body trim. A rubbed lacquer finish, and several polished brass or bronze details complete the refined appearance. This harp uses standard concert harp strings, and gut strings are installed on new harps up through Middle C.

Here is a shot of four new ones:

A fully padded cover, with a base strap and internal and external pockets for music and strings is included, along with a standard tuning key.

Here is a shot of one with my daughter & I during the holidays:

I also do full repair work on pedal and non-pedal harps, as well as pedal harp regulation. I do not use the risky technique of bending the pins on pedal harp disks in order to bring an adjustment into regulation.

Chamber Harp Technical Data:

I may be reached at:

If you are in the Salt Lake City area, you may examine and try out a "Chamber Harp" at:

If you call Summerhays Music about harps, ask for Laurel Summerhays.