Due to the positive response that came with the original “Safari” psaltery that I made about a month ago, I decided to make a replica.
In case you’re wondering, the original psaltery was #PS-60, about which I raved: “easily in the all-time top five, maybe even the top three. This psaltery has excellent volume and sustain, a deep and full tone.”
Since I had plenty of supplies left over from the original, I was able to cut the soundboard, sides, and back from the very same boards as the original, making for a nearly identical sound.
The only modifications that I made were to the binding and bridge: I swapped out the original Bloodwood for Snakewood—which, if you were to calculate its cost out to board-feet, would be the most expensive wood in the world: about 100 times more expensive than oak!
Otherwise, the psaltery is as close to identical as can be. (Okay, I also added a Bloodwood backstrip, and Black Star Diopside note markers, but that really shouldn’t impact the sound in any way.) You can go take a look on the sale page.
I just listed a few new back/side sets in the Treasure Trove. If you were looking at doing a special-order psaltery, then these may be just the ticket!
After keeping my eyes open for quite a while, I was finally able to get my hands on some really nice Bocote locally. Currently my favorite exotic hardwood is Cocobolo, but with pieces like the one pictured here, Bocote is certainly giving Cocobolo a run for its money! I love the symmetric figuring that emerges from bookmatching.
Besides the one pictured that I’m currently working on, I hope to have a set shortly available in the Treasure Trove as well. Or, if you’re interested, you can email me directly.
I’ve recently begun a new system where I have the frames for custom ordered psalteries already pre-built. You can see a few of the finished frames from the treasure trove in the picture above. (You can also spy out the completed edge sander that I was building in a previous post.)
It feels a bit odd to begin making a bowed psaltery and then abruptly stop once it is just beginning to take shape, but the reason why I’ve done this is to reduce the time it takes to build a custom psaltery. As a result, the expected time listed for a custom ordered instrument is now four to six weeks.
Here’s a new finish that I’m trying: it’s called Tried and True Oil, and I’m using the Varnish Oil blend. It Linseed-Oil based, and so far I’m pleased with the results. (Note, I still use Shellac as my standard finish, unless otherwise noted on any given instrument.)
One of the best things about this finish is that it is completely non-toxic both in it’s cured, and uncured states. (That’s me dipping my bare finger into the oil in the upper left picture.) It’s even FDA approved for food contact surfaces.
But what I really like about this finish is that it soaks into the wood and really brings out the figure of the grain. Seen in the upper left picture is a curly Ash psaltery that just had a fresh application of the oil.
I’ve begun to offer this as a finish option for custom instruments. It has a very down-to-earth feel. The look and texture of the wood is completely preserved.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, once a year I try to make an extra-fancy psaltery that I term a “phantasy” psaltery. The pictures above show the finished product for 2009.
Some points of interest would include the Star-of-David rosette, and also the Macassar Ebony back/sides. I was fortunate enough to find a piece of this rare wood that was large enough to be made into a psaltery.
Actually, the board I found was large enough to be made into two psalteries. So if you were interested in a custom order, I have the second set available for use on a personalized psaltery in the Treasure Trove.
The “Phantasy” psaltery is currently listed on the Psalteries for Sale page.
I just heard about a guy who turns giant vases and similar vessels out of enormous 2,000+ pound tree trunks. And on top of all that, his Bloomington shop is only about 10 minutes away from my house in Minnetonka. (Haven’t visited yet…)
One of the things from the video that I noticed was his finishes. We have a lot in common in that regard, because I love shellac too. Also, I use ten coats (which are subsequently buffed out) on all my instruments just like he uses on his vessels.
I was going through some of my old notes and drawings, and I laughed at some of my early thoughts. Some ideas were good, and turned out really well. Some ideas were, well, not so good. (Like experimenting with glass soundboards…)
One feature that stood out quite early was the actual shape of the psaltery;s body. It may come as a surprise to some that I struggled on this, going back and forth between a simple triangle (as the psaltery seen on A Psimple Psaltery), and the five-sided shape that I now use pretty much exclusively today. But back then, it wasn’t so clear.
Early drawing of a 3-sided model
Here’s one such drawing that I made back in 2006. It’s simple, but the fact that I went to this trouble at all shows that I was seriously considering the plan.
In retrospect, I’m glad that I’ve stuck with the design that I’m currently using.
In an overhaul that probably took me way too long to finish, I’ve re-made the custom ordering page, which is titled “Find Your Own Psaltery” on the Phantasy Psalteries navigation menu.
I’m hoping that the new order form will be more user-friendly, as it now uses larger font, and is mostly visually oriented. I’ve tried to use less words, and more pictures—though there are still links to informational pages on the order form.
So if you were thinking about placing a custom order: don’t be shy!
I just spent some time updating my badly outdated psaltery gallery. I organized it a little bit more into a few themes. One theme of interest is called “Ode to Cocobolo.”
Check it out for some ideas on your next bowed psaltery!
One of the main projects that I have listed this year for Phantasy Psalteries is to develop a 3-octave psaltery.
I plan to start planning and building within the next few weeks. I’ve already decided to use a detachable sub-base that can be used to mount it to a tripod, or removed to play it hand-held. I’m going to try and keep the overall size just under three feet long.
With all of the weight-saving techniques that I already use on my 2 1/2 octave psalteries, I expect the three octave psaltery to still be at a manageable weight—all things considered.
If anyone has any questions or requests for a three-octave bowed psaltery, please email me at: eric@phantasypsalteries.com
Not that I ever really left, but it’s good to be back in the shop making sawdust again. During the Christmas season, I took a little bit of a detour from making psalteries, and worked on a related project. . .
Even though I stopped building psalteries, that didn’t mean I wasn’t involved with them in some capacity: I was busy formatting and publishing a new book on making bowed psalteries.
Adapted from the plans, pictures, and writings from the website, A Psimple Psaltery, this book will make a handy reference for builders to page through and hold in their hands while they work on their project(s).
As far as I know, it’s the first book of its kind, and I’m eager to see if the library of congress will create a new subject category for it when they catalog it.
But even so, it’s still great to be back in the shop and generally making a big mess with wood. All of this sitting and typing in front of a computer has made me antsy!
Now through January 1st, 2009, I’m running a sale on all regular, in-stock bowed psalteries. All bowed psalteries are on sale for 25% off my regular price. (This excludes custom orders and blemished instruments.)
Now’s your chance to get the bowed psaltery that you’ve always wanted; like this one that I’ve just added:
I was going through a bunch of old files on my laptop, and I stumbled across a funny thing: it was the original banner that I’d created and intended to be used for my website: Phantasy Psalteries.
Shortly thereafter, I changed my mind about the overall theme and feel of the site, and discarded the old title banner. But, here it is, just for the curious. It brought back some fond memories of when I was first starting out with psalteries. (And in my mind, I’m still just starting out on psalteries…)
