Comments for Phantasy Psalteries Blog: Everything Bowed Psaltery http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com Eric Meier's Bowed Psaltery Blog Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:04:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Bowed Psaltery Woods: Impedance vs. Dampening by Eric http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/bowed-psaltery-woods-impedance-vs-dampening/comment-page-1/#comment-1143 Eric Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:04:31 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/bowed-psaltery-woods-impedance-vs-dampening/#comment-1143 Antonio, those are some good thoughts to add to the discussion. My feelings on bridges, both in materials and placement, are mixed. On the one hand, you consider the acoustic qualities, and want to make it light, with as little impedance as possible. Yet on the other hand, there is an amazing amount of pressure being exerted upon the soundboard by all of the strings---roughly 4 or 5 times more strings than on a steel-string guitar---with the heaviest stress point being the area under the bridge. In the end, I opt for the safer route, and try to use stiffer woods for the bridge, and keep it very close to the pinblock for reinforcement. I believe that this is the best choice for the long-term durability of the instrument. I haven't really experimented with moving the bridge any closer to the soundhole. Antonio, those are some good thoughts to add to the discussion.

My feelings on bridges, both in materials and placement, are mixed. On the one hand, you consider the acoustic qualities, and want to make it light, with as little impedance as possible. Yet on the other hand, there is an amazing amount of pressure being exerted upon the soundboard by all of the strings—roughly 4 or 5 times more strings than on a steel-string guitar—with the heaviest stress point being the area under the bridge.

In the end, I opt for the safer route, and try to use stiffer woods for the bridge, and keep it very close to the pinblock for reinforcement. I believe that this is the best choice for the long-term durability of the instrument. I haven’t really experimented with moving the bridge any closer to the soundhole.

]]> Comment on Bowed Psaltery Woods: Impedance vs. Dampening by Antonio http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/bowed-psaltery-woods-impedance-vs-dampening/comment-page-1/#comment-1142 Antonio Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:49:56 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/bowed-psaltery-woods-impedance-vs-dampening/#comment-1142 I ran into psimple psaltery website while looking for "helmholtz resonance" on Google. During the restoration process of an old italian mandolin i was calculating the difference in Helmholtz frequency due to a few mm larger soundhole (result: less than a quarter of tone). I didn't learn much more about Helmholtz resonance, but now I'm searching the wood to build a bowed psaltery. My two cents thinking about impedance: the soundboard has to vibrate, in order to move big amounts of air, the body has not to vibrate. The body vibrates, anyhow, but in my opinion it affects some internal resonances of the instruments, not the 'basic' way the sound is produced. A bigger problem is the coupling of impedances between the strings and the soundboard, that is: the bridge. I think it has to be light and stiff (maybe ebony and bone, or a 'psimple' aluminum bar with triangular section). How the sound changes when positioning the bridge 1 or 2 cm nearer the sound hole? (a longer psaltery) Thanks in advance Antonio I ran into psimple psaltery website while looking for “helmholtz resonance” on Google. During the restoration process of an old italian mandolin i was calculating the difference in Helmholtz frequency due to a few mm larger soundhole (result: less than a quarter of tone).
I didn’t learn much more about Helmholtz resonance, but now I’m searching the wood to build a bowed psaltery.
My two cents thinking about impedance: the soundboard has to vibrate, in order to move big amounts of air, the body has not to vibrate. The body vibrates, anyhow, but in my opinion it affects some internal resonances of the instruments, not the ‘basic’ way the sound is produced.
A bigger problem is the coupling of impedances between the strings and the soundboard, that is: the bridge. I think it has to be light and stiff (maybe ebony and bone, or a ‘psimple’ aluminum bar with triangular section).
How the sound changes when positioning the bridge 1 or 2 cm nearer the sound hole? (a longer psaltery)
Thanks in advance
Antonio

]]> Comment on Becky’s Psaltery Pt. 2 by Shirey http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/beckys-psaltery-pt-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 Shirey Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:05:22 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/beckys-psaltery-pt-2/#comment-1140 Ooh dang i just typed a big comment and as soon as i hit post it come up blank! Please please tell me it worked properly? I dont want to write it again if i do not have to! Either the blog glitced out or i am an idiot, the latter doesnt surprise me lol. Ooh dang i just typed a big comment and as soon as i hit post it come up blank! Please please tell me it worked properly? I dont want to write it again if i do not have to! Either the blog glitced out or i am an idiot, the latter doesnt surprise me lol.

]]> Comment on Custom T-Handle Tuning Wrench by Eric http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/custom-t-handle-tuning-wrench/comment-page-1/#comment-1139 Eric Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:15:42 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=312#comment-1139 Looks good Bob! Glad it worked out for you. Looks good Bob! Glad it worked out for you.

]]> Comment on Custom T-Handle Tuning Wrench by Bob Lewis http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/custom-t-handle-tuning-wrench/comment-page-1/#comment-1138 Bob Lewis Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:08:30 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=312#comment-1138 Here is the finished product now in my possession. It is a real work of art, and the asymmetrical T works wonderfully for fine tuning. Thanks, Eric. http://www.autoharpworks.com/pages/Post/pic/customTwrench.25.jpg Here is the finished product now in my possession. It is a real work of art, and the asymmetrical T works wonderfully for fine tuning. Thanks, Eric.

http://www.autoharpworks.com/pages/Post/pic/customTwrench.25.jpg

]]> Comment on Ten Coats of Shellac? by Linda Curtis http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/ten-coats-of-shellac/comment-page-1/#comment-1136 Linda Curtis Wed, 06 May 2009 04:24:06 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=272#comment-1136 I can certainly see how this fellow is an inspiration to all, especially to you Eric. You are a master craftsman, just like him. He sure makes pretty things but the psaltery you made for me sends music in the air . . . I can certainly see how this fellow is an inspiration to all, especially to you Eric. You are a master craftsman, just like him. He sure makes pretty things but the psaltery you made for me sends music in the air . . .

]]> Comment on Revamped Custom Order Page by Linda Curtis http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/revamped-custom-order-page/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Linda Curtis Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:02:33 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=245#comment-1135 Great job on the new order form! Visually beautiful, just like your psalteries. I'm tempted to order another one. Great job on the new order form! Visually beautiful, just like your psalteries. I’m tempted to order another one.

]]> Comment on Custom Tuning Wrench and Psaltery by Linda Curtis http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/custom-tuning-wrench-and-psaltery/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Linda Curtis Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:59:57 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=228#comment-1134 This is a beautiful set. The new owner of this psaltery must be so anxiously awaiting to receive it. I hear new music in the air! This is a beautiful set. The new owner of this psaltery must be so anxiously awaiting to receive it. I hear new music in the air!

]]> Comment on Chechen and Ammonite Bowed Psaltery by Linda Curtis http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/chechen-and-ammonite-bowed-psaltery/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Linda Curtis Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:48:48 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=222#comment-1133 Every one of your psalteries are works of art, Eric, but I must say that this one is exceptional. Of course, I am somewhat biased with that opinion. Thank you for taking such care and attention with building my psaltery. Linda Every one of your psalteries are works of art, Eric, but I must say that this one is exceptional. Of course, I am somewhat biased with that opinion. Thank you for taking such care and attention with building my psaltery.
Linda

]]> Comment on Western Red Cedar Bowed Psaltery by Diana http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/western-red-cedar-bowed-psaltery/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 Diana Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:08:38 +0000 http://blog.phantasypsalteries.com/?p=217#comment-1132 Oh, yes, it is looking good! Oh, yes, it is looking good!

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