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  #1  
Old 04-04-2016, 06:31 PM
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JeffreyAK JeffreyAK is offline
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Default Tonedevil harp guitars?

I've been coveting a harp guitar for a while now, and came across Tonedevil harp guitars, http://www.tonedevilharpguitars.com/...2-harp-guitar/. I'm especially coveting the S-19 12-string.

Does anyone have experience with Tonedevil instruments, harp guitars or otherwise? Thoughts? My current acoustic is a Taylor 456ce 12-string, but I've owned other acoustics as well as electrics over the past 35 years or so. I don't know how to play a harp guitar, yet, but I trust I can figure it out over time.
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'16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar
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Old 04-06-2016, 10:27 PM
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OK, no hate, nor any love. No experiences with Tonedevil here?
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'17 Tonedevil S-18 harp guitar
'16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar
'79 Fender Stratocaster hardtail with righteous new Warmoth neck
'82 Fender Musicmaster bass
'15 Breedlove Premier OF mandolin
Marshall JVM210c amp plus a bunch of stompboxes and misc. gear
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  #3  
Old 04-07-2016, 08:29 AM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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Not familiar with Tonedevil Harp Guitars but you may want to contact these folks - there are a lot of resources related to harp guitars so I would imagine someone there would likely know something.

http://www.harpguitars.net/hgg/hgg.htm

Very cool that you want to learn the harp guitar. They are amazing Instruments. I understand that some of the challenge is in not only learning how to play the subs but also be able to mute them.

Best,
Jayne
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Old 04-07-2016, 11:41 AM
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The Powell brothers are now making some nice entry-level instruments.
Gregg @ Harpguitars.net sells Tonedevil HG's on his site.
They also worked at Holloway HG's for a time before Holloway morphed into the Dyer
HG company.
I've got a Holloway Style 5, that I'm quite happy with.
Stephen Bennett has 2 HG courses on Trufire for learning to play the HG.
I highly recommend both to get yourself started.

Mike
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Old 04-07-2016, 02:57 PM
LARPUP48 LARPUP48 is offline
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Default Tonedevil

Recently purchased from Gregg - Harpguitars- Plays great, action, setup, etc. sounds excellent. Love it. Highly recommend and Gregg as well.
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Old 04-07-2016, 04:49 PM
MikeB1 MikeB1 is offline
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Hi Jeffrey

Gregg Miner is affectionately referred to as the Harp Guitar Pope. He has made a study of the instrument and here is a link to the web site. I would recommend the CD “Beyond Six Strings” which is for sale on the web site. It is a nice introduction to a number of harp guitarists who perform on the CD. The site also lists a number of luthiers and lots of informative articles.
http://www.harpguitars.net/

If you are near Connecticut, you should come to the Harp Guitar Gathering this year. You will get a quick course on the harp guitar and be up to speed in no time. You will also see a lot of different types of harp guitars. Here is a link to the Gathering; they have one every year at a different location.
http://www.harpguitars.net/hgg/hgg.htm

You can also check out Steven Bennett’s web site. He has CDs and sheet music for about 100 of his songs, both 6 string and harp guitar.
http://harpguitar.com/
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Old 04-07-2016, 09:13 PM
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Thanks for the responses and links! And I hadn't thought of the muting problem - new challenges! I see Gregg's harpguitarmusic.com site has a LA area post address, which is interesting because I'll be in Santa Barbara in a couple weeks (I live in the SF bay area), and he has a S-12 for sale - I wonder if I could have a look in person. I have "Beyond Six Strings", love it, and I got to see Muriel Anderson play a show a couple months ago including some harp guitar, which was lovely. I don't remember who made her (probably very high-end) harp guitar, but it has half-step tuning levers on the bass strings - there are videos of her playing a Tonedevil S-12, however.
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'17 Tonedevil S-18 harp guitar
'16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar
'79 Fender Stratocaster hardtail with righteous new Warmoth neck
'82 Fender Musicmaster bass
'15 Breedlove Premier OF mandolin
Marshall JVM210c amp plus a bunch of stompboxes and misc. gear
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Old 04-07-2016, 10:19 PM
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Jeffrey, you may already know that Gryphon carries the ToneDevil harp guitars, but just in case... they do :-). It looks like they have one in stock. I've played one there a couple of times, and it seemed very nice for the price. I have one of the original Holloways' and I thought the ToneDevil was quite a bit nicer. I'm not a harp guitar expert, and these are certainly in the "affordable" range for a harp guitar, but I was impressed with them, again, especially for the price. Anyway, odds are good that you can try one at Gryphon, and/or ask the people there about them.
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Old 04-08-2016, 09:10 AM
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Ah, awesome, thanks for the tip, I didn't know Gryphon carried Tonedevil harp guitars. I was there for other reasons a couple months ago but didn't notice any harp guitars, and I don't see them mentioned on their web site.
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'17 Tonedevil S-18 harp guitar
'16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar
'79 Fender Stratocaster hardtail with righteous new Warmoth neck
'82 Fender Musicmaster bass
'15 Breedlove Premier OF mandolin
Marshall JVM210c amp plus a bunch of stompboxes and misc. gear
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Old 04-08-2016, 09:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffreyAK View Post
Ah, awesome, thanks for the tip, I didn't know Gryphon carried Tonedevil harp guitars. I was there for other reasons a couple months ago but didn't notice any harp guitars, and I don't see them mentioned on their web site.
When I saw one, it was the display case under the cash register, for some reason. So easy to miss. I just checked their site, and now don't see one listed. But you can ask. Maybe the one I saw was used, don't know.
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Old 04-08-2016, 01:54 PM
tommyld tommyld is offline
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I'll chime in this coming Wednesday/Thursday when the eagle (Tonedevil S-12) lands.

I've been eyeing Tonedevil for a while. I'm impressed with the price relative to other harp guitar options (even Chinese-made Holloways are at least listing for $2300-$3000 right now).

I almost went for an Emerald Synergy harp, but the Tonedevil had the scale-length and nut-width I wanted...plus a much larger body for undoubtedly better tone. There are a handful of YouTube videos of them sounding beautiful, and I've seen several close-ups boasting nice quality. They have unfilled/open grain finishes on them, which I don't mind. Looks like all-around fantastic workmanship. All that was enough to rope me in. Looking forward to the challenge of playing it.
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Old 04-08-2016, 02:54 PM
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The Gregg Miner moniker "The Harp Guitar Pope " has been laid to rest a while back.
(So don't call him that....lol)

If you do try and hook up with Gregg, you might get a tour of the Miner Music Museum. ..
Haven't seen it in person, but have seen video. Very impressive !!!

Gregg has a wealth of information to work through on his site.
Also the store is the place to go for new sub strings....
Won't find them at Guitar Center !! lol

Mike
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Old 04-08-2016, 02:56 PM
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Double post
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Old 04-08-2016, 11:25 PM
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Right, I haven't thought about where to source bass strings, though I reckon they will last a very long time.

An S-12 purchaser! Yes, please do chime in when you get it, would love to hear your opinion on it. I don't care so much about the shine and polish, but I do care a lot about playability and action, frets, nut, intonation, staying in tune, etc.

They list a number of other models on their web site, but those are probably all hen's teeth or even one-off, and probably nearly everything they make is an S-12, so that's what I would buy.
__________________
'17 Tonedevil S-18 harp guitar
'16 Tonedevil S-12 harp guitar
'79 Fender Stratocaster hardtail with righteous new Warmoth neck
'82 Fender Musicmaster bass
'15 Breedlove Premier OF mandolin
Marshall JVM210c amp plus a bunch of stompboxes and misc. gear
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-09-2016, 03:09 PM
tommyld tommyld is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffreyAK View Post
I don't care so much about the shine and polish, but I do care a lot about playability and action, frets, nut, intonation, staying in tune, etc.
Exactly.

I expect good things. I'll post Wednesday nightish.
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