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#1
01-13-2019, 03:03 PM
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Autoharp Anyone?
From the first time I heard one of these in grade school in 1962, I enjoyed the sound. Then, along came the Lovin' Spoonful and made the instrument cool in a quirky kind of way. The nice thing is the instruments are not very expensive, and new Oscar Schmidt models, whether acoustic or acoustic-electric, can be had from around $400 to $700. The Oscar Schmidt OS110 21AE "The Americana Autoharp" looks particularly interesting to me for its features and acoustic-electric capability. Then there is the OS120CNE Adirondack Autoharp with Adirondack Spruce top. Anyone else out there fancied getting an autoharp and do you have any suggestions as to models and options? Thanks!
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 Last edited by SpruceTop; 01-13-2019 at 05:01 PM. 
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#2
01-15-2019, 11:15 PM
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I have had my eye on autoharps for about a year. I check out the auctions and a few sites trying to find one I can afford. I think it adds another "flavor" to songs. Good luck on your search, and I'll keep looking as well.
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Always remember "Fins Up"
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#3
01-16-2019, 01:17 AM
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stai scherzando?
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#4
01-16-2019, 08:33 AM
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#5
01-16-2019, 11:51 AM
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Quote:
And now, back to the greats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAeT1JmJNTg
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stai scherzando?
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#6
01-16-2019, 02:27 PM
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Some are made with "spruce" tops which are actually plywood. I think the most expensive actually have spruce tops. Upscale autoharps for old time or Carter family tunes are usually marketed as "Appalachian" but all are not the same. It is also fairly easy to restore used auto harps, replace the felt sets and so on, if you find a good used one that needs work. They are also pretty easy to play with finger picks since you are not really picking single strings but just getting into the neighborhood of the note. They are fun.
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2003 Martin OM-42, K&K's 1932 National Style O, K&K's 1930 National Style 1 tricone Square-neck 1951 Rickenbacker Panda lap steel 2014 Gibson Roy Smeck Stage Deluxe Ltd, Custom Shop, K&K's 1957 Kay K-27 X-braced jumbo, K&K's 1967 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Nashville 2014 Gold Tone WL-250, Whyte Lade banjo 2024 Mahogany Weissenborn, Jack Stepick Ear Trumpet Labs Edwina Tonedexter
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#7
01-17-2019, 06:43 PM
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I've played them for nearly 50 years. The cheap ones will not hold up over time. There's literally tons of stress on them, with 36 VERY tight strings. If you don't have RH calluses, they will take the skin off your fingertips very quickly, so I use picks on this that i don't use on guitar.
I think Orthy's are one of the best out there, many degrees above the best Oscar Schmitt. There are other luthiers bedsides Orthy who will make a great instrument. Compared to guitars, they are not all that expensive if you venture into the handmade realm. One of the better Schmitt's will also hold up well; I am not so sure about other brands. Be sure to know the keys you wish to play in because one autoharp will not play in all keys. The diatonic ones are designed for just one key and are louder as a result.
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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments. Last edited by The Bard Rocks; 07-07-2019 at 06:03 PM.
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#8
01-20-2019, 11:37 AM
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Thanks, Everyone for contributing your experience and expertise in helping me in my autoharp quest. I'll consider all suggestions in choosing and playing the instrument!
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2
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#9
01-22-2019, 04:55 AM
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Quote:
Love the way he uses multiple chord bars to get the 'blue' notes and the way he drags a fingerpick across several muted strings to arrive at the objective. Wonderful rhythmic feel and voice! Thank you for the suggestion! Regards, Howard Emerson
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#10
01-22-2019, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Mike Seeger recorded an album's worth of great Kilby performances for Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/kilby-snow/c...um/smithsonian
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stai scherzando?
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#11
01-29-2019, 10:30 AM
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Yes, I got a used 15-chord Oscar Schmidt from Reverb a couple years ago and had it shined up, restrung, & the felts replaced at a local instrument repair shop. It's fun!
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A. Riley rebeginning after a long, long hiatus Ibanez Artwood Vintage grand concert acoustic La Patrie Motif parlor-size classical Cordoba Mini M travel-size classical Cordoba Guilele even smaller classical (so cute!) and Ohana SK20-S soprano ukelele
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#12
06-27-2019, 09:34 PM
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Have a listen to Jo Ann Smith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiACcPvlZKA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeCCSzDwWEw
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Jim _____________________ -1962 Martin D-21 -1950 Gibson LG1 -1958 Goya M-26 -Various banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, ukuleles, Autoharps, mouth harps. . .
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#13
06-29-2019, 08:24 AM
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Quote:
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2
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