psimple psaltry

[John K Jordan]

Has anyone built a bowed psaltry folowing this? http://www.apsimplepsaltery.com/

I'm thinking of making one for a grandson for Christmas and wondered about experiences. It looks pretty easy. I bought the book.

JKJ

[Phillip J Allen]

John,

3 Points:
1. Yea Go ahead an Make one. It is a simple easy project.
2. Thanks for passing the info along! I didn't even know what a psaltery was..
3. Sorry to hijack your thread but I went off and made one! Thanks again for the idea. I figured it was simple & cheap enough to use it as a testing project to determine if I want to make a hammer-dulcimer and/or a clavichord. I used some old maple planks sitting around and some unknown wood I salvaged from a friends porch ceiling. It was a real easy project. I used liquid hide glue since after making a viola using epoxy on an wood instrument seem unsettling!!!!!!

In the pictures below you can see that I put 4 walnut pegs in the sides to the peg-board to re-enforce the end-grain-on glue joint. Unfortunately I should have either put a peg along the pinnacle scarf joint or may be even put lap/dove-tail joint to get a more robust joint. As you can see in the picture screwing the G hitch pin broke the joint a little bit. Oh well, live and learn. Also my french polishing technique still needs work.....always something!

regards,
Phil

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[John K Jordan]

Phil, thanks. I think I'll try makng one. Your's looks great.

i bought a bowed psaltry many years ago and use it with little kids. I play a song then let them try, helping them with the bowing.

I've never made an instrument but I've done a lot of wood things, although mostly woodturning. Actually, I did recently build a Hank Drum for a friend but it is steel instead of wood:
http://dennishavlena.com/for-webpage-lp-hang.htm

JKJ