Harp Guitar Catalog
Harp Guitar Catalog
Harp Guitar Catalog
FAQS
Harp Ukulele
Tone Woods
Shipping
FAQS
1. How do I purchase a Harp Guitar?
a) What’s currently available, ready for immediate shipping and what’s coming is at the top of
this document.
b) As a new instrument is about to be released, I’ll post a notice in the Harp Guitar newsletter
with a “pre-sale discount”.
b) Listings are also in the eBay store.
2. What form of payment do you accept?
PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Bank wire, Bitcoin and Cash.
3. Do you offer discounts?
Yes, with Bitcoin! Prices on eBay are the highest due to the numerous fees; eBay, PayPal,
International bank transfers, foreign exchange, ATMs, etc. Bitcoin eliminates all of these fees.
4. What is Bitcoin; how to I get it?
It is decentralized digital currency that eliminates all international banking fees for a significant
savings. The easiest way to buy Bitcoin with cash, credit or debit card is with Wall of Coins.
LocalBitcoins and Coinbase are also good.
5. Will there be additional shipping charges, import duties, etc.?
There should be none. The instruments come with full documentation and passport. Duties are
pre-paid at the time of shipping.
6. What is your return policy?
The same as eBay, 14 days money back and buyer pays the return shipping fees to USA office in
St Louis, MO.
7. Is there a warranty?
Yes, one year to the original purchaser on parts and workmanship. Any modifications to the
instrument after leaving the shop void the warranty.
8. Is there a tracking number. Is the instrument insured when shipped?
Yes
9. How long does it take to ship a guitar?
We use EMS express service. ETA is around 8-10 days providing there are no major national
holidays.
10. What are the shipping charges?
$100 flat rate to all destinations
12. Are the harp guitars set up before shipping?
Yes. When a new instrument reaches completion it is gradually brought up to pitch and then
watch if for a few days as the strings and instrument “settle in” and make minor adjustments as
necessary. The harp guitars are shipped with the strings slacked slightly. The harp strings are
generally good for a couple years. The guitars strings, of course, will need to be changed like a
standard guitar.
13. What is the difference in the quality of the tone woods?
Each wood has its unique characteristics. See the tone wood list at the end of this document.
14. What is the difference between the 12 String and 13 String Harp Guitars?
The 12 string harp guitar is based on the early 20th century “Dyer” style design and is a standard
that other harp guitars are measured. The 12 string has a strong bass with a larger arm. The 13
string has several improvements for the 21st century guitarist:
There are 7 sub-basses with sharping levers giving you a full chromatic octave in the
bass.
The sub-bass use guitar machines, not banjo tuners.
The 13 string is available as a fanned fret or straight fret. Fanned Frets are important for
dropped tunings, tapping and percussive finger style.
The bass arm is more balanced to the body.
The top bracing uses an “x” braced “fan” that will work for either steel or nylon strings.
It is a cutaway
The guitar neck is attached at both ends; the body and bass arm. This increases the
sustain and harmonic phase between the guitar and bass.
15. Is the 21 string harp guitar difficult to tune, keep in tune and play?
Once the guitar has a little time to open up, the strings hold their tune. It’s not difficult to tune
but it does take longer than a six string guitar. The harp strings are tuned diatonically (white
keys on the piano) so, there are no bad notes. Flip the sharping levers to match the key of your
arrangement and start playing. If you don’t look at the strings, it’s easier to interpret and see the
music and strings in your mind. The only thing that I find takes getting used to with the 21 string
is holding it; there is no waist to rest on your leg. You may need a device, like a neck-up guitar
support. I personally like to play with a strap, sitting or standing.
16. Can special features be added like an arm bevel, sound port, etc.?
What you see in this catalog is what’s available. If it’s not listed, then it’s not available.
17. Why are your Harp Guitar prices so much lower than others on the Internet?
Because we choose to build and sell at a reasonable price so more people can own/play a quality
Harp Guitar.
18. I have more questions that are not listed here, how can I contact you?
On this page.
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21 String Harp Guitar
There are two 21 String Harp Guitar models in production, the “21SE” and the “21SEN”.The “SE” is
referenced to the original body and head stock design of the 20 String “Sullivan/Elliot” from the early
1980’s by Jeff Elliot (built by John Sullivan).
The 21SE is the standard model with 7 nylon sub-basses (with sharping levers), 6 steel strings on the
guitar neck and 8 steel super trebles (with sharping levers).
The 21SEN is the Nylon string version. It is essentially the same harp guitar with these exceptions:
The nut is 51mm (2 inch) Classical Guitar style.
The finger board is flat with no inlays (Classical Guitar style)
The bracing and top are lighter to be responsive to nylon strings
The bridge is a tie-on nylon Classical Guitar style
All of the strings are nylon including the Super-trebles
Available tone woods for the back & sides are Mahogany, Bocote, Claro Walnut, Flamed Maple and
Cocobolo Rosewood. Available top plates are Carpathian Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Bear Claw Sitka Spruce,
Sinker Redwood, Western Red Cedar and Curly Sequoia Redwood.
The base price of the 21 String Harp Guitar (Sapele) is $3495 (Dealer/Artist Discounts are available in
the Newsletter).
Back/Side Options:
Sapele: included
Walnut: +$75
Bubinga: +$75
Flamed Maple: +$225
Bocote: +$250
Cocobolo: +$500
Top Options:
Carpathian Spruce: included
Cedar top: +$100 - $150 (approximate - depends on what’s available and the supplier)
Sitka or Bear Claw: +$100-150 (approximate - depends on what’s available and the supplier)
Other:
Left-handed: +$100
K&K Trinity Pickup installed (pickup only): Market price varies around $450-500
Flight case: Gator makes a keyboard case that fits the harp guitar. The price may be around $300 or so.
It’s not necessary for shipping. The guitar is shipped in a crate.
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21SE Mahogany
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Back & Sides: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Finger Board: Macassar Ebony (Radiused)
Bridge: Macassar Ebony
Nut: Bone (44.5mm)
Saddle: Bone
Binding: Black/White/Black
Finish: Satin
Tuners: Black
Sharping Levers: Black (15)
Bass Strings: Nylon (7)
Guitar Strings: Acoustic Light Gauge (6)
Treble Strings: Plain steel (8)
Strap buttons: Two
Case: Heavy padded gig bag
21SE Bubinga
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Back & Sides: Bubinga
Neck: Bubinga
Finger Board: Macassar Ebony (Radiused)
Bridge: Macassar Ebony
Nut: Bone (44.5mm)
Saddle: Bone
Binding: Black/White/Black
Finish: Satin/Mat
Tuners: Chrome
Sharping Levers: Black (15)
Bass Strings: Nylon (7)
Guitar Strings: Acoustic Light Gauge (6)
Treble Strings: Plain steel (8)
Strap buttons: Two
Case: Heavy padded gig bag
21SE Flamed Maple
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Back & Sides: Flamed Maple
Neck: Maple
Finger Board: Macassar Ebony (Radiused)
Bridge: Macassar Ebony
Nut: Bone (44.5mm)
Saddle: Bone
Binding: Black/White/Black
Finish: Satin/Mat
Tuners: Black
Sharping Levers: Black (15)
Bass Strings: Nylon (7)
Guitar Strings: Acoustic Light Gauge (6)
Treble Strings: Plain steel (8)
Strap buttons: Two
Case: Heavy padded gig bag
21SE Cocobolo
Top: Carpathian Spruce
Back & Sides: Cocobolo Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Finger Board: Macassar Ebony (Radiused)
Bridge: Macassar Ebony
Nut: Bone (44.5mm)
Saddle: Bone
Binding: Black/White/Black
Finish: Satin/Mat
Tuners: Black
Sharping Levers: Black (15)
Bass Strings: Nylon (7)
Strap buttons: Two
Case: Heavy padded gig bag
21SEN Claro Walnut(Nylon/Classical)
Top: Sinker Redwood (or Curly Redwood or Cedar)
Back & Sides: Marble Claro Walnut
Neck: Mahogany
Finger Board: Macassar Ebony (Classical Flat)
Bridge: Rosewood
Nut: Bone (44.5mm)
Saddle: Bone
Binding: Black/White/Black
Finish: Satin/Mat
Tuners: Black
Sharping Levers: Black (15)
Bass Strings: Nylon (7)
Guitar Strings: Nylon (6)
Treble Strings: Nylon (8)
Case: Heavy padded gig bag
Dimension Details 21SE (Steel String)
Scale Length: 650mm
Overall length: 1023mm Central six string guitar (high to low)
Body length not including heel cap: 501.5mm Elixer light gauge with polyweb coating
Upper bout width: 289mm 1 - .012 – e’
Waist width: 252mm 2 - .016 – b’
Lower bout width: 400mm 3 - .024 – g
Body depth: 4 - .032 – d
@ heel: 98mm 5 - .042 – a
@ waist 102mm 6 - .053 – E
@ end block 109mm
Top arch: 1.5mm Sub-basses (high to low)
Top thickness: Nylon silver-plated copper-wound classical
• 3mm at bridge position 1 - .054 – D
• graded to 2.5mm at bass periphery 2 - .056 – C
• graded to 2.7mm at treble periphery 3 - .058 – B
• Sub-bass chamber 2.5mm 4 - .060 – A
Sound hole diameter: 96mm 5 - .062 – G1
Neck body joint to sound hole center: 157mm 6 - .064 – F1
Sub-bass sound hole diameter: 44mm 7 - .065 – E1
Back arch: 3mm
Back thickness: 2.2mm Replacement bass strings are available directly
Side thickness: 2.2mm from the LaBella web site
Head: 26mm thickness
Head length: 300mm Sub-bass String Length:
Nut width: 48mm Longest 821mm
String spacing at nut: 40.5mm Shortest 776mm
Neck thickness: 21mm to 23mm 1st to 9th frets
Neck width at 12th fret (neck/body juncture): Super Treble string Length:
58mm Longest 319mm
Bridge length: 300mm Shortest 180mm
Bridge width: 35mm
13 String Fanned Fret Harp Guitar
The 13 String Harp Guitar is the very latest harp guitar release! It is a variation of the 21 String Harp
Guitar. The super trebles have been replaced with a standard waist and Florentine cutaway. This is a
Fanned Fret Harp Guitar (Straight frets are also available). There are two models, the 13SE (steel string)
and the 13SEN (Nylon/Classical String). The sub-basses are nylon with sharping levers (replacement bass
strings are available from the LaBella web site). The “SE” is referenced to the original body and head
stock design of the 20 String “Sullivan/Elliot” from the early 1980’s by Jeff Elliot (built by John Sullivan).
The 13SE is the standard model with 7 nylon sub-basses (with sharping levers) and 6 steel strings on the
guitar neck. The fanned scale is 635mm (25 inches) to 686mm (27 inches) with a 44.5mm (1 ¾ inch) nut.
The 13SEN is the Nylon Classical string version. It is essentially the same harp guitar with these
exceptions:
The nut is 51mm (2 inch) Classical Guitar style.
The finger board is flat with no inlays (Classical Guitar style)
The bracing and top are lighter to be responsive to nylon strings
The bridge is a tie-on nylon Classical Guitar style
All of the strings are nylon
Fanned Fret or Straight Frets
Available tone woods for the back & sides are Sapele, Bubinga, Bocote, Flamed Maple and Cocobolo
Rosewood. Available top plates are Carpathian Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Bear Claw Sitka Spruce, Western
Red Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar. Finger board, bridge and bindings are Macassar Ebony. Bone nut and
saddle. Gold or Black machines/levers.
The base price for the13 String Harp Guitar (Sapele, Carpathian Spruce) is $3495
Back/Side Options:
Sapele: included
Bubinga: +$75
Flamed Maple: +$225
Bocote: +$250
Cocobolo: +$500
Top Options:
Carpathian Spruce: included
Cedar top: +$100 - $150 (depends on what’s available and the supplier)
Sitka or Bear Claw: +$100-150 (depends on what’s available and the supplier)
Other:
Left-handed: +$100
Snakewood: Bindings and trim +$100
K&K Trinity Pickup installed (pickup only): Market price varies around $450-500
Flight case: Gator makes a keyboard case that fits the harp guitar. The price may be around $300 or so.
It’s not necessary for shipping. The guitar is shipped in a crate.
Click on the photos for the full photos set.
(Bocote 13SE on the bench waiting for bass strings and sharping levers)
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Fanned Fret Guitars
There are currently four Fanned Fret Guitar models available; 6 and 7 String, Standard and Baritone. All
have the Grand Auditorium body style with a Florentine cutaway. They are hand crafted with all-solid
premium tone woods, reasonably priced and move quickly from the work bench to the shipping
department. The standard models that we keep in stock are below. The price includes a deluxe hard
shell case. Depending on availability, top woods can vary between Carpathian Spruce, Sitka, Adirondack,
Engelmann, Cedar and Redwood. No two guitars look the same; each set of tone wood has its unique
figure and grain. From time to time, other species are available as I can locate and secure lumber at a
good price. If you need a pickup the K&K Trinity System (pickup only) is excellent. It is $300 installed. The
newsletter has the latest information; what’s on the bench, what’s coming and approximate ETA.
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Koa
Koa Baritone
Cocobolo (Mexican) & Sitka Spruce
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12 String Harp Guitar
The 12 String Harp Guitar is a familiar, early 20th century design with the classic "cloud" sub-bass
headstock. Price: $1295.
The guitar strings are gauges 0.2794 mm to 1.3208 mm (.011” - .052” inches) for the first six
The gauges of the sub-bass strings are (high to low): 1st – 1.143 mm (.045”), 2nd – 1.27mm (.050”), 3rd
– 1.397 mm (.055”), 4th – 1,524 mm (.060”), 5th – 1.651 mm (.065”), 6th – 1.778 mm (.070”)
Length of the sub-bass strings are: 1 – 715 mm, 2 - 740 mm, 3 – 763 mm, 4 – 785 mm, 5 – 810 mm, 6 –
830 mm
Carpathian and Maple 12-String Harp Guitar (2017 model)
Click here for the full photo set.
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Harp Ukulele
This instrument is based on a Tenor size Ukulele. It has the bass arm similar to the Dyer-style harp
guitar. The Uke strings are a standard Tenor set with either high or log G. The six sub-bass strings are
Classical Guitar strings, low E, A and D. The tuning of the basses depends on your style and
arrangements. A typical tuning would be A, B, C, D, E, F then it would flow into the G, fourth string on
the Ukulele.
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Maple & Spruce
Curly Redwood & Padauk
Bocote & Spruce
Curly Redwood & Ziricote
Curly Redwood & Wenge
Tone Woods
Each tone wood has its unique voice. Below are list of characteristics, tone, volume, warmth and
stability of each that we use to build our Fanned Fret Harp Guitars.
Similar to Mahogany but a little brighter on the top end. Tonally, it does everything that mahogany does,
with a little extra treble zing. Best for steel string guitars.
Warmth: 3
Volume: 6
Stability: 10
Weight: 3
Bubinga
A very strong stiff wood with amazing sustain. Bright midrange and a thick, well defined bottom. It’s
very similar to Rosewood with a little more brightness.
Warmth: 7
Volume: 8
Stability: 6
Weight: 6
Padauk
When Padauk is first cut, the sawdust looks like paprika; a vivid, bright orange that will oxidize to a more
burgundy reddish brown. It is very close in tone to East Indian Rosewood with great mids and attack.
Medium/Heavy wood.
Warmth: 6
Volume: 8
Stability: 6
Weight: 6
Maple
Hard, dense material and very bright. Every note is focused and clear like a bell. There’s no discernable
difference in tone between non-figured maple and curly maple.
Warmth: 10
Volume: 8
Stability: 6
Weight: 4
Koa
Koa's tone blends the midrange of mahogany with the top end of maple. Due to its density, a new koa
guitar tends to start out sounding a little bright and tight, somewhat like maple. But the more a koa
guitar is played, the more the sound opens up, expanding the midrange and rewarding the player with a
richer, sweeter, more resonant tone. A common mistake is when a bright player buys a koa guitar in part
for its visual beauty, finds it to be too bright, and doesn't play it enough to allow the wood to warm up.
Koa is a standard tone wood for the Fanned Fret Guitars. Larger material for Harp Guitars is available
from time to time.
Warmth: 4
Volume: 8
Stability: 7
Weight: 4
Bocote
This is the “Goldilocks” tone wood; not too heavy, not too bright, stable… it’s just right! If you put all of
the tone woods in a blender the result would be: Bocote. It’s perfect in every way and fits every
application, steel string and nylon. It’s not too expensive, plentiful, no international restrictions, great
sustain, loud, attractive grain… it’s the Goldilocks!
Warmth: 5
Volume: 8
Stability: 7
Weight: 5
Cocobolo Rosewood
The tone of Cocobolo is every color of the rainbow, Brazillian Rosewood’s “little brother”. It’s very
balanced with more focus on the low end, moderate note decay. Its full potential doesn’t surface
immediately; it needs to be played for some time to let it “open up”. Excellent recording instrument.
Very heavy. Excellent choice for nylon string, classical style. Available for Fanned Fret Guitars and Harp
Guitars.
Warmth: 6
Volume: 8
Stability: 5
Weight: 9
Ziricote
This is a very unusual material. It’s the most responsive of all the tone woods, like driving a high end
sports car. It’s every bit as good as any rosewood, with spider webbing grain, like Brazilian but with
grays, greens and blacks. The tap tone is like a Tibetan Gong. The tone a bit brighter than Cocobolo with
amazing bass, sustain. It’s the loudest unamplified guitar you will every play. The only negative with
Ziricote is that it’s prone to cracking. Avoid extremes in humidity or temperature. Keep it humidified.
Not available for Harp Guitars.
Warmth: 6
Volume: 10
Stability: 1
Weight: 9
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Shipping