Hey my name is Johnny Flynn (the screenhandle is because my daughter shares the TH-cam account with me), but I’m based out of Washington DC in the US and have a quick question about harp maintenance/repair. However, I don’t know if the comments section on here is the most appropriate of possible mediums for transmitting those questions.
I recently purchased an Aoyama 47A, which has a very nice sound. Although it’s 30 years old and shows some rippling, it's not very pronounced. However, from the inside, I noticed a crack that extends about 3/4 of the way across the soundboard on the side where it was originally glued down, with a gap of up to 3mm. Would filling this gap from the inside using a syringe and System Three T-88 high-quality 2-component epoxy help to prolong the working life of the harp? If so, should I do it with the strings lightly relaxed or with no tension at all? Thanks a lot, Paul
Hi, unfortunately it won't help much. Without proper surface preparation the resin won't form a strong bond to the wood. It shouldn't have any adverse effects if you did want to give it a go. Releasing the tension will allow the soundboard to relax down a little and hopefully the resin will hold it like that for a while at least.
@@alextreeharpsi Will report the resuls. It's very delicate process. I got pen micro dremmel to clean old glue, endoscopic camera, carbon nanotube filter for epoxy, West system 105 epoxy. I hope that little bit of epoxy won't change sound much.I will go for one side first with half relaxed strings, using syringe and camera. It's extended soundboard so access is bad. Wish me luck. And than you for you honest answer
Really good info here, thanks for putting it out there 👍
Hey my name is Johnny Flynn (the screenhandle is because my daughter shares the TH-cam account with me), but I’m based out of Washington DC in the US and have a quick question about harp maintenance/repair. However, I don’t know if the comments section on here is the most appropriate of possible mediums for transmitting those questions.
Go for it, other people may also find the answer helpful.
It's difficult to know when the belly has gone into the danger zone.
Me or the harp 😅
I recently purchased an Aoyama 47A, which has a very nice sound. Although it’s 30 years old and shows some rippling, it's not very pronounced. However, from the inside, I noticed a crack that extends about 3/4 of the way across the soundboard on the side where it was originally glued down, with a gap of up to 3mm.
Would filling this gap from the inside using a syringe and System Three T-88 high-quality 2-component epoxy help to prolong the working life of the harp? If so, should I do it with the strings lightly relaxed or with no tension at all?
Thanks a lot,
Paul
Hi, unfortunately it won't help much. Without proper surface preparation the resin won't form a strong bond to the wood. It shouldn't have any adverse effects if you did want to give it a go. Releasing the tension will allow the soundboard to relax down a little and hopefully the resin will hold it like that for a while at least.
@@alextreeharpsi Will report the resuls. It's very delicate process. I got pen micro dremmel to clean old glue, endoscopic camera, carbon nanotube filter for epoxy, West system 105 epoxy. I hope that little bit of epoxy won't change sound much.I will go for one side first with half relaxed strings, using syringe and camera. It's extended soundboard so access is bad. Wish me luck. And than you for you honest answer