Features,
Innovations, and Options
All of
my harps share a common approach and lineage, and feature:
• The Finest Materials - such as
air-dried violin-grade Spruce and stainless steel tuning
pins.
• Book-Matched Sides and Backs - This
requires individual attention to each harp but produces the
most aesthetically pleasing and structurally stable
instrument.
• Precisely Developed String Profiles -
From the inception of each design, the stringing comes
first. Great attention is given to evenness and tonal
response.
• Generous Soundboxes - Too small a
box chokes the tone. Great sound comes from understanding
the potential of the instrument.
• Hands-on Craftsmanship - Such moments as
tuning the soundboard or matching the grain belong to a
high order of craftsmanship. I strive for it in every harp
I make.
In addition, Caswell Harps is a unique combination
of design elements, as shown below, joining to produce
truly unique, world-class instruments.
Click
on images or titles for details.
Dynamic Tension
Balancing - My
patent-applied-for new load-bearing member allows me to
build a lighter, stronger harp that still plays like a
Celtic harp. First developed on the
Butterfly.
Soundboards - My
proprietary soundboard vastly strengthens and lightens
the soundboard, increasing bass and treble response
while allowing the traditional tonewood to speak more
freely. Used on the
Rhiannon.
The Split Neck
- A Latin-American innovation of the
last generation, this method of neck construction makes
a lighter, more stable, and fully balanced harp. Used on
the
Hybrid Harp Series.
String Spacing
- Classic
string spacing is a "standard" pedal harp spacing, and
my
Celtic is a refined
traditional spacing which feels comfortable to many
classical players yet affords many of the benefits of
the Latin American and historical
spacings.
Sharping Levers
- I offer three styles of sharping
levers and various options that work for a variety of
harps and budgets.
Tuning Systems
- Traditional taper pins and
guitar-style machine tuners provide the most choice of
any harp maker.
The Ancient Celtic
Harp - The source of
inspiration for nearly all my harps. Most clearly
expressed in the
Bardic Harp Series,
especially the
Gwydion.
Woods Used - Walnut,
Maple, Jatoba, Koa, Rosewood, Spruce, Appleply–each used
for their beauty and best function.
Warranty - The Caswell
Harps Warranty is one of the best in the harp world.
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