The first thing to look for in
a soundboard is the fineness and uniformity of grain and color. Next in importance
is the finish applied to the wood before it is mounted on the instrument.
Also very important is the predrying before the soundboard, with its adjunct
parts, is assembled and mounted to the body of the harp.
Woldsong Harps uses only European (preferably Yugoslavian) or Engelmann spruces which have been predried commercially; specifically for musical instruments. Further, the soundboards are redried in a near 0% humidity, slightly warmed, atmosphere for two to three days between each operation of its construction and mounting. These critical steps in creating a fine soundboard make predrying the one and only operation that Woldsong does not do. It is accomplished by specialists in soundboard finishing.
The maple inner string rib is
made very substantial, and its bottom end is bolted to the base of the harp.
Also, plywood stiffeners are glued and pegged to the sides of the inner string
rib giving it a kind of modified I-beam construction. This heavy construction
and the design of the inner string rib serves to reduce the pressure of the
strings pulling up on the soundboard itself, thus making a far more sturdy
and long lasting instrument.
Proprietary
process
On occasion, at harp conventions, I have been asked by other harpmakers how I can build such a heavy inner string rib without severely dampening the sound of the instrument. The answer is simple and I believe rather obvious, but it is a proprietary secret nonetheless. The important thing is that it works.