Exploring theorbo music with the Harp Rail
The theorbo is a lute developed during the 17th century. The main features of the theorbo are the extended bass strings and re-entrant tuning which gives the instrument it’s unique quality. For a full description visit, Theorbo. The Harp Rail makes it possible to explore theorbo music by extending the range of the classical guitar.
Theorbo
Guitar and Harp Rail
Theorbo and guitar tuning
The below chart shows the tuning of a 14-string theorbo and the equivalent guitar tuning using a Harp Rail.
String #
| 14 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
| Theorbo | G1 | A1 | B1 | C1 | D2 | E2 | F2 | G2 | A2 | D3 | G3 | B3 | E3 | A3 |
| Guitar | Harp Rail | E2 | A2 | E3 | G3 | A3 | B3 | |||||||
- Theorbo strings 14 through 10 are covered by the Harp Rail.
- Theorbo strings 9 through 7 are covered by the guitar’s 6th string E2.
- Theorbo strings 6 and 5 are covered by the guitar’s 5th string A2.
- Theorbo strings 4 through 1 is the re-entrant tuning. That is, strings 1 and 2 are tuned lower than 3 and 4. Rather than restringing the guitar to match the therobo’s re-entrant tuning, the musical qualities can be preserved by tuning the guitar strings 4 through 1 to ascending pitches, E3, G3, A3 and B3.
Depending on the composition it may become necessary to alter the pitch of the 6th and 5th strings.
The combination of this alternate tuning and the Harp Rail transforms the guitar into a theorbo like instrument.
Cigar box build of the Stoessel Lute
This cigar box build was inspired by George Stoessel. In 1914 Stoessel invented a hybrid zither-like instrument called the Stoessel Lute. It is fingered by putting one's hand over the end of the neck rather than around it.
Visit http://www.minermusic.com/stoessellute.htm for more information.
The cigar box version of the Stoessel Lute has the bass strings positioned above the fretted strings in the style of the Harp guitar. The fretted strings are tuned like a Stoessel Lute G, Bb, D, F, A, C and E. The five bass strings are tuned as needed. A piezo pickup is installed for amplification.
Stoessel Lute
Front
Back
| Material | Red Oak |
| Dimensions | 31 inches x 8 inches |
| Body | Tabak Especial cigar box |
| String Count | 12 |
| Scale Length | Treble strings 14 inches (at 0 fret) |
| Scale Length | Bass strings 19 inches |
| Pickups | Piezo disk |
| Weight | 4.1 lbs. |
Harp Kit
The Harp Guitar Kit is a set of attachments that retrofit on an acoustic guitar. The attachments do not require any modifications to the guitar. They consist of a headstock bracket secured by the tuning machines, an array of tuning machines attached to the body with the strap button screw and a floating bridge(s).
Email if you are interested in the Harp Kit.
Head stock bracket
Tuning machine array
Solene
The Solene's tubular body with slanted, meandering frets positioned on the outer surface provides a new playing area for the two-handed tapping technique. Since it can be tuned like a seven stringed guitar, guitarists can visualize intervals in a familiar way.
Email if you are interested in the Solene.
Download the Solene manual.
| Material | Aluminum tube |
| Dimensions | 3 feet long, 3 inch diameter and 0.060 wall |
| Finish | Anodized Black, Blue, Red or Green |
| String Count | 7 |
| Scale Length | 25.5 inches (at 0 fret) |
| Fret Wire | 18 guage stainless steel |
| Fret Angle | 45 degrees |
| String Spacing | 9/32 inch |
| Pickups | 2 rail pickups (bridge, parallel in phase and neck) |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs. |
