R-Harps
Quality affordable harps designed by musicians for musicians
The Merlin from R-Harps
The Merlin's pillar is reinforced by a powerful adjustable truss rod system to ensure rigidity. This unique design eliminates the need for the massive pillar found on traditional harps and promotes lower and midrange frequencies. The sound board is reinforced by nine suspended non-fatiquing struts. These braces counter-balance the massive tension created by the string pressure without adding sound deadening thickness to the sound board as in a traditional instrument. Thanks to these braces, the sound board is relaxed and ready to respond without being choked by it's own string tension. It is possible that the Merlin is the first harp ever to be tension balanced. Some well-built harps will last for decades. This harp will sing for generations! The Merlin had an enclosed body. This is not a new development. It's merely lost Old World knowledge. When the Spainish colonized South America, they introduced the harp to the indiginous people. These native builders discovered that if you "capture the sound before you let it go" its projection is increased dramatically. As musicians, they needed resonance and volume as they participated in outdoor processions. While I don't suggest that you strap the Merlin to your body to march down the street, I invite you to play this harp outdoors where it's big sound will fill the air. Rick Rubarth (303) 480 5028 *All music on this site recorded on a Merlin* As seen on the "Harplust List" http://www.weddingharper.com/harplust.html
The Merlin is the result of twenty years of building and three years of research and development. The goal was to make a very large sounding harp in the smallest package possible.
RHarps and the Merlin
will be at
Somerset on the Potomac 2009
July 9 - 12
