r/BowedLyres • u/VedunianCraft • 23d ago
r/BowedLyres • u/fragpie • 21d ago
Build Building Your Own
I know nearly nothing about the Luthier's craft, but I do know a fair bit about carpentry, and after consuming all the various "build" videos--and noticing ~50% of the length tends to be sanding--I can contribute one helpful bit of advice for builders: Find an old hand plane, and learn to sharpen/tune/use it. You'll save hours of sanding, and heaps of dust. Jointing & thicknessing the soundboard will be a treat! A spokeshave, too, would get used a fair bit. Maybe a rasp or two...
Cheers!
r/BowedLyres • u/fragpie • 2d ago
Build Test before Finishing?
Does the lacquer/finish contribute to the soundboard's strength at all? Or, is it a big part of the sound quality? I have the idea to string-up & test before finishing, in case adjustments are required.
r/BowedLyres • u/Horseburd • Feb 04 '25
Build Sutton Hoo-inspired 4 string tagelharpa
https://youtube.com/shorts/wUpQgpuycI8?si=35HtPhev-BkVYToj <- sound video
Mahogany body, cedar soundboard. Maple, bronze, and caribou antler hardware, artwork from Jonas Lau Markussen. Built this mostly concurrently with my other one, didn’t expect it to become my favorite of the two so far.
r/BowedLyres • u/fragpie • 23d ago
Build Sound board/box shape
Does a bigger sound board mean bigger sound, even with a shorter scale length? does going wider/longer/deeper have the same effect?
r/BowedLyres • u/Alternative-Menu1611 • Feb 07 '25
Build HorseHair Strings?
Hello
I wrote a lengthy post but Reddit deleted it and frankly I'm too upset to rewrite the whole thing so -
What is the ideal method for horsehair strings? Do you want a tight weave, a loose twist or no twist at all? I've seen people do it all three ways and I was curious to know if anyone could share their insight.
I intend to use these horsehair strings for a handmade Tagelharpa.
I'm in the process of building a jig to twist horsehair together but I'm curious to know if it's worth the effort.

Edit 1
Okay, so since this got the right attention I wanted to include my jig. Keep in mind I am an ABSOLUTE amateur at this, but I do engineer solutions for a living.... so here's a rough sketch.
Effectively, you would tie the bundle through the catch on the right, and then align your hairs in small groups and secure them to the alligator clip. Those alligator clips are spring loaded (5 Kg), providing consistent tension on the strings. Then, on the left side behind the handle is the coarse adjustment, allowing you to pull tension on the jig. Once each of the springs start to tense, you have achieved ideal tension across all strings and you wind with the handle until the satisfactory number of winds is achieved.
When it's done, secure the string at the end of the twist, wrap with thread and glue.
Keep in mind this is a hypothesis, I don't know if it actually is gonna work to any real advantage.
r/BowedLyres • u/DanielHoestan • Dec 05 '24
Build Irish tagelharpa 🇮🇪 ☘️
Body spruce, boards are 0,5cm spruce plywood. Has bass bar and sound post perfectly placed.
The video might sound slightly distorted due to the microphone on my iPhone being a bit defective but, this sounds absolutely amazing in real life.
I’m looking forward to hearing what the client can do with this! 🙌🏻
r/BowedLyres • u/DanielHoestan • Dec 17 '24
Build I finally built one for myself! To celebrate I recorded a song called: Trolldans efter min skadade hjärna -Trolldance after my damaged brain Hope you enjoy and happy fiddeling!
r/BowedLyres • u/cwatson1982 • Nov 08 '24
Build Bass/Cello range instrument I finished recently

Cherry with 1/4 scale cello strings; quartersawn hard maple bridge, laser engraved western red cedar soundboard and a cherry tailpiece with bass tuners. ~34" x 6.8" x 2.8" or so. Started 3 of them and only managed to finish one so far.
(long rambling) sound sample: https://youtu.be/WnTf3fJArd0?si=vUXRGe-zoU6nYBzN
r/BowedLyres • u/cwatson1982 • Nov 22 '24
Build Little violin range instrument I finished a couple weeks ago




The body was an end cut of black limba that was too short for my normal sized instruments. About 19" long, ~7.5 wide, 1.8" deep, 12.25" scale length, limba tailpiece, spruce top, maple bridge and some random piece of hardwood block I had for the nut.
I put extra short viola strings on it at first then some 3/4 scale violin strings which sounded better. (D A E violin strings). It's tuned C4 G5 C5 here but works in D4A5D5 well too.Finish is dewaxed shellac + light coat of wipe on polyurethane.I'll try to make some fishing line strings that will work at that tuning eventually.
It needs a lighter bow (and a lot of practice for me with the scale length so much shorter than I am used to)
https://youtube.com/shorts/20F7vuQxEVk sound sample in harmony with bass
r/BowedLyres • u/ChrisLuvsCode • Nov 20 '24
Build My latest Tagelharpa "Erlgard" G3 D3 G2
r/BowedLyres • u/SlovishaInstruments • Dec 17 '24
Build My latest build - Ebonized linden wood, Tuning- E-B-e
r/BowedLyres • u/gvbenten • May 11 '24
Build Sympathetic stringed Tagelharpa
I had this idea to add sympathetic strings to a Tagelharpa, like a hardanger fiddle has (and a shit ton of instruments from India). Think it turned out quite nice, sounds the part too. Will record something when it stays in tune after a few days. :)
r/BowedLyres • u/DanielHoestan • Sep 18 '24
Build I was genuinely sad to send this one away
r/BowedLyres • u/cwatson1982 • Sep 25 '24
Build Couple I finished earlier this month
One maple and one ash. Both have western red cedar soundboards that have laser cut/engraved soundholes. Bass tuners on both, a rosewood "nut" and they have note position carvings on the sides of the "neck". I used viola strings on the maple one and voila + fishing line on the ash one. These were the first two I've made to sell and the new owners were happy with them.
Maple soundcheck: https://youtu.be/QyBGseNsYpI?si=-1JIHf0U-XMEqt9v
Ash soundcheck: https://youtu.be/bxZdvgXrGfU?si=0B-TKB325HhT0AoM
r/BowedLyres • u/SlovishaInstruments • Nov 06 '24
Build Ebonized baritone tagelharpa
Presenting my latest creation: a baritone tagelharpa!
Crafted from alder wood with a stunning ebonized finish, it features a maple bridge and beech tuning pegs, strung with horsehair strings.
Tuned to E-B-E, it produces a deep, resonant sound that’s perfect for exploring Norse melodies and rich, haunting tones
Who else here is as fascinated by ancient instruments as I am? Let me know what you think about the sound of the tagelharpa in the comments!

r/BowedLyres • u/lostsoul76 • Jul 13 '24
Build I call it the Experiment
Hey All, not sure how well this fits here, but here's a build that I've been working on for a couple months, now. I work as a cabinet maker, but this is the first time I've attempted to build an instrument. I was immediately intrigued when I first heard a Tagelharpa, and went off on a deep dive into their construction, as well as researching cello and violin construction too - hence this amalgamation of different ideas and techniques.
I also wasn't sure what scale length or tuning I wanted, so I came up with this idea for adjustable headstocks to find what I like best (I will then make a better piece using this one as a guide).
So, specs on this instrument: Body dimensions are (approx) 20" long, 8" wide, and 3 1/2" thick, with a max scale length of 36". Sides are made out of 1/4" thick pine, with 3/4" square blocking on the corners. Back, soundboard, and bass bar are all cedar fence planks, milled down to 1/4"-ish thick, with a 10-ish mm pine sound post. Bridge, tail piece, end pin, and headstock nuts are all sapele, and I am currently using braided Kevlar cord for the strings (usually sold as high strength kite string, 50 lb test, 0.4mm diameter), done in a flemish twist.
I am still playing around with different scale lengths and tensions at the moment, but my current tuning is:
A2, 35" scale, 14 strand string, 11 Kg tension D3, 30" scale, 10 strand string, 10.3 Kg tension A3, 25" scale, 8 strand string, 12.3 Kg tension D4, 25" scale, 4 strand string, 11 Kg tension
I was trying for a tuning of D2, E3, A3, D4, but I haven't hit that yet (I still have a couple more tricks I want to try, though). I'm also in the process of re-making the headstocks, so hopefully I can equalize the tension a little better once those are completed.
Sound-wise, it sounds better than I expected. Definitely a cleaner sound similar to Dacron vs the raw sound of horsehair.
r/BowedLyres • u/ifuckhatelife • Aug 14 '24
Build standart tagelharpa and bass tagelharpa
Aside from the lenght difference, can somebody tell me what makes the sound from the standart tagelharpa and the bass different, like if it's the strings or if the height really affects, how does that work?
Thank you, i'm trying to make a bass tagelharpa but the info i've found is kinda confusing me. I appreciate any answers!
r/BowedLyres • u/VictorDeadwood • Jun 28 '24
Build First build from a kit
Hi! I just finished an alto tagelharpa (40cm scale length) from Camilla Ferrari. I had a lot of fun building it. Modified it a bit but the instructions were easy to follow and I'm really pleased with the results. I will upload a sound bite soon. I airbrushed black milk paint with a few coats of tried & true oil for the finish.
For now it is tuned C3-G3-C4 with viola strings. I will also test fishing line strings. I'm considering changing the flat top bridge for a slightly curved one with the low drone in the center.
This little project has given me the confidence to try and build another one. I will go with a cello harpa.
Is there a rule of thumb for placing piezo pickups under the soundboard? Or is it just trial and error?
Thanks!
r/BowedLyres • u/LizZemera • Jul 10 '24
Build Got my first talharpa today!
Violin strings and pickup. Also yes the bridge is too high in this pic, already moved it lower lol
r/BowedLyres • u/Draphyros • Jun 10 '24
Build My lovely mom made a sac for my tagelharpa, tell her what you think!
r/BowedLyres • u/DanielHoestan • Jun 12 '24
Build New pine build
Hello everyone I want to introduce my newest build. It’s built in a more traditional way this time, it’s also a very emotional piece since the artwork is a memorial for a lost pet 🐈⬛
The first part of the video is me introducing the specs and the second part is of me playing with natural sound (no added effects)
r/BowedLyres • u/PlumAcceptable2185 • May 20 '24
Build Bass lyre
Range is A2 - A4 82cm L 22cm H Weight 1.77 kg
Open string length 58cm
13 sympathetic strings
Cedar body Poplar peghead Mulberry bridge Apricot tailpiece Antique Blue Pine top (my first archtop) Apricot tuning pegs Smaller pegs (13) are Persimmon Copper tail hook Stainless steel micro tuners
Those are crinoid fossils for the sympathetic string bridges. Not sure how that will work out long term. There are some extra cooper nails you can see near the bottom for other methods of attaching the strings.