Harp mandolins

**Keith Erickson** · Mar-18-2007, 1:23pm

Hello & good morning to All,

Just a couple of questions on those harp mandolins.

How do you play them and in which types of music are they most prominantly featured?

Are those harp strings used like drones?

Thanks a bunch

**delsbrother** · Mar-18-2007, 2:14pm

However you want, who knows, and yes and no.

There are so few historical examples with sub bass strings; it's anyone's guess how they were played in the past.

Nowadays the sky's the limit... Though I'd guess there are fewer than 20 actual sub-bass playing harp mandolinists in the whole world, and that's being REALLY conservative (the number tied to the amount of actual sub-bass harp mandolins, I suppose). Gregg Miner does some intricate thumb-fingerpicking on his vintage Knutsen...

**Keith Erickson** · Mar-19-2007, 1:02pm

On those harp strings, what are the notes they are tuned to?

Are there any recordings of harp mandolins?

Thanks a bunch

**JeffD** · Mar-19-2007, 1:27pm

They look kind of wierd. Like something from another solar system.

**jmcgann** · Mar-19-2007, 1:36pm

That little girl of mine from Alpha 13...I know she'll be waiting there for me...

**JEStanek** · Mar-19-2007, 3:08pm

Check out the Gregg Miner Music Museum page. There should be links to tunes recorded with one. Sample here.

Jamie

**delsbrother** · Mar-19-2007, 6:49pm

Hmmm. Don't think there's sub-basses on any of those, but Gregg'll correct me if I'm wrong. The ones without sub-basses sound like... (wait for it) Mandolins! Though I suppose they're louder due to the increased size of the instrument. The one or two I've heard that have the subs do sound different, even if you don't play the extra strings (they resonate in a cool and mysterious way

).

If you go to the builders' sites (linked through the eye-candy section) they have suggested tunings to try. I think "Tone" from the Rex James outfit has some playing tips on his site too.

I admit I have never tried any of them, as I don't have a harp mandolin! But come to think of it, I have a "spare" Mandobird laying about...

**delsbrother** · Mar-19-2007, 6:53pm

Originally Posted by (JeffD @ Mar. 19 2007, 14:27)

They look kind of wierd. Like something from another solar system.

Nah, they're from Santa Cruz.

**David Newton** · Mar-19-2007, 10:21pm

I built a reproduction of the Knutsen HM#2 (Knutsen Archive) see a small pic on the eye candy harp mando page. Tuning the sub-basses is a personal preference, within a range of course. There is no historical data on tuning, but generally an octave lower than the main strings. I'm not really a player, but it is like having a guitar there to do some rolling base notes. The bass notes really are mezmerizing, you would be surprised how well they work.
Here's the page to see:
http://www.harpguitars.net/knutsen/mandolins.htm

**Gregg Miner** · Aug-17-2007, 7:04pm

While searching, I spotted this thread (and noticed several other old harp mandolin threads).
Darrell was uncharacteristically confused above - there are only 5 Knutsen harp mandos with subs known currently (4 in the Knutsen Archives, 1 not yet listed). #Incidentally, yes, those withOUT subs are still called harp mandolins (Dyer made have started the practice), as they mimic the hollow arm shape of the Knutsen and Dyer harp guitars (I CLASSIFY them as "hollow arms" or "psuedo harp-" however...).
There may now be more NEW "true harp" mandos than old. #Dave from Texas, Sedgwick's, Tone Powell, those cheap, cheesy new Tropical Moon instruments (they also BADLY copied a Bruno harp guitar image from my site) and a few other's (everything is pretty up to date on my site here:
http://www.harpguitars.net/history/org/org-related.htm )
So far, we haven't found any clue as to a "historical tuning" for these extra basses suggested by Knutsen or anyone. #Nor have we a clue as to how they might have been played. #I suspect most likely with a pick in a bass note>chord pattern, or equally likely, not using the subs at all (as many harp guitarists did back in the day). #I've played my black one with a pick at the Harp Guitar Gathering on occasion, and written a fingerstyle piece for my walnut one. #It's recorded and hopefully will see release eventually. #Meanwhile, here's a brief clip of it live at the Museum of Making Music's Harp Guitar Exhibit (yes, Eugene, with European "bass guitars" and everything!) Opening Night (sound and lighting are terrible, I'm afraid).
Click on "View a Video" to the left of Bennett's picture.
The piece is "The Friends I Finally Met" - part parody, part loveing tribute to my tapping, slapping, rapping, Hedges-loving HG pals.
http://www.nctimes.com/article...._07.txt

**David Newton** · Aug-17-2007, 8:47pm

Here's Gregg!
Welcome to the huddle, Gregg, and for pulling this one up from the past. I've sort of started on another harp-mando, but guitars have gotten all of my attention lately.
Before I shipped my Knutsen Repro out to Ca, I did get to play it for a while, and having those bass strings there is pretty mezmerizing. It's not for everyone, of course, but if you get a chance to strum one, you should.
By the way, it was Greggs rendition of "Little Martha" on the Knutsen in Tacoma that got me to build one.