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2009 Kathy Wingert "Mini" Harp Guitar
A beautiful
highest quality
short-scale instrument for players with smaller hands
and/or
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Another instrument that I know very personally! In 2009, Kathy decided to try a short-scale harp guitar, and brought the finished project over for me to examine. At the time, she explained that she decided to build this 21-1/2" scale harp guitar after a series of unrelated factors made her realize the many advantages. Her soundboard wood supplier had shorted her on the length of some sets, and she had a long set of cocobolo that couldn't quite work for a full size HG. Why not put them to use, and with shop space at a premium, why not build yet another model? A gifted guitarist/singer herself, she found that capoing a harp guitar "is impossible to understand," so tuning up the entire instrument a fourth would make more sense. Tuned up to A, she realized that "with half of what I sing capoed on the 4th fret, requinto tuning would be off by only half a step." The key reason she built it? "Because it's just so dang much fun!" A year later I visited her at her home and she was tuning it a whole step up (2 frets, rather than 5). While there, I was able to A-B compare it directly against Pete Bradshaw's full-size Wingert HG and also my Dyer, which by coincidence was currently strung and tuned to a higher, vaguely “terz” tuning, so the pitch range was similar to hers. The unanimous opinion was that this somewhat smaller instrument sounded amazing (especially the highest fretted notes) and in no way suffers to its smaller size and shorter scale length. Below: Kathy in 2009 (in my old museum room) and 2010 (at her home) with her baby. Note how the instrument looks perfectly proportional to her.
This was Kathy's 5th harp guitar, and as all her others, I can safely state that workmanship, design, fit and finish, and tone simply does not get any better than this. It features Kathy's standard imported Italian spruce top, with the aforementioned cocobolo back and sides. The neck is mahogany and ebony completes the wood list - including the narrow arm bevel on both top and back! Fancy black, maroon & white binding (in a myriad of layers!) is featured on the top and black & white is on the back. Two clear pickguards were added on either side of the 12 strings by the previous owner. The instrument has been infrequently played and condition is excellent. The current owner (a high-end 6-string player and collector) got it in a trade and is the second owner (not counting Kathy). He provides these specifics on condition: "I had my friend and long time luthier, Yukon Stubblebine look everything over. The small circular dot on top in front of the bridge was a ding that Yukon filled with lacquer. And if you look carefully in the center of the top behind the bridge (parallel w/ strings) there was a very tight seam separation that He said didn't require cleats. He humidified, clamped and wicked hide glue into this tight crack. If you look carefully at the cutaway side of guitar where fretboard meets the top, there's a small 2" length where the lacquer has become opaque; it's not a crack or separation. As for any other scuffs or scratches, if I hold it in daylight and spin it, I honestly can't find any to speak of."
The owner further describes action (which can be adjusted) and top deflection behind the bridge),
saying "it plays beautifully and action is excellent. When you look
across the top behind the bridge, soundboard deflection is hardly
perceptible." It comes with its original Cedar Creek hardshell, foam-lined case. The key draw to this rare instrument is its short neck and smaller size. I know the latter has become extremely popular based on the amount of parlor Timberline harp guitars we've been selling since I designed that one. Many players - men, women, youngsters - are picking up these easy-to-play instruments. This instrument, though, has an even shorter scale at 21-1/2". Future owners can experiment with string gauges and may find themselves choosing to tune to standard pitch. But part of the fun, I think, is having the option to use a standard set of your favortie guitar strings on the neck and tune them up to where you think it sounds best! You'll want to be careful with the sub-basses, however - but once you decide on a tuning, I'll waive my $20 tension calculation to help you with that. The instrument is in the Boston area and can be played and picked up there if desired. Otherwise, shipping will be quoted to U.S. customers. For those of you who prefer smaller instruments and/or shorter scales, you do not want to miss this incredibly rare opportunity - especially if you've lusted after a serious instrument or a Kathy Wingert harp guitar in particular. Kathy's current base price for a harp guitar is now "$31,000 with mahogany back and sides and a very fine Italian spruce top," but she is no longer taking orders. Though the owner of this instrument is in no hurry to sell, do feel free to call to discuss or make a (reasonable) counteroffer if you like! -Gregg "Sir Gregory" Miner |
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Specifications:
$16,000
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Harp Guitar Music
PO Box 401
Middlefield CT 06455
USA
(860) 894-7504
