James Jones Folk Harp #38

Background: This beautiful 36-string harp was made by Bedford, VA instrument maker, James Jones. It is a beautiful piece of work, in Eastern Hard Curly Maple and Sitka Spruce. Living in northern Virginia, a lack of winter humidity caused movement of the column. The knee plate took pressure from string tension. Finally the soundbox also warped at the bottom no longer able to be flat against the base.

Repairs: The harp was de-strung and disassembled from the bottom. The column was pressed back into place though still about three-eighths of an inch past the bottom. The column was cut with a Japanese Dozuki Saw and then leveled with a hand plane. The soundboard base was then leveled, and all the attachment points were repaired.