Woodworker's Journal 1994-18-2, страница 50

A (hough the psaltery was a popular instrument during the Renaissance. its history is tar older. As chronicled in the old testament book of Daniel, around 600 B.C.. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all his subjects should tall down before his golden idol when they "heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery..." Those who failed to heed this advice were to be tossed into a handy oven.

No doubt you won't fall to worship

ping a golden idol—or anything else— upon hearing the sweet sounds of our psaltery, but this is one instance when a CD version of the Journal would help you appreciate just how special this little instrument is. Depending on how it's played, the sound can be reminiscent of oriental or near-eastern instruments, or even of a court musician in King Arthur's castle. But best of all. it's really easy to play. Even without help from the available hook and (ape (see Kit Sources), you'll be ha\ ing fun right from the start.

Once you've completed the psaltery, you'll have not only a thing of beauty, but a fully functional, professional in

strument. crafted of the finest available materials and capable of producing thoroughly captivating sounds.

Gather Materials

As with many of our recent projects, we've worked with kit suppliers to put together both a hardware and a stock kit for this project (see Kit Sources). The stock kit we've listed offers two choices— Bolivian rosewood, or the co-cobolo shown in the photograph. Boli

vian rosewood is an exotic wood like co-cobolo, but is less costly at this time, which is why we've offered it as an option. The stock kit supplier will quote prices lor other woods on request.

The stock kit includes the solid Sitka spruce soundboard (A), plus the stock for the sides (B>. end (C). bottom (D), bridge (E), rosette (F), and bow (G. H. 1). All stock is thickncsscd to final size, but cut slightly oversize in length and width. The actual final length of the sides, the lengths and widths of the soundboard and bottom, and the sizes of the rosette and bow parts may differ slightly from the dimensions shown in the Bill of Materials after the instrument corners are

rounded and the rosette and bow parts are shaped.

The hardware kit includes all the hardware you'll need, including the tuning pins (J), brass bridge pin rod (K). string wire (I.I. fell feet <P>, plus the screws (O). brass brads (N) and ribbon IM) for the bow. Also included in your hardware kit is rosin for the bow. Note that 24 of the 4X tuning pins must be notched at the top to accept the strings. Your hardware kit will have these tuning pins pre-

nolched. but if you buy the pins elsewhere. you'll need to file the notches yourself.

(iet To Work

The psaltery shown was built by Connecticut woodworker Dave Moretti, and Dave tells us it's really a simple construction. We recommend that you use epoxy instead of regular woodworking glue for this construction. The epoxy has better adhesive qualities on exotic woods such as the Bolivian rosewood or co-cobolo supplied in the stock kit.

Start construction by cutting the sides and ends to their I in. width. Next, miter the ends of the end (how rhetorical! > to

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t he WiHUdttoffcer's Jimmjil