Kit - Kovac Experimental Harp - The Basic Pine Harp, 26 Strings (No Wood)

Build your own inexpensive John Kovac-designed 26 String folk harp, the Basic Pine Harp from our kit full plans & kit set.

Includes full-sized cut-out templates with instructions & specifications for your harp!

WOOD NOT INCLUDED in this BASIC Kit! (But it is easy to obtain from your local home & hardware retailer or lumber company.)

See our NEW Deluxe Pine Harp Kit which includes Pre-Cut, Shaped & Drilled Pinewood. You simply put it together and add a recommended surface finish, such as Primer & Paint.

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This original Kovac model Pine Harp is a Paraguayan-inspired, lightweight & compact 26-string folk harp for DIYs on a budget but, want to get into harping inexpensively, and sooner than later.

The Pine Harp is where you provide the wood while we provide the complete plans, instructions, & specifications, hardware & strings. The harp is based on using widely available, ordinary, or higher-quality pine.  Be sure there are no holes or knots that might fall out later & weaken the critical structure of the harp.

This is a relatively fast and very easy project to get a harp student, beginning adult or child, up and running, playing the harp with very little upfront expense or investment into uncertain, future musicians.

The Pine Harp's strings are a bit lighter in string tension & closer spacing. 

The harp's scale starts at its low C and ends about 3.5 Octaves above it (G).

Plans with Full-size templates are included. We include a supplemental instructional DVD to assist in assembly using your own provided, choice woods. The DVD-formatted disc also has a section on tuning and playing by ear. The DVD is not necessary to build your harp.

The Pine Harp is simple to put together & can be assembled in about a day or so using basic hand tools. Stringing & tuning will take several hours more. Surface finishing could take a day or two longer, depending on your chosen finish & method of application.

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See John Kovac's classic Pine Harp Demo Video #1 on YouTube.

Here is Demo Video #2.

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The plan set includes:

• Complete Kit Assembly Instructions with Full-Sized Templates
• Supplemental Instructional DVD

• Parts include:
  

  • 26 Nylon Monofilament Strings (offered in red Cs/blue Fs only)
  • 26 String Beads (for knots)
  • 26 String Tuning Machines, Chrome, White Knobs
  • All Necessary Component Hardware per plans
    
  • 2 Rubber Feet with Screws
  • 1 String Winder
  • The customer is to provide all wood, finishes, glues, non-standard hardware, assembly, etc.

Electronic Note e-Tuners are available at an optional cost. 

• See our Harp Resources pages for further resources

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 Samples of plan & included kit materials:

 Hardware below may show optional parts, etc.

Note: These plans are offered in their as-is, original & historical format. Some easy, linear extrapolation of the templates may be required at a few points. See our notice here.

Please note our shipping policy for all kits:  S/H Policy

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NOTE: Yes, it is OK to add your own sound-box to the back of the harp's soundboard, where the strings attach. The larger the box, the louder the harp will sound, it will resonate more and the bass will become deeper. Only, be sure to include something to take it off or other so you can get access to the strings. Email us for suggestions.

And, you can upgrade the quality of the wood (but, not suggested without using a sound-box). Recognized tonewoods are better if you plan to upgrade from pine or white wood (not hardwoods). Using more stable tonewoods than pine will give the harp a much better sound and durability for many more years. However, many have used the default pine successfully. Properly built, the harp will last a good long while.

Or, if not now, you can take the harp apart in the future and upgrade to higher quality, more durable tonewoods later, reusing its existing strings & hardware.

As a builder, I'd recommend you consider using paint &/or a clear surface finish (like spray lacquer or a brushed Polycrylic [stronger], for example) for this type of suggested softwood (pine). This is because pine will very often NOT take stains, etc., even if using wood pre-stain preparations no matter how well sanded, etc.

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Go to Harp Resources Page

If you make a mistake on your harp, even if not caused by us, please, notify us right away and we will see how we can help you to complete your harp anyway. You never know how we might be able to help you, which is our goal; for you to be successful in your harp building & playing! We won't abandon you in your harp-building process after the purchase, either. Let's work together!

• It is less expensive for you if we add shipping separately for each complete order instead of hiding it within increased prices for each & every one of our products while making the bogus claim you are getting "free" shipping & handling. No Carrier ships for free!

• Please, be aware Black Friday, Christmas Season, weather-related emergencies & various man-made disasters often delay deliveries; often without notice to us or you. JK Harps accept no liability for such delays that are always beyond our control.

• REMINDER: String Tuning Mechanisms & Wound Bass Strings may have a back-order delay in shipping of approximately two (2) to three (3) weeks due to their custom nature. 

• When any delayed orders finally ship, you will be immediately notified by routine email.

• All orders will be tracked and you can be updated, via carrier email, if you choose, as the process goes along.
• All orders are fully insured per standard carrier insurance services.
• All shipping & handling will include standard fees for shipping materials & order handling.
• A viable shipping address is required and we are not responsible for orders not deliverable at your end. (P.O. Boxes & A.P.O.'s are not qualified deliverable addresses; no exceptions.)
• Any orders over $100 will require a delivery signature at the address you provided for shipment receiving before you can receive your order.

PRE-BUILT HARPS 

• Pre-built, USED harps are only available for local pickup at our Georgetown, Kentucky harp-making shop.
• Pre-built NEW harps are available for local pickup (as above), or can be shipped to your Zip Code within the Continental USA only. 
• Contact us first to obtain a shipping estimate for shipping to your Zip Code. 
• After you purchase your new harp online (if to be shipped) you will be given a second link via email or text message so you can pay for the Shipping Fee for your new harp. (Your harp will not ship until after the Shipping Fee is paid.)
• A nominal, flat Shipping Handling Fee of $25 will be added to your order upon payment for your harp.

• See the harp's description & shipping directions for any further details.

DAMAGE to SHIPMENT

• You must check your delivery for any damage or loss immediately upon its arrival in the unlikely event of any shipping issues with the product caused by the 3rd party, the delivery carrier.

• Take pictures, if possible, and notify the Carrier immediately of any damages to or missing order(s). (Within 24 hours or less.) John Kovac Harps by Davy C (David J Clark, Agent) will not be held responsible for damage to or losses of orders done while in transit. Claims will be made to the shipping carrier immediately in such cases. (But, inform us also to keep us in the loop if anything might be done on our end.)

• If you fail to notify the carrier in a timely manner and the claim gets rejected, you may forfeit your right to redress with the shipping carrier.

• For clarification, but not in all cases, once you make a claim with your delivering shipment carrier, and they approve your claim & finally pay your for your loss or damages, then you will forward us that payment. Once cleared with our financial institution, then we will immediately ship out to you a replacement order(s). 

Photo Credit: Matthew Henry