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Post by FireBall on May 21, 2009 17:04:01 GMT -5
Hey.. you guys know anything about autoharps? My father-in-law bought this one to resell. He is wanting to know what the thing is worth.. I don't have a clue. I can't determine the age of the autoharp, there are no dates or serial numbers on this thing anywhere. I have the original owners manual and tuning wrench, but again there is not date. The paperwork is old, but again, there aren't any dates. The autoharp is a Oscar Schmidt. I believe this to be a "B" model based off of the owners manual. Any ideas??  |
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Post by sumgai on May 21, 2009 17:13:43 GMT -5
FB, Your pic isn't clear enough....... is that a real wood top? If so, then it's pre-war (WWII). If it's bakelite, then it's WWII-era or later. They went back to wood sometme in the 60's, but you can tell the quality just isn't the same. Even with old strings it should really ring out, with great tone. Newer ones are, again, appreciably less capable in the tone department. Value is always up to the buyer, never the seller. I have no idea of what someone would pay in other parts of the community we laughingly call a global village, but around my block, a WWII or older unit would easily fetch $200, a 60's or newer unit about a quarter of that. (Given a condition befitting its age, of course.) No date on the documentation? Not even a copyright date, in tiny print?  I bet the mafIAA would throw a fit about that, if'n they ever found out!  HTH sumgai |
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Post by ChrisK on May 21, 2009 17:36:33 GMT -5
See if there's a zip code in the address. This will tell you about when it was printed (before or after the mid '60s). |
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Post by FireBall on May 21, 2009 17:57:51 GMT -5
The autoharp is made of solid wood. I change the image location to ImageShack so you should be able to get a better view by clicking the thumbnail.
I can't find any print information dating at all. The zip code by the way is 07083. Interesting.. at the top the one insert that came with the autoharp has a cable address: Zitherco What is that about?
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Post by ChrisK on May 21, 2009 18:46:41 GMT -5
So the manual was printed in or after the mid '60s.
?Some company that made zithers?
?What's a cable? ( ;D ;D )
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Post by ux4484 on May 21, 2009 18:49:51 GMT -5
In case you didn't search; Zither is another name for a primitive Autoharp, and was later used to describe both instruments in some circles. I too have an all wood Autoharp sitting in storage in my basement (My Mom bought it at a garage sale 40 years ago). As I have seen again and again over the years on ebay and elsewhere, old autoharps don't really have any value, because they almost always need serious work and a full restringing (strings run 50-150 bucks and takes hours to do). As you can see from a search, prices range from $70 to $500, the low end being the old ones like you and I have, and new Oscar Schmidt models being the high end. Zip 07803 is in New Jersey. Given that Oscar builds them in NJ, good chance of whoever they swallowed made your harp. My third grade teacher pulled out the Autoharp three days a week, she had us singing to that droning never-in-tune strumming constantly  (A-GO-NY) I've only ever seen a handful of players who could REALLY play one where it actually sounded like music...most of those are bluegrass players. Happy Zithering! |
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Post by ChrisK on May 21, 2009 19:03:17 GMT -5
?Zitherco?
;D ;D
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Post by cynical1 on May 21, 2009 21:54:19 GMT -5
For those of you still playing at home:
[USELESS FACT]
Cable Address
A code word of less than 10 characters, registered annually with the Central Bureau of Registered Addresses, used in lieu of the entire name and address of a firm sending or receiving cablegrams. Its purpose is to reduce the number of words and thus the cost of a cable.
[/USELESS FACT]
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by newey on May 21, 2009 22:17:50 GMT -5
IIRC, zip codes were introduced in 1966, so it's probably after that. But the cable address indicates not much later than that; by the later '60s or early '70s a Telex number would be more likely to be printed. |
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Post by cynical1 on May 21, 2009 22:57:05 GMT -5
You know, this is almost like an episode of the Antiques Road Show...guess we all need to get out more...
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by sumgai on May 22, 2009 0:53:48 GMT -5
......
I've only ever seen a handful of players who could REALLY play one where it actually sounded like music...most of those are bluegrass players. You wouldn't be forgetting John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful, would you? Nor the many other jug bands that use the instrument much more extensively than most bluegrass groups. sumgai |
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Post by ChrisK on May 22, 2009 10:25:51 GMT -5
My favorite (fake) telegram is the half-page one that says:
F... YOU STOP
STRONG LETTER TO FOLLOW STOP
I have a copy of it somewhere.....
When I showed to younger folk they said.............................."What's a telegram?"
In fact (or fiction), I believe that the last one was sent last year. (It might have been the moneygram, I don't remember, I'm old.)
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Post by newey on May 23, 2009 0:27:58 GMT -5
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Post by ux4484 on May 23, 2009 9:48:30 GMT -5
......
I've only ever seen a handful of players who could REALLY play one where it actually sounded like music...most of those are bluegrass players. You wouldn't be forgetting John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful, would you? Nor the many other jug bands that use the instrument much more extensively than most bluegrass groups. sumgai Not to slight, but I try to forget the Lovin' Spoonful and jug bands if I at all can.... ;D |
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Post by ux4484 on May 23, 2009 9:55:45 GMT -5
"Ding dong"
"Who's there?"
cable gram
"Who?"
Zitherco
"Who?"
John Sebastian
"Is this some kind of Joke?"
Sorry Mamn...it's the Autoharp jug band
......This is good stuff! ;D
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Post by sumgai on May 23, 2009 11:38:50 GMT -5
ux, You do realize, I hope, that The Lovin' Spoonful is recognized as the only band, ever, to release all of it's entire output without ever once using a negative connotation. They never produced one negative song, not about anything. This is, without a doubt, the one thing that pisses off most musicians, the fact that they made it big on being 100% positive in their outlook, which of course is what informed their music. Some say that it was all sugary and sunshiney, and that it wasn't realistic, but then again, I'd say that they never walked a mile in JS's shoes, so they're shooting from the hip, and it's missing the mark by a mile. Not that they are my favorite band, indeed they're like Number One Thousand on my personal charts, or somewhere close down there.  But I gotta give 'em credit where it's due, they do hold a record (pun quite intended) that's pretty unique. This, coming from a true Dickhead! ;D sumgai |
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Post by FireBall on May 24, 2009 8:09:57 GMT -5
My favorite (fake) telegram is the half-page one that says: F... YOU STOP STRONG LETTER TO FOLLOW STOP I have a copy of it somewhere..... When I showed to younger folk they said.............................."What's a telegram?" In fact (or fiction), I believe that the last one was sent last year. (It might have been the moneygram, I don't remember, I'm old.) Whats a telegram?? So you think I should put some active pickups in this thing and use it for a wah solo??  ;D |
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Post by newey on May 24, 2009 8:53:58 GMT -5
Well, those weren't active pups in 1967! If you look closely, it looks like he has several single-coils, at an angle with the strings, in there. And some knobs at the bottom, presumably V and T.
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Post by FireBall on May 24, 2009 10:11:35 GMT -5
I was thinking since about EMG 81's....about 5 or 8 of them.. and maybe detuning the thing!! Maybe instead of a wah, I could use a voice box.. That would be hilarious!!
Man.. I couldn't play that thing if I had too!! I thought about tuning it.. but them I turned the TV on.. ;D
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Post by ux4484 on May 24, 2009 22:10:22 GMT -5
ux, You do realize, I hope, that The Lovin' Spoonful is recognized as the only band, ever, to release all of it's entire output without ever once using a negative connotation. They never produced one negative song, not about anything. sumgai That doesn't mean their songs never had negative consequences Being a tike when "Do you believe in magic" and "Summer in the City" were orginally out and played soooOOOoooo many times by my older siblings.... by 1969; I had already had my spoon-fill.... Then, 10 years later I had to play "Summer in the City" in a band (against my will).... they are one of the bands I can't change the station fast enough when I hear them. I'm not taking anything away from them, just don't care for them, that's all. I remember us having a similar discussion about REO a while back ;D. Back O.T. I'm thinkin' a few seven string bar pups would do nicely as a time waster project on an Autoharp, or maybe a fishman or the like. |
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Post by newey on May 24, 2009 22:33:38 GMT -5
Ux- I'm with you on REO (ugh!). But I do like the Lovin' Spoonful. Seems to me we had a "janusjones" stop by a while back, he was building a solid-body, 12 pickup, 36 string autoharp, using bass strings and a 40" length. We, of course, encouraged this aberrant behavior. |
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Post by sumgai on May 25, 2009 0:41:34 GMT -5
ux,
Before you scour the local shops for second hand magnetic pickups, you might consider......
What kind of strings are currently installed? As I recall the story, many early autoharps used strings meant for an acoustic guitar, which of course means bronze, not necessarily steel. Perhaps a piezo pickup might suit your needs/desires, by allowing you to install the strings that sound the best on the harp, instead of forcing you to use steel strings only.
Just a thought, lonely as it was......
sumgai
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Post by FireBall on May 25, 2009 7:33:48 GMT -5
Well.. I'm sad to say that the autoharp is gone.. My father-in-law came by yesterday and picked the thing up. Just as I was digging out the router, dremel, and files... soldering gun and scowering the net for some 36 string active pickups and a 36 string tremolo...
All kidding aside. He did pick up the autoharp. I really appreciate all your help in trying to figure out the thing. It was pretty interesting playing with it. It needed some TLC. He found a lady that is interested in purchasing the autoharp.
Maybe I can come up with another instrument to discuss.. like a guitar or something.
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Post by KIIMH on May 25, 2009 9:07:55 GMT -5
Maybe I can come up with another instrument to discuss.. like a guitar or something. a wutt? |
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Post by cynical1 on May 25, 2009 9:49:20 GMT -5
Maybe I can come up with another instrument to discuss.. like a guitar or something. a wutt? Kyle - Go play in traffic...ssssssssssssmite |
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Post by KIIMH on May 25, 2009 9:57:27 GMT -5
Kyle - Go play in traffic...ssssssssssssmite i dont no wutt you mean ... i dont no what my gurlfren mother mean wen she sez im gonna end up as a speedbmup zither anyway, Yesssss! 30! whowho! well -30im revurse outdoing dum d2o klye  |
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Post by cynical1 on May 25, 2009 15:48:29 GMT -5
...and remember, kylehead, while you're playing in traffic...if the nice man offers you candy...get in the car with him...
sssssssssssssmite....
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Post by ashcatlt on May 25, 2009 16:00:24 GMT -5
ux, Before you scour the local shops for second hand magnetic pickups, you might consider...... What kind of strings are currently installed? As I recall the story, many early autoharps used strings meant for an acoustic guitar, which of course means bronze, not necessarily steel. Perhaps a piezo pickup might suit your needs/desires, by allowing you to install the strings that sound the best on the harp, instead of forcing you to use steel strings only. Just a thought, lonely as it was...... sumgai From what I know, bronze strings work okay (maybe not great) with magnetic pickups. Most of these strings have steel cores. The bronze windings add mass to slow down the vibrations, but it's the steel core that the pickup will sense as dragging around the magnetic field. On the other hand Oscar Schmidt sells an autoharp pickup which isn't too terrible expensive. I think it's a piezo, but it doesn't give much information. Schatten also has one, which I believe to be basically a piezo element "contact mic". Not sure how it's different from their banjo or mandolin pickups, honestly... |
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Post by newey on May 25, 2009 20:32:05 GMT -5
I have used a few bronze strings on my electric over the years, just a single one here and there as a make-do replacement after breaking a string.
They do work. But all the things I don't like about them on an acoustic are accentuated through the mag pickups.
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Post by D2o on May 26, 2009 8:47:34 GMT -5
I have used a few bronze strings on my electric over the years, just a single one here and there as a make-do replacement after breaking a string. They do work. But all the things I don't like about them on an acoustic are accentuated through the mag pickups. How about D'addario Silk and Steels to mellow things out? |
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I bet the mafIAA would throw a fit about that, if'n they ever found out! 
(A-GO-NY) I've only ever seen a handful of players who could REALLY play one where it actually sounded like music...most of those are bluegrass players. 
But I gotta give 'em credit where it's due, they do hold a record (pun quite intended) that's pretty unique.
;D
