Organology: Harp Guitar "Relatives"
Updated December, 2013

Note to the casual reader or researcher: This Reference Gallery features historical instruments that are not harp guitars, but “relatives” or distant “cousins” – presented on Harpguitars.net for historical and organological comparison.

Sympathetic String Guitars
by Gregg Miner

See bottom of page for image copyright information
Thomas Zach (att), Prague, 1850 or 1856 Porcel, Barcelona, 1867 Hartman, 1897, Pat #586,032 Lerro, 1898,
Pat #600,586

 

Englund, 1899,
Pat #616,908 		Flemmings, 1902,
 Pat #711,203 		Bohmann "tone bars," 1915, Pat #1,128,217

The patent version uses 4 metal "tone bars" to provide sympathetic vibrations.

 Bohmann, c.1910

Though the 6 sympathetics inside the body of this specimen are described as "strings," I am virtually certain that they are the same metal rods seen on all similar Bohmanns as described in the patent at left. See Frets.com for a similar instrument (Frank Ford incorrectly describes them as "strings" also).

Olsen, 1924, Pat #1,489,710 Sternheimer, France, 1985

Patent # 2,565,016

 

Danelectro Coral Sitar
12 strings tuned chromatically, no strummed		 Fred Carlson
"Bubbles"
12 internal sympathetic strings		 Dubriulle

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