| Lever Adjustments |
| Lever adjustment is something that needs to be done periodically, usually due to wear (constant engaging/dis-engaging) loose fixing screw, string wear, or different gauge string re-placement being the usual reasons..... Usually it is best to have a service done by the/a Harpmaker but this is often not practical, if that is the case,some adjustments can be done by someone who is handy and with a bit of care. The following is some instances in what can be done. |
| Loose Lever This is not much of a problem.....all you will need is a #1 Phillips screwdriver and your Chromatic Electronic Tuner. (1) It is best to lay your harp flat on a table, levers up, with the Head closest to you. (2) Align the lever parallel to the string and tighten the holding screw. (3) While the lever is disengaged.....tune the string to its correct pitch. (4) Engage the lever.....and test the pitch for accuracy. If when the lever is engaged, the semitone is inaccurate.....you will need to follow the LEVER ADJUSTMENT section. |
| Lever Adjustments (also refer to this when installing levers.) If your string is correctly pitched when the lever is dis-engaged, but the semitone when the lever is engaged is in-accurate....then the lever will need some adjustment. You will need a #1 Phillips screwdriver, a CHROMATIC Electronic Tuner and if you need to make a new screwhole: a small Bradawl. (1) It is best to lay your harp flat on a table, levers up, with the Head closest to you. (2) Align the lever parallel to the string and tighten the holding screw. (3) While the lever is disengaged.....tune the string to its correct pitch. (4) Engage the lever.....and test the pitch for accuracy. If when the lever is engaged, the semitone is inaccurate.....you will need to follow the continuing instructions below. (5) onwards. (5) After following the above..... While the lever is engaged.....test the pitch with your Chromatic Tuner....If the pitch is too low, loosen the screw enough so that it can be moved down minutely (towards the base) within the slot, while simultaniously plucking the string and observing the pitch on your tuner.....until correct pitch is observed. (6) Then hold the lever in place whilst you tighten the screw )making sure that it is aligned paralell with the string. Thats all there is to it. If while the lever is engaged, the semitone pitch is too high.....follow the instructions (5).... but minutely move the lever towards the tuning peg instead of the base. Well done.....You are now a Harp Technician. |
| Before making any adjustments There are a number of things that can cause levers to pitch incorrectly..... (1) Worn strings....lever engaging and disengaging over time will wear strings causing the semitone to be inaccurate due to thinning string at the engaging area...use a magnifying glass to check wear, and replace string if wear shows. (2) Lever not aligned paralell with string.....to correct this slightly loosen the lever, align it to the string , hold it tight whilst re-tightening screw. (3) Incorrect string gauge used when re-placing a broken string...... This can cause the semitone pich to be inaccurate. Remedy: Look very closely at the strings......as the strings go from Low to High, every second or third string will be either the same thickness as the string before it or will be incrementaly thinner, you may need to check strings with a Dial Micrometer and a makers String Chart. DENWAR HARPS have String Charts for all their harps on HARP HELPS section in: www.harpsales.com |
| Installing more levers If you have already purchased a DENWAR HARP and wish to add more levers as you progress.....this can be done with a few tools, a little care,patience and dexterity of hand.... 3 days BEFORE you attempt installation.... Tune your open strings to the correct pitches, noting that the Bs & Es should be flattened (this should be done & re-done over a period of 3 days, prior to installing levers, so that they stay in that pitch) You should now have your string pitches (Octaves, from Red to Red, running up the strings Low to High. C, D, Eb, F , G, A, Bb, C .....continuous up the harp. You will need a #1 Phillips screwdriver, a CHROMATIC Electronic Tuner and if you need to make a new screwhole: a small Bradawl. NOW LETS START INSTALLING (1) It is best to lay your harp flat on a table, levers up, with the Head closest to you. (2) As you do each string, check it with your Electronic CHROMATIC Tuner to see if it is still in pitch. (3) place a lever (of the correct size) under the string ,with the handle in the 'engaged' position (toward the top of the head) Gently move the lever Up or Down the string whilst looking at the Tuner, until it is the correct Semitone pitch (making sure the lever is aligned parallel to the string....hold it firmly in place and make a hole with a Bradawl centre of the slot (centred both length & width of the slot....(if you don't centre the width, the lever will not engage correctly later, and you will have to fill in the hole with a matchstick and start again) Place a screw in the hole and tighten it until it almost holds.... then flip the lever towards the base, check that the lever is centred vertically in the slot and is parallel to the string, then tighten it fully. (4) Check with your tuner that the Semitone is correct when engaged.....if it is...CONGRATULATIONS...you have done it. If not, you will have to loosen the screw slightly and move it slightly (ever so!) down towards the base to raise the pitch/ or towards the top of the head to lower the pitch. (remember: PATIENCE & DEXTERITY) NB. You may need to read the 'LEVER ADJUSTMENT' section above, for more insight. |