success

Well, I have tried every combination of mics, soundproofing and twiddling knobs that I can muster up! The end result is a false roof to deflect the sound back (a piece of wood wedged into the top of the bookcase above the harp and supported infront of the harp with a long piece of wood), 2 cushions stuffed into the soundboard and slight twiddling of the various knobs on the 'deck'... It sounds brilliant and I have 2 tracks down already! The cushions in the soundboard initially didn't seem to make much difference 'live' but at high volume there is a slight reduction in resonance.

This means that I am not going to have to record under duress - I can record at home at last!
Also for you 'free-dancers' out there and lovers of pure 'jamming' I can play a tune for as long as I want and improvise if the mood takes me!

It's taken 7 years - from dreaming the sound - to making the harp to - at last - recording! For the first time ever I am on a level with other musicians. (The next step is to make a truly magnificent harp that looks as amazing as the sound.....my husband's job!!!!)

the world's first ever quad harp

Only just got on today - it has taken so much longer than I thought to make the harp templates...
I have marked (with hammer and nail) over 200 holes to show where to put the pins and pegs and holes in the soundboard. The harps that I am playing at the moment I marked the outer string holes but did the inner string holes with a hand drill after I had put the strings on to make sure they were exactly in the middle. Hopefully the extra effort will produce the world's first ever totally accurate quad harp! SO GLAD THAT's DONE!!! More snow today and so grey and damp and COLD... I am off to curl up in bed with hot water bottles and a good book.