Dusty Strings Dusty Harp Pickup Series Installation Instructions - Page 3

Browse online or download pdf Installation Instructions for Musical Instrument Dusty Strings Dusty Harp Pickup Series. Dusty Strings Dusty Harp Pickup Series 5 pages. For lever harps

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Step 3: Mark Pickup Element and Harness Clip Locations

Note: The pickup model P10 ( for 24-30 string harps) has three pickup

elements and uses three short harness clips. The P20 ( for 32-40 string

harps) has four elements and usually uses four short clips, with the ex-

ception of pickups being installed in the Dusty Strings model FH36S,

which uses three harness clips. Some non-Dusty harp models (like the

Lyon and Healy Ogden) have internal body ribs that will require tall

harness clips. We've included 3 of these with the P20 pickup.

Find the pickup locating template provided for your model in

the installation kit. Poke an awl or a nail through any circles that

are labeled for your harp model.

Fold the template on the dotted line near its pointed end. Tape

the fold flat.

Slide the template into the harp through the bottom soundhole,

folded end first.

Place the template on the back of the soundboard with the edge

against the soundboard lining (the strip of wood that covers the

joint between the soundboard and the side of the harp) on the

left side of the harp (see figure 4). Position the template so the

folded end points directly at the highest F (blue) string. Tape

the template in place.

Mark a pencil dot through each of the holes you made in the

template.

For all Dusty Strings models except FH36S:

soundboard lining approximately 1" toward the base of the harp

from each element location. This location is approximate, and

should be adjusted to avoid placing the clips in contact with any

other internal bracing. The clips are 1" tall.

For FH36S only:

You will install three clips on the small finger

braces running perpendicular to the soundboard lining (see

figure 5).

Carefully remove template from inside the harp.

You should now have 3 or 4 (depending on model) clearly vis-

ible pencil dots on the soundboard and corresponding 'X' marks for the harness clips on the lining.

Step 4: Attach Harness Clips

Note: Please read this section carefully before attaching clips.

Place a paperclip or thin coin on the soundboard under the lowest 'X' mark on the soundboard lining to act as a

spacer. This is to prevent the harness clip from touching the soundboard and causing unwanted vibration.

Remove the paper backing from the self-adhesive patch on one of the harness clips.

Soundboard

lining

Figure 5 – FH36S Clip Location

Mark an 'X' on the

Finger brace

Harness clip

Don't have a Dusty Strings harp?

Before gluing the pickup elements to the sound-

board of a non-Dusty Strings harp, we advise

using double-stick tape to temporarily place

the elements on the outside of the soundboard

in the same positions they would be in on the

inside. Use the template as well, so you can find

these locations when you permanently install

the pickup inside. You can then plug into your

amplifier and see how it sounds. You can tweak

the sound a bit by adjusting the positions of the

elements. Generally, moving the pickups toward

the middle of the soundboard will increase the

signal strength (loudness) and moving them to-

ward the side of the harp will decrease the signal

strength. Find the balance that is best for your

harp. Be aware that the overall signal strength

will be diminished by using the double-stick

tape. There will be a much "hotter" signal using

the super glue on the inside of the harp after

you've found the best locations for the elements.

Soundboard

lining

Figure 4 – Marking Template pointing at high F

Soundboard

Figure 6 – Spacers

Soundboard

lining

Spacers