What an amazing instrument!
The
Wheelharp is a groundbreaking keyboard musical instrument that gives
the player the ability to orchestrate a full chromatic scale of
sixty-one (61) actual bowed strings at one’s own fingertips, almost like
having a real chamber string orchestra at hand.
With an exotic profile and stunning rosette appointments, the Wheelharp’s appearance is equally as breathtaking as its audible character. It is currently available in a Radial Model (curved keyboard) with a five-octave range.
It utilizes a patented action and bridge to translate the player’s subtle fingerings into a range of bowing intensities, and comes equipped with a damper system and electronic pickup system, allowing individuals to sculpt astonishingly beautiful and complex sounds. For musicians, composers, and studios that seek to create the natural sound of classical string instruments while avoiding the frequently sterile quality of digital string synthesizers and samples, or for those looking to foray into new sonic territory, the Wheelharp presents a truly exciting opportunity.
- See more at: http://antiquitymusic.com/wheelharp#sthash.HGD933yx.dpuf
With an exotic profile and stunning rosette appointments, the Wheelharp’s appearance is equally as breathtaking as its audible character. It is currently available in a Radial Model (curved keyboard) with a five-octave range.
It utilizes a patented action and bridge to translate the player’s subtle fingerings into a range of bowing intensities, and comes equipped with a damper system and electronic pickup system, allowing individuals to sculpt astonishingly beautiful and complex sounds. For musicians, composers, and studios that seek to create the natural sound of classical string instruments while avoiding the frequently sterile quality of digital string synthesizers and samples, or for those looking to foray into new sonic territory, the Wheelharp presents a truly exciting opportunity.
- See more at: http://antiquitymusic.com/wheelharp#sthash.HGD933yx.dpuf
The
Wheelharp is a groundbreaking keyboard musical instrument that gives
the player the ability to orchestrate a full chromatic scale of
sixty-one (61) actual bowed strings at one’s own fingertips, almost like
having a real chamber string orchestra at hand.
With an exotic profile and stunning rosette appointments, the Wheelharp’s appearance is equally as breathtaking as its audible character. It is currently available in a Radial Model (curved keyboard) with a five-octave range.
It utilizes a patented action and bridge to translate the player’s subtle fingerings into a range of bowing intensities, and comes equipped with a damper system and electronic pickup system, allowing individuals to sculpt astonishingly beautiful and complex sounds. For musicians, composers, and studios that seek to create the natural sound of classical string instruments while avoiding the frequently sterile quality of digital string synthesizers and samples, or for those looking to foray into new sonic territory, the Wheelharp presents a truly exciting opportunity.
- See more at: http://antiquitymusic.com/wheelharp#sthash.HGD933yx.dpuf
With an exotic profile and stunning rosette appointments, the Wheelharp’s appearance is equally as breathtaking as its audible character. It is currently available in a Radial Model (curved keyboard) with a five-octave range.
It utilizes a patented action and bridge to translate the player’s subtle fingerings into a range of bowing intensities, and comes equipped with a damper system and electronic pickup system, allowing individuals to sculpt astonishingly beautiful and complex sounds. For musicians, composers, and studios that seek to create the natural sound of classical string instruments while avoiding the frequently sterile quality of digital string synthesizers and samples, or for those looking to foray into new sonic territory, the Wheelharp presents a truly exciting opportunity.
- See more at: http://antiquitymusic.com/wheelharp#sthash.HGD933yx.dpuf
Antiquity Music presents the extraordinarily beautiful Wheelharp at NAMM
By Paul Ridden
- January 28, 2013
7 Pictures
Jon Jones & Sons and Antiquity Music have debuted an
intriguing vintage-looking new instrument called the Wheelharp at NAMM
Image Gallery (7 images)
Image Gallery (7 images)
As Jon Jones was regulating his hurdy gurdy
back in 2001, he began toying with the idea of creating a
mechanically-bowed instrument with a full-scale chromatic keyboard. He
went on to build two working models before hooking up with Antiquity
Music's founder Mitchell Manger to work on improving the design. After a
few more revisions, a stunning pre-production Wheelharp was premiered
at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim (CA) last week.
At the press of a key, the instrument's patent-pending action moves the respective string toward a rotating, rosin-edged wheel spinning inside the barrel
of the Wheelharp, where it's essentially bowed by the wheel. The
mechanism is claimed capable of translating the player's subtle
fingerings into a range of bowing intensities.
The left pedal activates and controls Wheelharp's full damper system, and the speed of the motor that turns the wheel is controlled via the right pedal. According to Antiquity Music, swells and decrescendos can be brought into play by the player varying the wheel speed and key depth.
There's an electromagnetic pickup system above the strings and a piezo pickup mounted to the soundboard. An optional microphone pickup system is available, too, and two 0.25-inch audio jack outputs allow for onward powered amplification. It runs on 110 - 120-volt AC power.
Jones has now entered into an agreement with the boutique vintage and antique musical instrument retailer, making Antiquity Music the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the Wheelharp. Production is set to start in June and each unit will be hand-made to order.
Introductory pricing starts at US$9,900 for either a radial or linear 3-octave model, rising to $10,900 for the 4-octave version and finally topped off by the 5-octave Wheelharp at $11,900. There's also an optional ATA road case available for $1,450.
The short demonstration video below shows the Wheelharp in action.
Update June 5, 2013: Antiquity Music has now turned to Kickstarter to bring the Wheelharp to market.
Source: Antiquity Music
The left pedal activates and controls Wheelharp's full damper system, and the speed of the motor that turns the wheel is controlled via the right pedal. According to Antiquity Music, swells and decrescendos can be brought into play by the player varying the wheel speed and key depth.
There's an electromagnetic pickup system above the strings and a piezo pickup mounted to the soundboard. An optional microphone pickup system is available, too, and two 0.25-inch audio jack outputs allow for onward powered amplification. It runs on 110 - 120-volt AC power.
Jones has now entered into an agreement with the boutique vintage and antique musical instrument retailer, making Antiquity Music the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the Wheelharp. Production is set to start in June and each unit will be hand-made to order.
Introductory pricing starts at US$9,900 for either a radial or linear 3-octave model, rising to $10,900 for the 4-octave version and finally topped off by the 5-octave Wheelharp at $11,900. There's also an optional ATA road case available for $1,450.
The short demonstration video below shows the Wheelharp in action.
Update June 5, 2013: Antiquity Music has now turned to Kickstarter to bring the Wheelharp to market.
Source: Antiquity Music
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