A Galax Back For An Autoharp

On the way back from a harp festival earlier this year, I drove past the I77 exit for Galax, Virginia.

I77 exit for Galax, Virginia

Why is this something worth putting in the Folkcraft Newsletter? Because a lot of our dulcimers (and even a few ukes, now) have what we call "Galax backs". Extra backs on acoustic instruments tend to amplify and/or improve the tone quality. Our Galax-backed instruments use design features that originated in this part of the country, and that's why we call our extra backs "Galax backs".

Close up of the Galax spacer blocks, which separate the inner and outer backs

Bruce just finished putting a Galax back on an autoharp (which is probably a "first" for Folkcraft Instruments). As the autoharp is held against the player's body, we're hoping that the (original) back/bottom of the instrument will be more free to vibrate, which will help the autoharp with volume, sustain, and resonance.

Hickory (wood) Galax back fitted to an older Oscar Schmidt autoharp

We'll be glad to make you an autoharp-shaped dulcimer if you want... (but unlike the autoharp in the photo, we wouldn't use plywood for the top and back!)

Another view of the back and spacer blocks

Just another installment in the "There's Always Something Different Going On In The Folkcraft Shop" files. We look forward to all the other new projects and challenges our customers will bring us!