Materials & Considerations

Traditionally, pedal harp columns are made from laminated maple, chosen for its strength, stability, and natural beauty. The best practice is to alternate the grain direction between layers to maximize strength. Luthiers select grain orientation carefully, especially if the final finish is a clear coat or stain—where visible grain consistency matters. If the column will be gilded, painted, or covered, mismatched grain or internal layer variation is less of a concern.

An excellent alternative is ¾" Baltic birch plywood, particularly in B/BB grade. Look for versions with 13 plies, which is nearly double the layers of standard plywood (typically 5–7). The high ply count improves strength, dimensional stability, and appearance. Personally, this is my preferred material for both pillars and necks—but that’s just my opinion.

Solid pine can technically handle the string tension of lower-tension harps. The prototype OpenPedal harp, for example, uses a 45mm x 55mm pine board sourced from a local hardware store. While functional, it’s quite bendy—an issue that becomes even more pronounced when you need to hollow the column for rods or cables.

Some modern harps use carbon fiber tubes embedded in wooden columns for added strength and reduced weight. These also serve as convenient pathways for internal cabling. Off-the-shelf carbon tubes in the 2.5"–3" diameter and 6' length range are available but can be expensive and thin-walled. A more affordable DIY option is to wrap a PVC pipe in carbon fiber tape soaked in epoxy, applying it in an overlapping spiral. Once cured, cut it to length and use it as a central spine inside the column.

Column Dynamics: Compression & Torsion

Most pedal harp columns experience off-center compression—downward pressure on the left side and tension pulling on the right. This results in torsion, or twisting force. Some harp designs attempt to reduce this by adjusting the string path or column angle to centralize the string tension, but torsion is always present to some degree—it’s just a matter of managing it.

Making a Column Hollow

Creating a hollow core in the column is essential for pedal rods, cables, or electronics like in OpenPedal-style instruments. There are several methods to achieve this:

1. Split & Hollow Method

After you’ve turned the column in a lathe, cut your round blank into two halves. Route or carve a semicircular groove down each side, then join them together. If using a carbon fiber tube, embed it during this step and use epoxy resin to fill voids and secure the tube in place. I normally use wood glue for column construction, but epoxy is essential here when bonding wood to composites.

2. 45-Degree Cut Method

Cut your blank into four long pieces using 45° bevels on a table saw. When reassembled, this leaves a square hollow in the center of the column. A square carbon fiber tube can be inserted here, though they’re harder to fabricate DIY-style. If this is your route, I recommend purchasing the carbon square tube pre-made—it’s worth the cost.

3. Drilling

Only advisable if you just need to run small cables or wires, like for OpenPedal-style electronics. Use a long spade bit with hex extensions to drill through the length of a solid column. It’s slow, messy, and very hard to keep centered. A drill press with the table removed can help, but even then… 2 out of 10—would NOT recommend.

Role of the Column in Tonal Quality

The column's primary function is to withstand the immense tension exerted by the strings and to house the complex pedal rods and cables. Its contribution to sound production is indirect. The majority of the harp's sound emanates from the vibration of the strings transmitted through the neck to the soundboard, which then resonates to produce audible sound.Therefore, as long as the column is constructed from a material with sufficient hardness and density to fulfill its structural duties, its impact on tonal quality remains minimal.

Material Considerations: Wood vs. Resin

While the column's material doesn't significantly affect tone, it can influence the instrument's overall resonance and feel. Traditional hardwoods like maple, walnut, and cherry are commonly used due to their strength and aesthetic appeal. These woods provide the necessary structural integrity without dampening the instrument's resonance. Rees Harps Inc.

Conversely, using a material like resin for the column could potentially alter the instrument's resonance characteristics. Resin, being less dense, less hard and more absorptive than hardwoods, can dampen vibrations. This effect is somewhat analogous to attaching a mute to the bridge of a violin, which adds mass and dampens high-frequency vibrations.

Insights from Lever Harps

In lever harps, where the construction is often more varied, the choice of wood can have a more noticeable impact on tonal quality. For instance, Dusty Strings notes that in their FH series lever harps, different woods impart distinct tonal characteristics: manufacturing.dustystrings.com

• Maple: Bright, crisp, and focused tone.

• Walnut: Softer, mellower, and warm tone.

• Bubinga: Loud and bold with a resonant bass.

These differences are more pronounced in lever harps and I personally have not been able to pinpoint why.