Dia’Todd’Nics Autoharp Play Station

Ever wonder how an Augury of Autoharps looks and sounds?  Dubbed a “synoptic series” by ornithologist and autoharper Doug Pratt, Dia’Todd’Nics Autoharp Play Station features 18 different luthier models and a number of vintage Oscar Schmidt autoharps.  A synoptic series lets the visitor examine all the various representations of a species in one location.  Often visitors to the Play Station come away with an augury of which model autoharp they’d like to own.  None of the Play Station ‘Harps are for sale, but information is readily available on how to order them.

Dia’Todd’Nics Autoharp Play Station will be bigger and better in 2008.  Special commemorative sections will be devoted to now departed Master Luthiers Mark Fackeldey and Gordon Baker.  Three of Mark’s ZephyrHill ‘harps and three of Gordon’s Glad Morning ‘harps will be set aside for folks to fully appreciate their craftsmanship.  One of Mark’s single key G ‘harps will be left in Mark’s original set-up for folks to figure out.  Along with a rare luthier B-model, Gordon’s Baritone and Child’s autoharps will also be on display.

Also, folks can try their hand at new tandem bar set-ups.  The Diachromic lets you play over 100 chords with just two bars pressed at a time, and it allows the player to open chord in up to seven diatonic keys.  The Diapentic is a similar concept in diatonic autoharps.

So, be sure to visit Todd Crowley’s Dia’Todd’Nics Play Station at this year’s California Autoharp Gathering, its last stop in 2008.