12 String Kantele

The 12 String Kantele plans now available on The updated CD-ROM and as a separate download.


I have changed to English Poplar for my Kantele sounboards this year, I had been looking into finding an alternative to Willow for harp making (next years big project)and I am very pleased with this timber.

Just a quick video blog this month, I will be following it with a Bowed Lyre/Crwth one next month, This was a test video using my Sons Kodak Sport HD cam and the PiTiVi video editor in Ubuntu...Had to use KdenLive to render/convert in the end.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kantele
• 12
• string
• finnish
• celtic
• playing
• nordic
• lyre
• viking
• luthier
• harp

[Myrnir]

This is amazing Mr King, really.

I was starting some plans to make a kantele (i think i will buy your cd really soon) and i was considering to use softwood (western red cedar, pine, spruce or redwood) or the soundboard.

What is your opinion?

[michaeljking]

@Myrnir All of those timbers will work very nicely, Use whatever timber you can get quartersawn...I used cedar for years myself, Redwood would be nice too... do not make it too thin, depends how dense/close the growth rings are, the kantele works more like a piano than a guitar... The key thing is to use hard maple for the tuning area, either all maple, or insert some like I have done here....good luck!!

[MrRandomWritings]

they are beautiful Michael and lovely tones. I like the D drone tuning personally. I was offered some poplar - maybe I should take it although I still like walnut. Went back to using up some maple this week - not as nice to work with as the walnut I thought or maybe I have just got used to one type of wood

[michaeljking]

@MrRandomWritings Thanks! Maple can be wonderful in tone and great to look at but Walnut is my favourite timber to work, I love the texture planing and whittling and the smell.........Poplar is better as a soundboard for Kanteles than walnut, but if you are offered some give it a try. Most poplar I see is American Poplar, another species, but similar in use.

[JoseAAmezquita]

Amazing instrument :) may build one myself very soon

[michaeljking]

@Hikk0 No, On the 10 and 12 string kantele the strings are graded. Its only the 5 string that we have one thickness throughout

[cracka1from1dahood]

This is absolutely the most amazing instrument ever made.

[MrRandomWritings]

@michaeljking Funny you should say that - when I deleivered the last guitar the first thing the guy did was smell the wood!

[blackcatspirit13]

Very lovely, Michael! Love the look and sound. Am looking forward to hear about your harp project. I'd love to make one myself but I'm too scared to take the plunge unaided. I might wait 'til you publish some tried and tested plans. Cheers from sunny Oz! :)

[eatmoreraw]

Beautifully made. I'd like to hear you play some really nice music on this.