Does anyone have experience fixing up old autoharps?

[eShirl]

So I bought this used autoharp off a guy through Craigslist for $50. Oscar Schmidt, 15 chord. It's out of tune so I clip on my little ukulele electronic tuner and use that to tune each and every one of those goddamn strings. I hold down the button for C major, strum it, and some of the notes are in the c major scale but some are definitely not!

Are these things a big hassle to fix?
(With the felt pads and the whole chord mechanism.)

There's a good local luthier, who's worth what he charges in labor, but I'm cheap and feeling like I've spent as much as I want to on this already. Thinking, if nothing else I could use the body and make a rustic kalimba or something...

(I'm not really a musician, I just like to screw around with various musical instruments once in a while for my own amusement.)

[TexasProgresive]

1. I have not held or played an autoharp in years but I know a bit of how they work

The felts (pads) mute the strings not part of the chord and they do wear out. I found this pdf online the describes the replacement of the felts on 15 and 21 chord autoharps. All musical instruments require maintenance and repair.
http://www.autoharpstore.com/pdfs/replacingautoharpchordbarfelts.pdf

A source for the felt strips:
http://autoharpworks.com/felt/40-felt-strips.html

An autoharp luthier;
http://www.daigleharp.com/repair.html

Good luck- happy strumming.

[eShirl]

2. oh thank you!

Maybe this is doable by me after all.



update: I ordered the felt strips and going to give this a try! wth, only $2

[TexasProgresive]

3. Let me know how it works.

The luthier wants $90.00 to do the job.

[eShirl]

4. It might be a little while.

I've become smitten with my newly acquired, used Cordoba Mini M (classical guitar the size of a baritone ukulele).