Hardanger d'Amore
Dev's own version of the Hardanger d'Amore, a 10 string instrument with 5 playing strings and 5 resonating understrings (often referred to as sympathetic strings) inspired by the hardanger fiddle.
The Hardanger d'Amore was conceived by Dan Trueman who commissioned Salve Håkedal to build one in 2010. Since then, many players have fallen in love with the instrument's magical, sonorous sound aided by the understrings and the addition of the 5th playing string--a low C--as well as the use of silver wound gut core strings, which add much scope for beautiful cross tunings.
Dev makes several different flavors of Hardanger d'Amores, featured below.
Dev's Hardanger d'Amores pay homage to the traditional Hardanger fiddle in several ways. Overall, the instruments are lightly built like traditional Hardangers to maximize resonance of the understrings. Dev also often carves undercut Hardanger-style f-holes on his instruments which lend a unique Hardanger-esque quality to the sound. More recently, Dev has gotten immersed in the art of designing and hand-drawing his own take on traditional Hardanger rosing, or India ink floral motifs, on his instruments.
9-string Hardanger d'Amore
Top:
Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back & neck:
Myrtle from the Pacific Northwest
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Rosewood
Pegs:
Wittner Geared Planetary Pegs
f-holes:
Hardanger-style f-holes
Scroll:
Custom-designed by Dev
Tested strings:
Pirastro Violino (synthetic),
Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel
This model has 4 playing strings, 5 sympathetic strings, and a standard violin scale length (330 mm), with an intermediate bridge and fingerboard arch between that of a Hardanger and a standard violin.
This instrument can be strung with synthetic or gut strings depending on the player's preferences. The synthetic strings enhance the sparkling sound while the gut strings allow for a warmer sound as well as expanded opportunities for cross tuning.
The Sailor's Bonnet played on a 9-string Hardanger d'Amore
10-string Hardanger d'Amore
Top:
Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back & neck:
Myrtle from the Pacific Northwest
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Rosewood
Pegs:
Wittner Geared Planetary Pegs
f-holes:
Hardanger-style f-holes
Scroll:
Custom-designed by Dev
Tested strings:
Pirastro Violino (synthetic),
Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel
This model, with 5 playing strings and 5 sympathetic strings, also has a standard violin scale length, but the bouts are larger than a normal fiddle/violin to enhance the rich sound of the low C string and create balance across all 5 playing strings.
The amount of bridge arching and the curve of the fingerboard can be easily customized to the player’s preferences and style of music.
10-string Grande Hardanger d'Amore
Top:
Reclaimed Spruce from a pipe organ
Back & neck:
Reclaimed Cherry from the family farm
Fingerboard, chinrest & tailpiece: Rosewood
Pegs:
Wittner Geared Planetary Pegs
f-holes:
Hardanger-style f-holes
Scroll:
Custom-designed by Dev
Tested strings:
Pirastro Violino (synthetic),
Pirastro Euduxa (gut)
Sympathetic strings: Light gauge steel
This largest model is designed for maximizing the richness of the lower register and creating a unique, expressive sound with the resonance from the understrings. It is typically made with a wide neck and flat fingerboard and bridge to match the specifications of the Hardanger d’Amore by Salve Håkedal. This can be easily customized, however.
The body size is equivalent to a small viola, and the scale length is slightly longer than a normal violin at 336 mm. The instrument is lightly built and is designed with gut strings and cross tunings in mind.
The Shop Window (by Sophie) played on a 10-string Grande Hardanger d'Amore