This
special
lap
style steel guitar
came from an order from Ben
Harper. Ben wanted a unique looking and sounding
instrument that would have it's
own voice. Dave Dart and Ben decided on a lute back or bowl-back
design. The apex of the bowl is almost flat so that the guitar doesn't
roll off the lap.
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Ben
Harper, Los Angeles, CA
photo
by Todd
Burke
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Ben
Harper
Folk Music Center, Claremont, CA
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Number
4 Ben Harper Model,
eight auspicious symbols on fretboard and bowl back, below
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We have been contacted by a number of Ben Harper
fans
asking us about Hawaiian style or steel guitars.
Harper now has three Dart Steel Guitars.
He played the Hawaiian style 1 on the song Glory and
Consequences on the The Will to Live
CD. The other two are unique bowl back guitars, as
featured here.
The first bowl back was
mentioned in Guitar
World Acoustic no. 60, in the interview with Ben Harper-
and played on the song When It's Good on Harper's
Diamonds On The Inside
CD. This one of
a kind instrument is also featured in Guitar World magazine, June,
2003.
The second bowl back was
delivered at
Christmas time 2003 as an instrument for Ben to take on
the road. The Bowl-back Steel Guitar has been written up in several
articles -see below
Links:
Weissenborn
Dart Bowl Back 1
Dart Bowl Back
and Hawaiian Guitars
Dart Bowl Back 2
Guitar Collector's Magazine Fall,
2003 (cover to left)
The Fretboard Journal,
Fall 2008 - Number 11
Harper’s Bazaar: The Guitar Collection of Ben Harper
Articles:
Slide
Guitar Magazine
Interview with Ben Harper:
“ What is that
ringing acoustic slide in “When Its Good”.
That is a custom bowl-back...” 2003
Lap
Steel
Lute - "Harper's custom,
bowl-back acoustic steel is
made
by David Dart, a California luthier who
specializes in
lute-inspired
construction techniques. The back of this 6-string is made from strips
of wood that run from the headstock to the tail block. To prevent the
guitar from rolling in Harper’s lap, the bowl’s
apex is kept flat, as is the back of the hollow neck. Dart used a
spruce cello top for the soundboard, which extends up to the nut."
-Guitar
Player Magazine, June 2003—AE
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ORDERING A
CUSTOM DART INSTRUMENT
All styles
are supplied with a custom hard
case. Contact us for approximate time of
delivery; it varies with the
waiting list. 1/3 down constitutes a firm order*. It is
possible
to
work out payment plans for your custom made hand built instrument.
Delivery of instrument upon last payment. Buyer pays
shipping.
*All
deposits for
the purchase of an instrument are non refundable after 30 days. A
deposit holds your place in line for an instrument made to your
specifications and for purchase of materials used in your
instrument. This does not apply to instruments already in
stock. All workmanship is guaranteed. Contact us for more details
regarding terms and agreements.
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