How is a Jalisco harp different from other latin harps?
Each harp in latin America has its own shape and voice. The Jalisco harp is one of the largest, and is designed to be played standing up. It is designed to have a very strident bass. A good Jalisco harp has the loudest bass of all the Latin American harps. The box is traditionally wide (16″-20″) and deep, though some modern players are using smaller harps for traveling purposes and convenience. The woods used help shape its voice, and tacote is an essential part of the sound. It is base traditionally extends down to form the feet, and the top has four staggered sound holes. The neck has a very shallow arch, and the strings are relatively low tension. See the pictures in the History section for further illustration of some of the differences.
