I learned a lot from making this instrument. Mainly: the wood matters! Also, precise joins are important. If I were to make this instrument again I would laminate the neck with at least 1 layer being maple. The pins don't feel "stable" enough for my taste in the un-laminated Burmese Teak. The teak has a grain that is not consistently dense all the way through. The sound of the harp is very nice, somewhat "guitar-like" - and for that I have the sitka spruce to thank. I am very pleased with the tone, but I have little experience with tone. For now, it's "good enough"!