She wanted a harp—badly. That was enough to set things in motion.

The goal was: a medium-full range floor harp, with real depth and a strong bass, and presence, but without the weight that usually comes with it. It had to be portable, yet still feel substantial. So the design pushed in both directions at once—light, but powerful.

It rose to 65 inches, with a 20-inch soundboard that gave it size to resonate. And still, it came in at just 29 pounds.

She showed me a series of her paintings of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. A carved cross became the central theme, echoed in a cruciform pillar and subtle elements throughout the frame. American cherry gave it warmth and strength, while a torrefied Sitka spruce soundboard brought a mature, responsive tone.

Inside, embedded titanium arches added rigidity without adding weight—quietly solving the problem that defined the entire build.

There were moments in the process that felt guided—decisions that landed right, challenges that gave way at just the right time.

In the end, it came together as something more than intended. Visually striking, deeply resonant, and balanced in a way that shouldn’t have been easy.

KJ 33 takes its name from a powerful image: Jesus, at 33 years old, bearing a crown of thorns – the King of Kings.

Soli Deo Gloria.