Christmas is coming and my wife has been telling me that she would like to learn to play the harp. Any suggestions on what to look for, good or bad brands, etc? Thanks in advance!
It very much depends on personal taste, what/where she wants to play and of course the budget as well.
Some pointers:
(Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions)
* I would advise against a lapharp as an only harp. Yes, they're cute, yes they're portable, but I find they become very limiting very quickly. Unless you actually choose to work with the limitations and like playing around with adapting tunes. They can also be very quiet and therefore hard to play with other instruments or in front of anything but the smallest of audiences. Beginners might think that's not an issue, but just watch yourself wanting to get out there once you get some nice tunes going.
* If you want to play in sessions, levers or tuning blades are absolutely essential. Otherwise you spend the session stuck in the same keys or desperately tuning. It's not fun. Get at least levers or blades on the C's and F's. Even if you only ever play at home, you'll probably thank yourself for the investment as tuning the thing is bad enough without having to re-tune strings everytime you change key.
*The Harp Column message boards have had a lot of discussions on makes and peoples' experiences with them. Search the archives or ask a question yourself.
As I don't live in the States I don't personally know anyone who has bought a harp there, but as they are a big name in the harp "business" I thought I'd throw them in there. Do note that they only have selected makes and IMO miss out on some good others.
Finally, I have personally never heard of harps makers so bad the harps actually fall to bits or are unplayable (though they probably exist somewhere). I think the biggest risk in buying a harp is not liking the sound of it. I'd say if AT ALL possible get to play the instrument before you buy. If you can manage to try different ones, even better. If you can't yet play, perhaps bring the harp teacher (if you have one) or ask whoever is selling it if they can play it for you. Even if there's no one around who can play "properly", just striking the strings is better than nothing at all.
It's a very personal thing, of course. Perhaps I was lucky, but I'd say when you see The Harp, you (or your wife) will know.
Rent a harp (lap or otherwise) from a place that specializes in harps and knows them well. (Most will allow you to apply the rental to the purchase of a harp later. That way you can trade up to a bigger harp once you know if she actually likes playing the things.) A smaller harp is nice for sessions, but you can't really be heard and, as SL says, there's limited range and she'll just be frustrated, so starting off with a slightly bigger harp (28-34 strings or so, preferably with at least C and F sharping levers) is worth it in my book.
I left off the harp to concentrate on the fiddle. Sooner or later I intend to get back to the harp. The really nice thing about harps is that even mistakes sound pleasant...
I've heard very good things about the Sharpsicle by Tasty Harps (a division of William Rees instruments): http://www.traditionalharps.com/Sharpsicle.html for portability and excellent tone.
No matter what brand/model, I'd join SL in recommending full levers.
If you're still in California, the Sylvia Woods Harp Center in Glendale is an excellent resource. They're also very helpful over the web/phone. http://www.harpcenter.com/store.php
Do find out whether she wants nylon strings or phosphor bronze! (Says someone who plays both.) They're quite different in how they handle, and it can be a bear to go from nylon to bronze.
I'd put in a word for Stoney End harps, excellent quality for a reasonable price.
As to size, it depends a lot on what she wants to do. Both of my harps are small (17 and 22 strings), and I love their voices. I don't feel unduly limited by their smaller range. But then my playing style is very simple, and I don't do the big range of chordal accompaniments I know many trad harpers like. Talk to her about who her favorite harpers are, and what type of style she hopes to develop. In fact, take her to a music store and let her noodle around (whoops, here come the language police!) and see what she likes. I ended up with my Stoney End because I loved the sound so much I couldn't walk away from it.
Definitely sharping levers, if her choice is nylon strung!!! They give you so much leeway, especially when playing in a group.
And, critically, AVOID AVOID AVOID the cheap harps sold by Lark In The Morning, and in "celtic" catalogs, that are made in Pakistan. They sound like sh*te and the strings have a weird, stretchy, rubbery texture. Miserable to play. I tried one at Lark's Seattle shop and was very glad my Dad had decided not to buy one for me (this is before I got my Stoney End). I also tried another at a different Seattle shop (not a music place, a Celtic import shop), and it was just as bad. :p
I've been playing harp for 8 years now. This is what I did:
I rented a harp from my teacher for 6 months. It was a Caswell. A wonderful harp, but not being made any more.
I played my teacher's harp, I went to harp circles and workshops and checked out other people's harps.
So after 6 months, I knew I was going to stick with it. I bought a Dusty Strings (32 strings, although many harpers prefer 34 strings, but I like my 32 string.)
Then a year later, for sessions, I bought a Dusty Strings 26 string. It's perfect for sessions! The tone is wonderful and really projects. It is so portable! I don't need more than 26 strings for session playing, since my style is pretty basic in the left hand when playing really fast anyway.
A lot of harpers in my area have Dusty Strings, but my teacher, after many years recently switched to Camac Aziliz harp. It has those new-fangled carbon fibre (I think) strings. I really like it, too.
Also, it's kinda hard to buy a harp for someone else since it's so personal, but I wouldn't mind too much if someone bought one for me!
I've not ever heard of that type, but that doesn't mean it isn't any good. If you can hear it next to another small harp and compare, and if you like what you hear, then it's good. That probably doesn't help much, but maybe someone else is familiar with it.
Thank you all for the great advice! I think that you steered me clear of a couple of routes that I was considering. One theme I see repeated is the importance of the individual playing different harps to find the one that they like. I have called nearly every music store in our area (Southeast Virginia), and so far have not found anyone who sells harps, or who knows where to find one around here.
How about the Virginia Harp Center. Don't know how close that is to you, but it can't be all that far considering it's in the same state. Really you are quite lucky to have *any* place at all in your state with harps let alone such a great one as VHC. They recently opened up another one near me in New Jersey. They have loads of harps ranging from small folk harps up to large concert (classical) harps. They often have great deals on second hand harps as well. Here's the link:
I fell in love with the clarsach, not long after arriving in the highlands.The advice given to me then was that you get what you pay for., and that anything under £1000.00 ( in 1990), would quickly prove unsatisfactory as you progressed. In the end I found a brilliant harp manufacturer called Pilgrim, near London, and have still got a lovely 34 string clarsach, with full levers, which both my daughter and I play.
A friend has recently bought a cheat pakistani lap harp, and as said above, it is very odd to play and the levers dont give a good semitone.
So, I suppose, buy the best you can afford, and try lots out.Good luck
Hi Andee! I didn't start out on the harp, though I rather wish I'd done so, though it would be much harder to drag a harp round the country the way I do my fiddle. I took it up before the fiddle, but didn't play Irish music on it specifically! After I took up the fiddle, then I started playing Irish on the harp, then realized that it was going to have to be one or the other for a while. Dirk's wife currently has my harp, though he keeps saying he needs to return it...
I've only ever heard the Denwar bush harp. What model do you have?
I have a Musicmakers 30 nylon strung (fully levered) and a Musicmakers 22 string lap harp, which I have re-enforced so it could be wire-strung. The bigger harp is more versitie, but the sound of the wire strung is magic, and very rarely goes out of tune.
I bought a 30 string harp from him, fully levered. I'll caution that I'm not an expert on harps, I've only had a chance to play mine, a Dusty Strings, and the aformentioned Pakistani harps. That being said, my harp has a beautiful sound and appearance and I am very happy with it. Depending on where you are, perhaps you can go visit his workshop.
Advice sought for buying a harp
Advice sought for buying a harp
Christmas is coming and my wife has been telling me that she would like to learn to play the harp. Any suggestions on what to look for, good or bad brands, etc? Thanks in advance!
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by ceciltguitar
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
It very much depends on personal taste, what/where she wants to play and of course the budget as well.
Some pointers:
(Disclaimer: these are my personal opinions)
* I would advise against a lapharp as an only harp. Yes, they're cute, yes they're portable, but I find they become very limiting very quickly. Unless you actually choose to work with the limitations and like playing around with adapting tunes. They can also be very quiet and therefore hard to play with other instruments or in front of anything but the smallest of audiences. Beginners might think that's not an issue, but just watch yourself wanting to get out there once you get some nice tunes going.
* If you want to play in sessions, levers or tuning blades are absolutely essential. Otherwise you spend the session stuck in the same keys or desperately tuning. It's not fun. Get at least levers or blades on the C's and F's. Even if you only ever play at home, you'll probably thank yourself for the investment as tuning the thing is bad enough without having to re-tune strings everytime you change key.
*The Harp Column message boards have had a lot of discussions on makes and peoples' experiences with them. Search the archives or ask a question yourself.
http://www.harpcolumn.com/bboard/index.tcl
*A big player in the world of harp sales (as well as a huge range of accessoiries from the great to the fairly tacky IMO) is Sylvia Woods:
http://www.harpcenter.com/
As I don't live in the States I don't personally know anyone who has bought a harp there, but as they are a big name in the harp "business" I thought I'd throw them in there. Do note that they only have selected makes and IMO miss out on some good others.
Finally, I have personally never heard of harps makers so bad the harps actually fall to bits or are unplayable (though they probably exist somewhere). I think the biggest risk in buying a harp is not liking the sound of it. I'd say if AT ALL possible get to play the instrument before you buy. If you can manage to try different ones, even better. If you can't yet play, perhaps bring the harp teacher (if you have one) or ask whoever is selling it if they can play it for you. Even if there's no one around who can play "properly", just striking the strings is better than nothing at all.
It's a very personal thing, of course. Perhaps I was lucky, but I'd say when you see The Harp, you (or your wife) will know.
Best of luck with the endeavour!
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by SL*
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Rent a harp (lap or otherwise) from a place that specializes in harps and knows them well. (Most will allow you to apply the rental to the purchase of a harp later. That way you can trade up to a bigger harp once you know if she actually likes playing the things.) A smaller harp is nice for sessions, but you can't really be heard and, as SL says, there's limited range and she'll just be frustrated, so starting off with a slightly bigger harp (28-34 strings or so, preferably with at least C and F sharping levers) is worth it in my book.
The really nice thing about harps is that even mistakes sound pleasant...
I left off the harp to concentrate on the fiddle. Sooner or later I intend to get back to the harp.
Good luck to your wife! Lots of fun.
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Ditto to Zina's advice on rent before you buy. It took months of playing different models and different makers before I found the right harp for me.
I finally chose a used model of this one: http://www.heartlandharps.com/sylvan.html
I've heard very good things about the Sharpsicle by Tasty Harps (a division of William Rees instruments): http://www.traditionalharps.com/Sharpsicle.html for portability and excellent tone.
No matter what brand/model, I'd join SL in recommending full levers.
If you're still in California, the Sylvia Woods Harp Center in Glendale is an excellent resource. They're also very helpful over the web/phone.
http://www.harpcenter.com/store.php
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by pakooper
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Do find out whether she wants nylon strings or phosphor bronze! (Says someone who plays both.) They're quite different in how they handle, and it can be a bear to go from nylon to bronze.
I'd put in a word for Stoney End harps, excellent quality for a reasonable price.
As to size, it depends a lot on what she wants to do. Both of my harps are small (17 and 22 strings), and I love their voices. I don't feel unduly limited by their smaller range. But then my playing style is very simple, and I don't do the big range of chordal accompaniments I know many trad harpers like. Talk to her about who her favorite harpers are, and what type of style she hopes to develop. In fact, take her to a music store and let her noodle around (whoops, here come the language police!) and see what she likes. I ended up with my Stoney End because I loved the sound so much I couldn't walk away from it.
Definitely sharping levers, if her choice is nylon strung!!! They give you so much leeway, especially when playing in a group.
And, critically, AVOID AVOID AVOID the cheap harps sold by Lark In The Morning, and in "celtic" catalogs, that are made in Pakistan. They sound like sh*te and the strings have a weird, stretchy, rubbery texture. Miserable to play. I tried one at Lark's Seattle shop and was very glad my Dad had decided not to buy one for me (this is before I got my Stoney End). I also tried another at a different Seattle shop (not a music place, a Celtic import shop), and it was just as bad. :p
Good luck!
Sara
# Posted on November 16th 2004 by sara g
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
I've been playing harp for 8 years now. This is what I did:
I rented a harp from my teacher for 6 months. It was a Caswell. A wonderful harp, but not being made any more.
I played my teacher's harp, I went to harp circles and workshops and checked out other people's harps.
So after 6 months, I knew I was going to stick with it. I bought a Dusty Strings (32 strings, although many harpers prefer 34 strings, but I like my 32 string.)
Then a year later, for sessions, I bought a Dusty Strings 26 string. It's perfect for sessions! The tone is wonderful and really projects. It is so portable! I don't need more than 26 strings for session playing, since my style is pretty basic in the left hand when playing really fast anyway.
A lot of harpers in my area have Dusty Strings, but my teacher, after many years recently switched to Camac Aziliz harp. It has those new-fangled carbon fibre (I think) strings. I really like it, too.
Also, it's kinda hard to buy a harp for someone else since it's so personal, but I wouldn't mind too much if someone bought one for me!
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by Andee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Hey Zina--I didn't know you started out on harp!
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by Andee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
I've not ever heard of that type, but that doesn't mean it isn't any good. If you can hear it next to another small harp and compare, and if you like what you hear, then it's good. That probably doesn't help much, but maybe someone else is familiar with it.
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by Andee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Thank you all for the great advice! I think that you steered me clear of a couple of routes that I was considering. One theme I see repeated is the importance of the individual playing different harps to find the one that they like. I have called nearly every music store in our area (Southeast Virginia), and so far have not found anyone who sells harps, or who knows where to find one around here.
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by ceciltguitar
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
How about the Virginia Harp Center. Don't know how close that is to you, but it can't be all that far considering it's in the same state. Really you are quite lucky to have *any* place at all in your state with harps let alone such a great one as VHC. They recently opened up another one near me in New Jersey. They have loads of harps ranging from small folk harps up to large concert (classical) harps. They often have great deals on second hand harps as well. Here's the link:
http://www.vaharpcenter.com/prod.html
# Posted on November 17th 2004 by Andee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
I fell in love with the clarsach, not long after arriving in the highlands.The advice given to me then was that you get what you pay for., and that anything under £1000.00 ( in 1990), would quickly prove unsatisfactory as you progressed. In the end I found a brilliant harp manufacturer called Pilgrim, near London, and have still got a lovely 34 string clarsach, with full levers, which both my daughter and I play.
A friend has recently bought a cheat pakistani lap harp, and as said above, it is very odd to play and the levers dont give a good semitone.
So, I suppose, buy the best you can afford, and try lots out.Good luck
# Posted on November 18th 2004 by gummidge
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
sorry, for CHEAT,read cheap, spelling not good today.
# Posted on November 18th 2004 by gummidge
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Hi Andee! I didn't start out on the harp, though I rather wish I'd done so, though it would be much harder to drag a harp round the country the way I do my fiddle. I took it up before the fiddle, but didn't play Irish music on it specifically! After I took up the fiddle, then I started playing Irish on the harp, then realized that it was going to have to be one or the other for a while. Dirk's wife currently has my harp, though he keeps saying he needs to return it...
# Posted on November 18th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Hi Jim,
I've only ever heard the Denwar bush harp. What model do you have?
I have a Musicmakers 30 nylon strung (fully levered) and a Musicmakers 22 string lap harp, which I have re-enforced so it could be wire-strung. The bigger harp is more versitie, but the sound of the wire strung is magic, and very rarely goes out of tune.
Cheers
Ptollemy
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by Ptollemy
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
I prefer the Hohner Standard 20 myself. Much cheaper and easier to play than those harps that have strings.
AL Brown
# Posted on November 19th 2004 by AlBrown
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
I think Triplett harps are quite nice. What do you think?
# Posted on November 20th 2004 by esfiddle
Re: Advice sought for buying a harp
Have a look at http://www.jamesjonesinstruments.com/
I bought a 30 string harp from him, fully levered. I'll caution that I'm not an expert on harps, I've only had a chance to play mine, a Dusty Strings, and the aformentioned Pakistani harps. That being said, my harp has a beautiful sound and appearance and I am very happy with it. Depending on where you are, perhaps you can go visit his workshop.
http://jamesjonesinstruments.com/misc/current_stock.html shows what he has finished and in the process of being built.
# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by Kalluna