I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have come across a Glenluce lever harp. I was wondering if anybody has ever heard of this type of harp, or even better played one?
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Run away. Do not waste your money. These are yet another "brand" of cheesy harp-shaped objects poorly made in Pakistan or some other third world country. Often unplayable. Frequently cannot be kept in tune, with levers that don't work. Unstable construction, so they break easily, and usually can't be repaired. Although touted as inexpensive beginners' instruments, the construction problems actually *prevent* people from learning to play, and all too often those beginners blame themselves, not the instrument. While there are folks who have succeeded in getting one of these things to work, they are in the minority.
One UK web site describes these as "Modelled on a popular American design." They are exactly the same as the "popular American design", those from Mid-East Manufacturing, which started this cheap Pakistani-make "harp" business, but the UK price was over twice the US price.
Tracie, I know what your saying is sound advice, especially for a beginner, but my wife bought one of these harps, a 22 string model, about 4 years ago & she takes it out to sessions at least once a week, plus various gigs & it has been a great buy for her.
It cost her about £250 & apart from a bit of work on the tuning levers, it's been no bother.
I would say if you are an experienced player & are looking for a cheap, & portable harp for lugging round sessions, they are a good buy, as long as you can try it out first, cause I have no doubt there'll be good & bad amongst them.
However, a beginner should spend a bit more money on a quality instrument to avoid problems & disappointment, just as you say Tracie.
I am torn between weighing in on this discussion. On the one hand, having tried to build harps over the years, I have found that it takes a great deal of time and effort to build a decent instrument, even from a kit. I made one, it looked great, it sounded great, and it sold fast. My first try however, was from woodworking plans in a magazine, and it didn't dawn on me until nearing completion that what I had made was a fake, a look alike, so I scrapped it and never looked back, except ruefully. I paid $40 USD for the spruce soundboard, which was a guitar top, cut it up, glued it together , fitted it to the soundbox....... well the story is just not worth telling. I still have the soundboard if you want it.
Take Tracie's advice.
Run away! But don't blame the poor Pakistani or any one else for trying to make a living. If the shoe fits the importer you can blame them.
Worm, you might just be surprised at the volume.
I know most folk are when they hear Mrs Ptarmigan at a session.
However, the large Harps that most folk play can be too overpowering in a session, whereas these little harps blend in very nicely.
But I would say, try before you buy, cause some of them may well be a bit dodgy, but for $295 even if you only got 5 or 6 years out of it, it'd be a bargain I reckon.
Having said that ours is still going strong.
I know lots of folk will be wary, I know Pakistan hasn't a grerat reputation for it's bagpipe chanters, but I can only tell how we found the harp we bought.
Who knows, perhaps only one in a hundred is up to scratch, but you might just be lucky too.
I've never heard of the Glenluce harp. However, I did have a student who had one of the Pakistani harps. It wasn't too terrible. But the levers didn't work right. She was very talented and was able to make music on it. Music that sounded a little bit like rubberbands on a matchbox, no fault of hers. Never would she be able to be heard at a session
though--not enough volume.
I've played one of those harpsicles, though not in a session. I wasn't impressed, but they are very inexpensive--maybe good for travelling as a second harp.
Go with a manufacturer with a reputation. If not, try it out in person first before buying.
When I used to take my harp to sessions (now I only take the fiddle) I took my 26 string Dusty Strings. It's small enough to not take up sooo much room and loud enough (louder than my bigger Dusty Srings, in fact) to cut through and be heard.
Thanks for all the replies!
The harp is not for myself, it is for a music group. We bought two of the smaller ones-22 strings but its only a year old and already a lot of the levers don't work. It would be getting bought to last, would this make be advised?
Hopefully I'll get the chance to try one before they go ahead and buy one but just wondering if it would even be worth that!
Thanks again
I've got one of those 22 string Pakistani Harps. It sounds much better with a harp sling that I ordered from Sylvia Wood's outfit in California plus it allows you to play standing up or strolling around.
Harp Query
Harp Query
I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have come across a Glenluce lever harp. I was wondering if anybody has ever heard of this type of harp, or even better played one?
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
# Posted on October 26th 2005 by Rosh
Re: Harp Query
Run away. Do not waste your money. These are yet another "brand" of cheesy harp-shaped objects poorly made in Pakistan or some other third world country. Often unplayable. Frequently cannot be kept in tune, with levers that don't work. Unstable construction, so they break easily, and usually can't be repaired. Although touted as inexpensive beginners' instruments, the construction problems actually *prevent* people from learning to play, and all too often those beginners blame themselves, not the instrument. While there are folks who have succeeded in getting one of these things to work, they are in the minority.
One UK web site describes these as "Modelled on a popular American design." They are exactly the same as the "popular American design", those from Mid-East Manufacturing, which started this cheap Pakistani-make "harp" business, but the UK price was over twice the US price.
Opinionated? Me??? You bet.
# Posted on October 26th 2005 by Tracie
Re: Harp Query
Tracie, I know what your saying is sound advice, especially for a beginner, but my wife bought one of these harps, a 22 string model, about 4 years ago & she takes it out to sessions at least once a week, plus various gigs & it has been a great buy for her.
It cost her about £250 & apart from a bit of work on the tuning levers, it's been no bother.
I would say if you are an experienced player & are looking for a cheap, & portable harp for lugging round sessions, they are a good buy, as long as you can try it out first, cause I have no doubt there'll be good & bad amongst them.
However, a beginner should spend a bit more money on a quality instrument to avoid problems & disappointment, just as you say Tracie.
# Posted on October 26th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Harp Query
For $295 USD I've been toying with the idea of getting one of those Harpsicles for Xmas. Wonder if they can be heard in a session?
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: Harp Query
I am torn between weighing in on this discussion. On the one hand, having tried to build harps over the years, I have found that it takes a great deal of time and effort to build a decent instrument, even from a kit. I made one, it looked great, it sounded great, and it sold fast. My first try however, was from woodworking plans in a magazine, and it didn't dawn on me until nearing completion that what I had made was a fake, a look alike, so I scrapped it and never looked back, except ruefully. I paid $40 USD for the spruce soundboard, which was a guitar top, cut it up, glued it together , fitted it to the soundbox....... well the story is just not worth telling. I still have the soundboard if you want it.
Take Tracie's advice.
Run away! But don't blame the poor Pakistani or any one else for trying to make a living. If the shoe fits the importer you can blame them.
Opinionated? Me too! You bet.
Phil
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by windybaer
Re: Harp Query
Worm, you might just be surprised at the volume.
I know most folk are when they hear Mrs Ptarmigan at a session.
However, the large Harps that most folk play can be too overpowering in a session, whereas these little harps blend in very nicely.
But I would say, try before you buy, cause some of them may well be a bit dodgy, but for $295 even if you only got 5 or 6 years out of it, it'd be a bargain I reckon.
Having said that ours is still going strong.
I know lots of folk will be wary, I know Pakistan hasn't a grerat reputation for it's bagpipe chanters, but I can only tell how we found the harp we bought.
Who knows, perhaps only one in a hundred is up to scratch, but you might just be lucky too.
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Harp Query
I've never heard of the Glenluce harp. However, I did have a student who had one of the Pakistani harps. It wasn't too terrible. But the levers didn't work right. She was very talented and was able to make music on it. Music that sounded a little bit like rubberbands on a matchbox, no fault of hers. Never would she be able to be heard at a session
though--not enough volume.
I've played one of those harpsicles, though not in a session. I wasn't impressed, but they are very inexpensive--maybe good for travelling as a second harp.
Go with a manufacturer with a reputation. If not, try it out in person first before buying.
When I used to take my harp to sessions (now I only take the fiddle) I took my 26 string Dusty Strings. It's small enough to not take up sooo much room and loud enough (louder than my bigger Dusty Srings, in fact) to cut through and be heard.
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Andee
Re: Harp Query
Another point in their favour is that the 22 string version, tucks nicely in between your knees so you take up no more space than anyone else!
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Harp Query
Thanks for all the replies!
The harp is not for myself, it is for a music group. We bought two of the smaller ones-22 strings but its only a year old and already a lot of the levers don't work. It would be getting bought to last, would this make be advised?
Hopefully I'll get the chance to try one before they go ahead and buy one but just wondering if it would even be worth that!
Thanks again
# Posted on October 27th 2005 by Rosh
Consider a harp sling for Pakistani Harp
I've got one of those 22 string Pakistani Harps. It sounds much better with a harp sling that I ordered from Sylvia Wood's outfit in California plus it allows you to play standing up or strolling around.
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by b0dhran