Lever that flattens instead of sharpens

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Tagged: lever that flattens

This topic has 13 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 6 months ago by Indra Prabowo.

Viewing 14 posts - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)

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February 15, 2019 at 6:08 pm #224780

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

I am a beginning harpist I am looking to buy a lever harp. I looked at a beautiful used Troubadour VI today. When checking all the levers, I noticed that one of the levers is flattening the note instead of sharpening the note. Is this an easy fix by a technician? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

February 15, 2019 at 6:14 pm #224781

charles-nix
Member

OK. Troubadour VI. So, L&H Performance levers. Mounted _below_ the bridge pins (down the strings)…. So, when engaged they shorten the strings. So they must move the string sharper when engaged. It can’t work any other way.

Perhaps you’re looking at a harp tuned in Eb major? So the C, D, F, and G strings are tuned to those exact notes, and the E, A, and B strings are tuned one-half step flat (to D#/Eb, G#/Ab, and A#/Bb). Engaging those levers brings the string from one-half step flat up to pitch–but the lever still raises the pitch when it is engaged.

Can you explain further what you are seeing?

February 15, 2019 at 6:28 pm #224782

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

Yes, it was tuned with all the Es and Bs flat. I checked all the strings and they were close to being in tune. The fifth line F and the next note, G were close to being in tune. Then I engaged all the levers to check their tuning. When I did that, the F and the G string both sounded as the same note (f sharp / g flat). I checked it several times. When I engaged the lever for the g, it flattened the note. I know it doesn’t make sense, that is why I am asking. I am a beginning harpist, but I am not a beginning musician. I am a music teacher and a church organist/ pianist. Could the lever be upside-down?

February 15, 2019 at 7:12 pm #224783
Miriam S
Participant
Truly, this is impossible. I would suggest that you look up harpists in your area to see if there is one who might come with you to look at this harp. You might have to pay for her time, but I think it would be worth it. Also, to get her opinion on the rest of the harp. It’s always good to have an experienced eye before making a large purchase like this. Good luck to you!
- This reply was modified 7 years, 6 months ago by Miriam S.
February 15, 2019 at 7:39 pm #224785

charles-nix
Member

Since you’re experienced, forget an idea I had that it is the tuner acting stupid. You couldn’t make a mistake about a semitone flattening.

Do both strings pass through the levers the same way? Do both levers do the same kind of thing to the strings when engaged? They should both hook the string at the top, and force it against the fretting part of the rotating disc at the bottom.

Failing that, can you post a picture of the general area at the top of the strings?

Just like a piano (or an organ) if it is made shorter, (with nothing but the length changing) it must go sharp. No exceptions to physics.
The lever could move sharp more or less than a semitone, but it would have to move sharp.

Could it be upside down and on the wrong side of the string? So that when up it was disengaged, and engaged flipped down?

Grasping at straws, here.

February 15, 2019 at 8:20 pm #224786

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

Thanks for all these ideas. I agree, it is physics, which is why I asked if it could be upside down. I think I will try to get a picture and/or have my harp teacher look at it. Perhaps it was strung wrong.

February 15, 2019 at 10:53 pm #224787

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

The person selling the harp says that the string had slipped out of the groove it is to sit in when she moved it. She has fixed and sent pictures of it engaged and unengaged with a tuner. It appears to be working correctly now. I will still verify and check. Thanks for your help. Debbie

February 16, 2020 at 5:29 am #241902

Indra Prabowo
Participant

Glad to find this thread. It also happened to me after I changed the 1st octave G and 2nd octave E (both are nylon).
The levers flatten the notes a semitone instead of sharpen them.
Is it because of new nylon strings stretch so the strings become longer when the levers engaged or should I focused on regulating the levers?
I have tried to loosen and tighten the strings but it didn’t fix the problem.

Bowie

February 16, 2020 at 5:31 am #241903

Indra Prabowo
Participant

I forget to mention that the harp is an L&H Prelude.

Bowie

February 16, 2020 at 6:46 am #241906

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

The harp that I looked at and bought was strung incorrectly. It was not in the correct groove. It was fixed when restrung. It could not happen because they are new strings. Check your stringing.

February 16, 2020 at 7:07 am #241907

Indra Prabowo
Participant

Thank you Debra, I’ ll definitely re check my stringing. By saying groove do you mean the bridge pin?

Bowie

February 16, 2020 at 7:25 am #241909

Debra Nemeth-Tarby
Participant

That is my understanding from person who sold me the harp and fixed it. Check, also, that the string is wound in the correct direction. I hope you figure it out.

February 16, 2020 at 7:40 am #241910

Indra Prabowo
Participant

Again, thank you for your suggestion, Debra..I’ll let you know the result next week after seeing my harp.

Bowie

February 21, 2020 at 10:02 am #242297

Indra Prabowo
Participant

I’m very happy to inform that the problem is fixed. The levers need a little bit adjustment to left side so the strings won’t touch the levers in open string position ( neutral ).
Making lever adjustment by yourself for the first time is quite scary though…but you have no option when you don’t have harp technician nearby.

Bowie
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