I can’t speak about the Limerick, but I own a Fullsicle and have played a Ravenna. I prefer the Ravenna. The string tension on the lower half octave on the Fullsicle is *very* loose, to the point that if you are not careful, the tone suffers. The only advantages I can think of to the Fullsicle over the Ravenna are that the Fullsicle is smaller and lighter (it does fit in an airplane overhead compartment — I have done it), and the price.

I have a Limerick in walnut that I use in day to day gigs. Its a great harp. I don’t think it sounds as nice as my Ravenna (which is portable but far too big probably for what you want), but it has a great sound and projection for the size (its louder than the Ravenna).

I have played a harpsicle, but didn’t really like the tone of it. Having said that, I seem to remember it was smaller than the limerick and might do well for a travel harp. If you are going to do any performing with it at all, I would go the Limerick.

Musicmakers staff seem very nice and there are guarantees on their site that you can put it together yourself. I didn’t trust myself and had it premade.

The lap bar that they make as an accessory is a good investment and I can imagine it being able to be used on other harps.

Here is a video of me breaking a string on one at a gig last night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl8XwluFMNg

The Harpsicle® harp was designed to be a very compact, light (4 – 5lbs), inexpensive, tough (this is a great harp to take to the beach or to bring on a hike), good sounding harp that could be carried on an airplane and stored in most overheads or garnet closets. It is roughly patterned after the Gothic and Renaissance harps with their narrow soundboxes and expressive, light tension. It is not meant to compete with thousand dollar plus harps or a large, much heavier Ravenna 26. (The Ravenna being of a size which is neither a lap harp or a floor harp, hence the need for the leg.) In case you are not aware, I do build a two thousand dollar plus lap harp, the Morgan Megahan, which has an incredible voice but is larger, heavier and, of course, vastly more expensive, than is the Harpsicle® harp.

I have been making instruments for forty years. Neil Young and band members of the Johnny Carson Show have been some of my patrons. My Rees Concert Line Harps are played by Maíre Ní Chathasaigh, who is the top Irish harper, double Grammy® winning harpist Marta Cook (playing with Yo-Yo Ma, Grammy® winning harpist Carol Thompson (playing with Paul Winters), Ray Pool etcetera etcetera. I do not design nor make “twangy” sounding instruments (including the Harpsicle® harp) as Gloria misstates in two of her postings. It is a mistake to confuse poor playing technique or bad YouTube recordings with the qualities of the instrument. The Harpsicle® Harp is probably the most used harp the world in therapy programs. You cannot have a “twangy” harp in these programs. They are used by the Irish Harp Centre, Hong Kong Harp Ensemble, San Francisco

Correction to Re: 9. The YouTube address for the Asian Harpsicle Harp player is “chimarot”.

Deb L

What is shameful, is that inaccurate information that can apparently be spread with no thought of the background and the facts. Their is nothing wrong with gaining knowledge. If someone was to post that Deb L is a terrible harp player and has no worthy technique then you yourself should only reply in the classified for your own promotion and defense.

Will, I agree – thanks for your words.

Kay