Savli Arion SG Gold?

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This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 3 months ago by sherry-lenox.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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January 13, 2010 at 5:41 pm #74859

Richard Allen
Member

Hi guys,

I’ve been playing traditional harp for the past 4 years, and I’m looking to buy a concert harp. I’ve found a second hand Salvi Arion SG Gold, but it only has 44 strings, where the lowest string is a D and the highest, I think is an F. The action goes down the the lowest E, dunno how high it goes. I’ve never played this harp before, so I was hoping you guys could tell me what it’s like to play/transport/tune etc, and generally anything thats good, bad or indifferent about it. Ideally, I’d prefer to get a concert grand, but they’re significantly more expensive, and there’s an apparent shortage of 2nd hand ones, so yeah. Will I need the missing strings for a lot of the harp repertoire, or are they rarely used enough that I won’t regret buying it if I did? What’s the tone like on this harp? The one video I found has a particularly….interesting recording tone, so I don’t think it does the harp justice-what do you think? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VahxwmoFMr4

January 13, 2010 at 6:21 pm #74860

diana-day
Participant

I have this harp and have heard another from Atlanta Harp Center. Based on these two, the youtube video doesn’t do justice to them. Both Arions I’ve heard have a gorgeous tone. Mine holds tune really well. It fits easily into our small SUV and can be transported flat. I

January 13, 2010 at 6:33 pm #74861

brook-boddie
Participant

Richard,

I don’t own an Arion, but I have played a couple before, and they were probably two of the finest-sounding pedal harps I’ve ever played.

January 13, 2010 at 6:49 pm #74862

Jerusha Amado
Participant

I definitely agree with Brook.

January 13, 2010 at 7:49 pm #74863

Richard Allen
Member

Thank you so much everybody, all these reviews are extremely helpful! And thank you Jerusha for telling me about the hand thing, as I do have “abnormally” large hands, which is highly irritating when i need to get into the upper registers. But I will definitely try the harp first. The woman who’s selling this harp is a friend of my teacher, so I can try it out reasonably easily. And ultimately, I would like to become an orchestral player, but at the minute I’m only 16, would I need to get a Concert Grand at this stage or would a harp like this be ok? Has anybody any experience of the Camac Clio? Apparently it has a lot of space at the top which would be good, but it only goes down to F and the action stops at the B above that, so I’m not sure it would do the job at all =/. It looks amazing though and by what I’ve read before it’s got a great tone 🙂

Thanks again everybody! 🙂

January 13, 2010 at 8:26 pm #74864

andy-b
Participant

Hi, Richard: I used to have a wonderful Camac Clio with the extended soundboard. It was a great harp, with a suprisingly big, warm sound.

January 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm #74865

catherine-rogers
Participant

You can play a lot of orchestral literature on a Camac Clio–I do– but some pieces require those bottom three wires, in which case I have to haul out my concert grand. If you are tall, you may not feel comfortable on a Clio. Do try one to see how it feels. If you feel a concert grand would be your best choice, do consider a used one of good quality. Some are available for very good prices. Always have a used harp checked out by a qualified harp tech or a professional harpist you trust who is knowledgeable about harps and who has no vested interest in the transaction. Your harp is out there!

January 14, 2010 at 4:16 am #74866

kreig-kitts
Member

I didn’t carry it around, but I played one once and was very please with the sound and feel. I also love the appearance, the gold accents are just right – gorgeous without going overboard.

January 14, 2010 at 3:35 pm #74867

sherry-lenox
Participant

The Clio and the 44 string Arion were on my very short list, and I’d spoken to a very active and well thought of professional who had played an Arion extensively and LOVED it.

My own personal opinion is that the Arion is the most beautiful contemporary harp produced (JUST MY OPINION), and I was disappointed when the 44 was discontinued.

Although I’m waiting to complete the purchase of a harp that isn’t a Clio or an Arion, I still think they’re both great harps. I’m 5’4″ with an average sized woman’s hand, and the Clio is comfortable for my hand.

As it happens I am very rigid in my favored string position, and the Clio, I think, varies slightly from traditional string position. Someone correct that statement if I’m wrong please.

The huge advantage is that the Clio is only a few pounds heavier than the L&H Prelude, therefore a really manageable weight.

The Arion is heavier, at about 72 pounds I think. Schlepping weight is very important to me because my husband and I, both quaking elders, will be the harp movers, and to enjoy the sort of playing I like best, the harp will have to move with me.
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