Home › Forums › Harps and Accessories › Portable Practice for Pedal Harpist: Lap or Electric Harp?
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Jerusha Amado.
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April 19, 2013 at 2:40 pm #76510
Maya
ParticipantI’m a conservatoire student that is incredibly partial to the sound, not to mention the pedals, of a full sized concert harp. In the past I would have never considered going near a lever harp. However, not being able to transport my instrument has caused a bit of a nightmare with my practice so investing in one has become a serious option. I have a slight predicament over what to get and could use some advice.
The lap harp I am looking at is the Aoyama Saul 25, as the tension & string spacing is supposed to be more akin to the pedal harp. If anyone has any other recommendations do let me know as I am pretty clueless when it comes to lever harps. I like that it is comparatively cheap & would be easy to take anywhere, on a plane, to the park etc but it would largely limit me to separate hand practice. For the purpose of my college work this is probably the best option but aside from some outdoors playing, it would be the only thing I could use it for.
An electric harp however, I could use for jamming with other people, playing house parties etc, which I rarely get to do on the pedal harp. As a rock musician this is a fairly big deal & is just as valuable to my musical development. However, it would be less portable which is the main point behind this investment. How have others found travelling with electric harps? Especially walking or on public transport? Also, the tension & string spacing would leave much to be desired during individual practice. I’d be leaning towards the LH Silhouette, though my options are open here as long as the price doesn’t go any higher. I don’t seem to play well on Camacs but technically any of their solid body electrics would be an option.
I’m not sure the silent practice argument is an issue as I can’t imagine the Saul would be loud enough to disturb neighbours? So I could play both through the night.
Any advice on the matters above or experience with the harps I’ve mentioned would be much appreciated! What harps do other pedal harpists here use when they need to practice on the go?
April 20, 2013 at 3:21 pm #76511kreig-kitts
MemberIn electric harp would give the added benefit of being able to practice silently, but it wouldn’t be terribly portable. I wouldn’t, for example, regularly take something that size on a bus or the Meteo unless I expected it to be empty at that time. In addition, being more expensive, you might be discouraged from taking places you might take a lap harp.
If the price isn’t as much an issue (it’s about the same price as a Silhouette in the US), you might also look at the Heartland Infinity. I think Morley sells those in the UK now. It has 36 strings and is a bit more compact than most lever harps that size, but being carbon fiber is very light and would survive a lot of situations (such as rain, hot sun, or a fall) that would be terrible for a wooden harp.
April 20, 2013 at 8:48 pm #76512ParticipantI didn’t realise Morley sold Heartland harps now. The Infinity looks absolutely perfect for what I need it for but unfortunately the price is basically £ for $ which makes it about 2 grand more expensive than in the states. It’s really frustrating because of everything I’ve looked at it’s the most ideal. I’d get someone to bring it over but I have a feeling it’s little too big to try & get away with as hand baggage? Which is another reason a lap harp might be more sensible, if less desirable.
Has anyone tried the Spectrum Electric Harp that Pilgrim harps sell? An electric lap harp wasn’t really something I had considered & I’d be interested to know of others experiences.
April 21, 2013 at 11:59 am #76513Tacye
ParticipantIf trying to import a harp look out for VAT and import tax – it makes the idea look much less attractive.
I have tried the Pilgrim Spectrum – it is as well made as all their harps, and available with concert stringing. They also have an electric accoustic Clarsach and I find their Clarsachs pretty portable and not much trouble on the bus.
April 22, 2013 at 10:44 am #76514ParticipantI wouldn’t be importing it as such. I have friends or family who would be willing to bring it over as hand luggage for me but if it had to be checked ergo crated that would be too much hassle and likely cost just as much as ordering it from Morley but with far more effort entailed.
That’s promising that a harp that size can be portable enough for bussing. It gives me a lot more options. How are the electrics on the Clarsach? Does is have a pickup on each string or is it some kind of fitted contact mic?
April 22, 2013 at 8:09 pm #76515ParticipantIt had a pickup for each string – I have no idea about capability for doing more interesting things than sounding like itself only louder, but that it did very well! It doesn’t seem to have made it on to their website, but I am sure they would answer questions.
April 22, 2013 at 11:54 pm #76516jeffrey-mcfadden
ParticipantSince you can get it brought over, look into Dave Kortier’s [31 string solid body electric.](http://www.kortier.com/electric.htm) It’s very reasonably priced, 2 octaves below middle C to 1st octave E (I think). My teacher Diana Rowan has one in her collection and speaks highly of it. It has pickups on every string and is more portable than a Silhouette, quite a bit cheaper, and *way* cheaper than any Camac.
The base plate shown lays flat on its side under the strings when the harp is in the included case. Very easy to carry.
Last time I corresponded with Dave he had a 31 in stock.
By the way, check [my Pinterest board](http://pinterest.com/junkrigsailor/electric-harp-accessories/) for some amps and things I’m working through deciding on for my Silhouette that I just bought. I’m a giant fan of Deborah Henson-Conant and her [wildly funky harp blues-rock](http://youtu.be/9EcGJzsxmug) and I want to be able to make those sounds. ‘Course, she’s got about a forty year head start on me… and I’m older than her…
April 23, 2013 at 3:51 pm #76517ParticipantThanks for the information Tacye! I’ll definitely be sending an email to Pilgrim to get some more information. The Clarsach seems to be quite an attractive option.
What kind of strings do the Kortier electrics take? I did actually look at the Kortier harps, mostly because I work a lot with electronics and the MIDI harp really jumped out at me. It’s not something I’d acquire right now but it is definitely something on the future wishlist. As for the 31, as attractive as the price is, I’d have to put my friends/family through quite some hassle to get it over. All for an instrument I wouldn’t be able to try out first. In the UK Camac is actually cheaper than LH, likely because Camac is european while LH is american. A DHC light would probably make the most sense for what I’d use it for.
I’m obsessed with pinterest! I’m going with the same crisis with finding harp appropriate gear. You might want to look at bass amps because they can handle the range of the harp better. Though I play an LH 30 so I can imagine it’s less of an issue for smaller harps. In terms of effects pedals, drum machines, looping etc. I use the ipad for all of it. Which saves having to carry around, not to mention spend money on, a ton of gear.
April 26, 2013 at 10:40 pm #76518ParticipantThe L&H Sil would have been out of my reach if I hadn’t bought the used one Jerusha Amado had listed here on the forum, and it still cost me more than a Kortier would have.
The DHC light by itself is affordable, but then it’s $350.00 for the case and $350.00 for the strap and $350.00 for the stand and about $500.00 for freight.from Washington State US, and holy moly, I’m outta here!
Kortier is a flat price for harp, case, and shipping within the US, and $85.00 for the strap. I’d have had to build my own stand, though, and I like the Silhouette stand. I still paid more for my used Sil than I’d have paid for a new Kortier. Dithered a long time over the decision; the stand and pre-amp controls made the difference.
If your family is on the east coast of US they.could get the Kortier shipping free. Or stay with the DHC Light, if it weren’t for the money I’d have one.May 8, 2013 at 6:00 pm #76519Adair
ParticipantAny small harp you choose can have a pick up added, to plug in. I would choose a small harp rather than a solid body, and have a pick up installed only because you can play it electric and also without electrifying. I am investigating small harps with wonderful sound, and have pinned some (yes, i too am pinterest obsessed). I have pin for .. harps, therapy and also an interesting pickup under amps for harp. There are some wonderful sounding small harps out there. But, you obviously know never to buy without listening/playing first. I have NOT played the therapy harps i have listed, but hope to. I also just played the carbon fiber delight the other day, and am a fan. I WANT the legend, to use for my therapy harp.. it is soooo lightweight and i can crash it around without worry. Working 7 days a week with a harp in and out of the car and hospitals makes for same bangs and bruises. Let us know what you decide on.. Tristan Adair
June 11, 2013 at 7:33 pm #76520ParticipantVery delayed response here as I haven’t been on HC in ages. The shipping of the Kortier or LH would end up with a price matching the Camac or higher and with far more hassle to get it this side of the pond. Whereas to pick up the Camac I just have to tube it to Denmark Street. I’ve had enough nightmares with installing & using pickups on acoustic harps that I personally would far prefer a solid body instrument. The tone I want would be more achievable & I have all sorts of equipment that facilitate playing electric instruments out & about. I’m still lusting after the carbon fibre harps but if I ever purchase one it won’t be for some time. The weight is a big factor however so ultimately the Camac DHC makes far more sense. The LH is just that tiny bit too heavy I think so I’ve decided on the Camac. Hopefully I should be getting it sometime in the next couple months!
June 12, 2013 at 4:16 am #76521Jerusha Amado
ParticipantMaya,
Congratulations on your new harp! Maybe you can post a photo of it when it arrives?June 12, 2013 at 6:09 pm #76522erin-wood
ParticipantI recently played on someone’s carbon fiber lever harp. The sound was nice (though a little different than wooden) and the lightness was so awesome. But for me as a pedal harpist it would take a lot of getting used to the style of the heartland. It has a curved back so you don’t pull the harp back to rest on your shoulder. It made it so your RH was very close to the soundboard. Just felt weird but I am sure people get used to it. I wouldn’t buy one without physically playing it to see if you would be comfortable.
June 12, 2013 at 9:44 pm #76523ParticipantHi Erin,
Dave Woodworth, owner of Heartland, developed a new style of 36 string carbon fiber harp called the “Legend” which has the standard shaped soundboard and box–no curve. You pull it back to you as you would with a typical floor-style lever harp. -
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