Have you tried Ingrid? Maybe she can help you.
http://www.harps.co.za/

Rozelle,

I saw from the link above that you must live in South Africa. I would base a big part of my harp decision on how you get your harp serviced. Camac and Salvi are based in Europe so that may narrow your search.

I bought a Salvi Apollo harp two years ago and love it. It did not need a break-in period and was very playable right out of the box. The Salvi rep said that is true of the Apollo model – not just my harp. My major criteria for a new harp was one that was easy to play and had a full sound that carries well. The sound is very even through all the registers. It is a great all-purpose harp and looks very striking on a stage. I would only buy one that has the “new concept” soundboard. That just came out about two years ago. I am the same height as you.

If you go to youtube, there are a number of clips with Catrin Finch playing her Apollo.There may be other clips if you use a key word search “apollo harp.” I’m sure you will get a lot of opinions from others who love their harps, as well. It will get down to personal choice and what is available for you. I hope you find a harp soon that you like.

You can also try restringing your Russian harp with “Lever Harp Gauge” strings. It will be easier to play under lower tension, and most harps’ sound opens up a bit when the soundboard isn’t under so much pressure.

Were harps of that age strung with lighter (lever harp guage) to begin with? Will the change in tension do anything to the harp? Maybe someone with an older harp knows the answers. Interesting suggestion to restring and certainly less expensive than a new harp. I would certainly try it if it won’t do anything to your harp.

I’ve played on quite a few Camacs and have noticed that some of them have more spacing in the top. This was great as I didn’t scape my hands playing in the upper register.

Harps can’t be damaged by lowering the tension on them. They can be strung as light as you like, until the strings become so slack that the tone is unsatisfactory. Switching from “Standard Concert Gauge” to “Lever Harp Gauge” usually gives a more brilliant tone, with noticeably more sustain in the upper registers, and more volume overall as the soundboard is able to move more freely. It also can make harmonics easier and louder, and drastically reduces string breakage.

If the harp is an 80 year old Russian instrument, chances are good it was modeled after either an early Lyon & Healy or a French Erard Gothic. The early L & Hs were designed for the strings schedule devised by Erard in 1829. This string schedule is very close to the Bow Brand “Lever Harp Gauge”. The later French Erards were designed for strings about two note’s worth heavier than that, but still lighter than modern strings.

So, by stringing with a lighter string set, the harp will be closer to its original design. It should be easier to play and last longer, as well as producing the kind of tone Rozelle is looking for.