Hello,

The harpsicle website shows the Grand Harpsicle’s dimensions to be 45″x28″x6″ (height length width, respectively). The Dusty Strings website shows the Ravenna 34 height to be 49″, and the soundboard to be 14″ at its widest. I think it’s safe to assume that the Grand Harpsicle would fit more easily into your car than the Ravenna 34. And the Fullsicle would be even smaller.

I own a Fullsicle. It was a great little harp for starting out. It’s got a nice sound (albeit slightly twangy), but the string tension is very low. I rarely play it now, but when I do, it feels like i’m playing on floss compared to my pedal harp. The price for the Fullsicle was great, though, and I love that it allowed me to get started with the harp. It’s also very portable – I’ve walked around with it, brought it on buses, planes, ridden my bike with it, and it fits really easily into my car. I don’t think the Grand Fullsicle is as portable, though.

I haven’t played a Dusty Strings before, so someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but they seem to be higher quality harps. It looks like the Grand Harpsicle costs roughly the same as a Ravenna 34, and they can put in a pickup if the electro-acoustic aspect is important to you (at extra cost). Even if it barely fits in your car, it still fits. If I were in your shoes, I would most likely go for the Dusty Strings. Another perk there is that you get to support one of your local businesses. 🙂 But then again, if a smaller, lighter harp is what you need, perhaps the Grand Harpsicle is the best choice for you. I wonder what other people will have to say. Best of luck in your decision!

This is old I see… but I have both harps…Ravenna and the Grand. The Ravenna 34 is a richer fuller sound. It is also much heavier than the Grand Harpsicle. The Grand is best sounding when amplified. It is very soft in volume. I love both harps…. but if I could have only one, I would stick with the Ravenna. The Grand is great to have as a secondary harp when you don’t feel like lugging so much. The string spacing is a bit narrower than the Ravenna too. I use my Grand for going out to teach once a week at an Irish center… I have the full bass range and don’t have to lug much. For Amplified gigs it is wonderful, and it has enough volume to take to a small to mid sized Irish session.
Another great harp…and I build this over and over for students, and have one of my own, is the 29 string Musicmakers Smartwood Harp. It sort of splits the difference between a 34 and a 26 Fullsicle. It is available very very reasonably in kit form (easy if you are an experienced woodworker and finisher, and can string and lever yourself…if not…please have help the first time!) or they can send it ready to play. It his slim strings, a lighter tension than the Ravenna and has a rich loud sound. It weighs 14 – 15 pounds depending on how many levers. The case they sell with it, is padded but not really heavy like a Ravenna case. I LOVE this harp…. but also at times miss the full bass range down to C. This goes to G. Still, it is not hard to adapt and transpose up a bit for the left hand. Easier than on a 26 string. That said…I also have a Fullsicle, and we use Harpsicles, Flatsicles to teach beginners. In an ideal world, I’d have a 34 string…and the Ravenna is a lovely harp for a great price, and a 29 and a 26 lapharp. Toss in a Grand Harpsicle for the times you want full bass range and don’t want to lug much. I would however… since most people get their harps one at a time… start with a moderate weight, great sounding floor harp, Like the Ravenna 34, it’s just good for everything. It was my first harp, and now that I build my own, I have other “better” harps….but will always love the Ravenna. It holds its own too, soundwise, compared to many high end harps…sounds better than many of them. It’s a bargain and a wonderful harp. I love them all though!