a little harp

[madeline-davis–2]

Hello harpists,
I’m looking for some advice on a small harp. I have a friend who would really like to learn the harp but is also very budgeted. What kind of sound can you get for a few hundred dollars? or should she wait and save? Thank you very much for your input, we really appreciate it!

[tracey-kjonegaard]

I’ve heard good things about harpsicle harps.

[Tacye]

Can she build a kit?
http://www.harpkit.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=smartwood
http://www.backyardmusic.com/Harps.html

[Angela Biggs]

Harpsicles are good for learning, especially for those on a budget. You can occasionally find them used at online band instrument retailers. Feel free to message me if you want the name of the retailer I’ve had the most success with. I have five Harpsicles now, and purchased them all that way, for an average of about $270 apiece (not including stand and case).

I also just ordered three more new Harpsicles for an after-school program this fall. The folks at Tasty Harps (the division of Rees Harps in charge of the Harpsicles) are very friendly and helpful. If you want a new one in a specific color, you can’t go wrong ordering directly from them.

[robert-hanson]

That’s good info about the band inst. retailers. Thanks Angela. I can also add that the newer Harpsicles have a new lever that is comparable in quality to the Tuitt lever. Most small harp use the plastic Loveland lever. The newer models can come with a wrapped string option in the bass end, though their standard mono filament bass strings sound just fine when played with the proper technique.

[lyn-boundy]

Another word in favour of Harpsicles – mine turned out ot be the perfect starter instrument for me and the tone is lovely. It’s always going to be a dilemma for any beginner whether to save for the best they can afford (and later discover they are landed with something they don’t play any more) or to get a reasonably-priced instrument, which they may later want to upgrade. However, I do believe the portability and convenience of the Harpsicle can be more encouraging to a beginner than having to lug a larger instrument to and from lessons. I had mine shipped to the UK which added to its price quite considerably but I still felt it was worth the money and the people at the workshop were incredibly helpful whenever I had any questions or needed any advice. I would, however, not necessarily recommend buying all those litte extras from them – I found the stick and, later, the stand were both flimsy and broke within a matter of weeks – but the actual instrument is a real winner.

Edited to add website – http://harpsicleharps.com/

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