Advice on finding a harp

[mae-mcallister]

Hello everyone,

Firstly, let me apologise in advance for yet another “hello, I’m a newbie, please give me advice” thread:)

I have always wanted to play the harp, and now I am looking to start! I am going to have a few lessons to start off, and in the meantime I am looking for a second-hand 34-38 string harp with full levers, ideally not too heavy and with a cover and maybe even some music, as I want to continue to teach myself. I am searching on ebay, affairs of the harp etc. and similar because I am a student so funds are limited. I am a musician already so am fairly savvy at buying instruments in general but not specifically the harp, although I’ve done a lot of research by now. I know well enough to stay away from the cheap rosewood ones, get one with levers rather than blades and to look for signs of warping and cracks, etc.

I know that its a good idea to rent first, but I have two problems with this: Firstly, I live in Cambridgeshire UK and I do not know of anywhere remotely close that does this (any recommendations?), and secondly I cannot afford to waste money on rent payments (most places rent for a minimum of three months). I want to buy a harp with the idea that if I eventually decide in a few years that we are not getting on, I can sell it and recoup what I spent.

Ideally I’d like to go to a harp showroom and try out lots of different harps to see what is out there. Most websites I have found seem to suggest that they only sell their particular brand of harp (I don’t know if this is true). I don’t mind taking a long trip to a harp showroom with lots of different kinds of harps but I don’t have the resources to dash around the country to every single little shop. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have the possibility of being in Derby this Sunday and it seems like there used to be a place there (little welsh shop) but I can’t find any information on what happened to it or if it still exists. Anyone know?

Just so you know, I am not averse to forking out on a nice(r) instrument because I know I’d generally get what I paid for BUT I don’t really think it’s wise to spend so much money on an instrument that I can’t even play yet, if you see what I mean. On the other hand, I’d be playing it because I enjoy the sound…do I get a cheaper one first then search for a nice one later if I decide this is for life? (I don’t ever intend to get a pedal harp in the future, I think I will be quite happy with a lever harp) Does anyone know of somewhere I could rent for a month only (say?) Do I just sit tight and be patient and eventually a good deal will come up? My friend who plays the harp found a nice 36 string one for £600 that she loves, ten years old, good condition etc. This kind of thing would be ideal, I guess…is that a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of thing? I realise this is a minimum amount…

Thanks for your help in advance. From experience, I know that forums like these are the perfect places to ask about instruments, everyone on them tends to be very lovely and reasonable too. (Incidentally, anyone selling a 36 string lever harp and want to make a new friend…?:)

Regards,

Mae

[jimmy-h]

Check for local harp societies as they sometimes have a classified section or you can ask them if they know of any harps for rent or sale. Also look for neighboring societies. Morley harps is also worth looking into. I don’t know where they are in relation to you but they have a website and a physical store. You can see there second hand inventory as well.

A small lever harp of reputable manufacture (not Pakistan) should be just fine. There are good reviews of the harpsicles as well. I’m renting a dusty strings crescendo and its very nice.

Good luck!

[Li Shan Tan]

Hello! Happy to try and help you, although I’m not the best person to ask. For second hand harps, you can check harp column’s classifieds or Lyon and Healy’s CPO. Otherwise, it’s always best to go to a harp showroom to test the harps out!

[andee-craig]

I definitely second the suggestion of Clive Morley Harps. There is also The Early Music Shop, but that is up north (near me) in Saltaire. Also maybe Hobgoblin in London. Check with your local branch of The Clarsach Society as well.

In April is the Edinburgh Harp Festival, far from you but I’m sure totally worth the visit to check out loads and loads of harps as well as take workshops. At the very least check the Clarsach Society for teachers, harps for hire, members who may be selling a harp, etc.

I definitely believe you should the best instrument you can afford and if at all possible, rent first!

[e-nb]

Edinburgh Harp Festival is definitely THE place to go, but to tide you over until April, how about the Stamford Harp Festival – http://www.stamfordharpfestival.co.uk/

[mae-mcallister]

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I’ve pretty much followed as much of it as I could….I’ve been renting a Pilgrim Clarsach for a month now and although I really love playing the harp, I know it isn’t THE harp for me…I find the tone a bit….”bland”…

I;ve been going round trying to play as many different kinds as possible. I’ve tried a Teifi Eos, a Hempson, a Lyon and Healy whateveritwas, and a Ravenna 34, none of which I really liked. The first three all had that same “bland” quality which I think is what they describe as “warm and soft” and is something to do with concert tension, and I know some people like it but it isn’t for me. The Ravenna was brighter but I didn’t like the nylon strings and those levers really pissed me off.

However, I also tried a bunch of Salvi harps and I REALLY liked the Livia. It has a bright, brilliant tone, together with a soft edge which the cheaper Mia/Titan don’t have which makes them sound jarring after a while. It was really amazing…. Unfortunately I am not really able to afford one, even if one does come up second hand. But I was wondering whether anyone had any suggestions as to harps with a similar bright/shiny/brilliant tone…? I am going to see a Camac Korrigan soon, does anyone know how that might compare?

Thanks,

Mae

[allegra]

No idea about how any of the other harps compare, but when you mentioned Livia, I remembered that I had seen one of those listed on one of the second-hand sites I’d been watching a while back, and it’s still there. No idea what your budget might be though. http://www.musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk/harpsales.html

[Tacye]

Have you tried a Pilgrim Skylark? They are considerably brighter than their Clarsach. Similarly you might like Teifi’s other harps better than their Eos. You might well get on with the Korrigan as it sounds like you are attracted to lever tension gut (with the same problem I have – appreciation of quality and expensive harps!).

[mae-mcallister]

Ally, thank you so so so much! I had been checking that site every now and then but I think I ignored that one up till now because I considered it out of my price range but that was before I’d tried one!!!! I have emailed the owner (and run around the room squawking in excitement also…) Funny how little your budget matters when you find something you like…

I’m trying to keep an open mind about the Korrigan and am aiming to have a quick trip to Salvi again before I see it (this time armed with a recording device) so that I can compare them…can’t wait!

I don’t know when I’d try a Skylark or a different Teifi (there’s only so much traipsing around the country one can do) but I guess until I actually buy a harp I am free and single, as it were, and will keep an ear out…

Thanks for all your help guys, you’ve all been amazing! (This forum is so nice…)

[Tacye]

May I remind you that the Stamford festival is this weekend? I don’t know if they expect any exhibitors this year, they did when I went which was some time ago – but am sure Andy will be happy to tell you.
http://www.stamfordharpfestival.co.uk/

[allegra]

Good luck. I hope it’s still there! (I have to say, that site is the one that seems to be updated least frequently, but you never know. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you)

You can email some of the shops and see if they have people who are like mini show-rooms around the country, who have one or two of their harps for people to try.

[mae-mcallister]

Couldn’t make it to the Stamford Harp festival this year as I was in Wales…trying harps…will hopefully make it up to Edinburgh though!
Went to the Camac shop in Cardiff. Didn’t take to the Korrigan, weirdly enough. The only Camac I like the sound of was the Hermine, but the tension was far too low (had those weird carbon fibre strings). And also, didn’t really get why everyone made such a fuss of the levers…
Tried the Livia again, and it was every bit as awesome as I remembered it. So at the moment it’s Livia or bust!
I emailed and phoned the ad for the Livia on the musicalinstrumentsales website, no reply to either:( I’m really hoping that they are on holiday but chances are its been sold:(:(:( I guess I’ll just have to wait patiently for another Livia to come along…
Plus, the Pilgrim Clarsach I’ve been renting has to go home tonight, which is going to leave me harpless for an indeteriminate time…sad times:(
If another Livia crops up, you know who to poke:)

[jimmy-h]

Sad to hear you have to return the rental, but at least you had a go at it and have the experience of it to fall back on.

Good things come to those who wait, they say. Hang in there! Also, spend your normal practice time working extra if you can for a bit of extra cash for your harp fund. It’s amazing how expensive all the other stuff that goes along with it can get, like spare strings, bench, music, etc…

[mae-mcallister]

Got a little (I say little, it’s 36 string) Fountain harp in the meantime until Edinburgh. There aren’t many of them around and aren’t at all well known so it was quite cheap, and will work out much cheaper than having to rent one until April. Prefer it to the sound of the Pilgrim Clarsach too…it’s a nice little harp, and will do until i find the Livia of my dreams/find something I like more in April.
Haven’t found much info on them though..does anyone know any more? As far as I can tell, they were a Scottish company around 10 years ago (my harp is about 10 years old) and they use the Pilgrim levers…are they the only ones apart from pilgrim to do so?

[allegra]

In case you are still looking, I happened to notice on another of the websites today that there is a second hand Salvi Livia for sale. It’s on the Affairs of the Harp website, and I think it says it’s located in north wales somewhere. I remembered this thread when I saw it listed!

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