Are Pakistani Harps still as bad as people say?

[Liam M]

Thank you Hannah,

I also am playing around on a Paki Minstrel just like Maplesquirrel’s and I am having acceptable results from it. Oh I know there are better sounding instruments out there,

[Fairy Reel]

Song Sparrow,

I have a Pakistani Celtic Harp, my first harp. And although her levers do not work, and though she was strung improperly, and she doens’t have the best sound, I still love Maeve as she was my first harp. She was cheap, and serves me well as an Irish competition harp–I’ve never placed less than a third and in my last few competitions have placed first or second. (This is in reference to the Harpist stating a Pakistani harp as a poor competition harp). I think that Pakistani harps must vary widely in quality and looks. Maeve is also extremely hardy, has been taken across the country and dropped several times and still sounds the same.

I’ll be moving on to a new mobile lever harp soon to expand my Celtic repetoire, but I just wanted to say that Pakistani harps are what’s right for some people, and there’s a time and a place for everything.

Happy weekend, people!

[unknown-user]

Hi,

[Dwyn .]

I suspect that they’re not generally as bad as their reputation, but that their quality is unreliable, thus accounting for a lot of the horror stories from people who got really defective ones.

[unknown-user]

I recently gave a “Harp 101” workshop and became acquainted with two horrible harps first-hand. Both were lap harps. One was a Pakistani harp the woman bought for $300 in Branson, and it might have been worth that… maybe. The other was so bad that I just had to keep checking it to make sure it didn’t disappear. The strings were irregularly spaced, tuning wonky, craftmanship abominable, and the finish orange-peeling. Turns out it was made by a local ‘craftsman’ who has since moved away… I think it’s a good thing.

One good thing about the Pakistani harps is that they really are gorgeous to look at, with all the elaborate inlay work.

[Audrey Nickel]

And I have to reply once again to the “entry level” issue.

[unknown-user]

Here is a thought no one else seems to be mentioning.

[Tacye]

I agree with advising rental and that progress will be much faster on a good instrument, and the rewards for hard work are greater.

[Audrey Nickel]

I don’t think they look all that bad, but they certainly don’t look Celtic.

[Liam M]

Audrey,

I just came from the Harpsicle site. The most economical harp they offer is the 26 string Harpsicle @ $349.00. No levers and no provision for levers. $495.00 buys you bridge pins and levers on C &F. $534.00 Gets you levers

[unknown-user]

Hi people

I had forgotten all about this thread that I started so long ago. I don’t get much time to be

[Liam M]

I am so glad to hear of your happiness. Congratulations!! That is what it is all about, playing what you enjoy and enjoying what you play.

[unknown-user]

After all this discussion, I’d like to put in my actual experience.

[Audrey Nickel]

Jaysus, calm down!

[michael-rockowitz]

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