Are Venus Harps as good as Lyon & Healy?

[Evangeline Williams]

I’ve heard that the very reasons that some harpists don’t like to play Salvis in orchestras are the same reasons recording engineers love them.

[David Ice]

I have to jump in here….again….

I owned a Salvi Aurora for many years when I lived in LA.

[unknown-user]

How interesting. I always found that the Poly coating protected Salvi’s from temperature and humidity changes more so than making them more susceptible. It is one reason they keep their pitch so well.

The old West Australian Symphony orchestra principle used to play a Salvi, and it always sounded fabulous – and WA is very very dry on the other side of a desert. I also know several Salvi players in Adelaide, also dry and bordering a desert, and their harps sound fine. I also toured all over the country with my Salvi, and always found it travelled extremely well, through the many different climates etc. It was one of the things I liked about it. And why so many harpists in this country were fond of Salvi.

The Salvi with the orchestra has toured all over the world and seems not to have suffered too much…I have noticed tonal differences with weather changes, but less so than with other brands. And much less shiftage structurally over the years too.

So, I do not know what to say, other than it is beyond my experience of Salvi. Maybe it was that one harp. And dare I say it, I suspect it was the strings…..as if you go from humid to hot and dry it can do weird things to your strings. My Salvi sounded “funny” once, after some extreme weather changes on tour, and I changed them, and hey presto..it was its old self again.

It sounds like it was not the harp for you and you have found one that you are much

[unknown-user]

Hi Evangeline,

Yes, isn’t the Arianna beautiful! I played one not so long ago and it was an exceptional harp, looked and played like a dream, the most amazing upper register. It also was not too high tension, some seem to be overly taught and others do not. And yes, I have found that sound engineers love Salvi’s.

I’ve never really been keen on gold harps, always thought them a bit over the top. But! The Minerva is one that I love. It

[David Ice]

Hi Rosemary,

What several folks told me was that since I bought the in California and lived there for nearly 15 years, it had become totally used to the humidity.

[unknown-user]

Is John really you??

[unknown-user]

hee hee hee hee hee hee hee

[unknown-user]

But seriously David, I’ve never heard that about the poly and would be very curious to hear who told you that. Probably someone that uses something else in manufacture and is keen to push that.

From what I’ve been told is that they are not hermetically sealed, so should adapt.

[David Ice]

I don’t know which John you are talking about!

[unknown-user]

I think it may mean what you mean by superb…as I can’t agree that all companies make superb ones – not from a professional standpoint. Most companies make some good harps. But not all are capable of making the sublime. Just my experience mind you.

Sorry to disagree with you again, but it is just my experience.

(The John I’m talking about is that mysterious John Doe popping up all over the harp column…he really has created a bit of a stir!) (I was only teasing you…)

[David Ice]

Well, I have heard harps from most of the major companies I would be more than glad to own…or stand first in line to purchase if they became available.

[unknown-user]

In my opinion, You cannot really expect a harp to last you

[Briggsie B. Peawiggle]

I am so lucky that out of the blue, I dealt with the Virginia Harp Center when I bought my Camac and that I had a wonderful experience and got a wonderful harp. I feel so bad for anyone who has to go through the experience you did, Rosemary. And I’m so glad that you have the new Lyon & Healy 100 to play. YESSSSSSSS!!!

June

[unknown-user]

Hi June,

Thanks so much for that. Yes, I have only heard good things about the Virginia harp centre as well. And!

[Evangeline Williams]

Warranties…ha ha ha.

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