Are Venus Harps as good as Lyon & Healy?

[carl-swanson]

I have to say that, considering the territory that this particular thread has covered since its inception, in retrospect, it might have been a good idea for the Harp Column staff to remove the original post. To ask, in a public forum such as this, if one make of instrument is as good as another, is at the very least in bad taste, and invites anyone with an ax to grind to say anything at all about either of the mentioned companies.

Let me digress briefly. Years ago I did a regulation trip someplace, and someone didn’t like the work that I did on their harp. Instead of dealing with me directly, they told anyone who would listen how incompetent I was, and only much later did I find out that she was doing this. I mentioned it to Dale Barco, a very good friend and at that time the senior traveling harp technician in the United States. Dale told me that I can’t let things like that bother me. “Some people think I do great work, and others hate my guts,” he told me. “I do the same job for everyone.” In talking to different harp technicians over the years, we have all had the same experience at some time. The point here is that the original post asked for personal experiences and opinions, and those vary greatly from person to person.

In my college days, I worked in a fancy hight end restaurant as a waiter. One night there was a duck special on the menue. I remember serving two orders of that duck to one table, and two to another. Minutes later a man at one of the tables motioned to me. When I got to the table he said “This is the best duck I’ve ever had.” Not 5 minutes later a man at the other table motioned for me. “This is the worst duck I have ever had” he said. The difference was in the perception, not in the duck.

Over the years I have regulated, repaired, restored, and seen more harps than I can count. Occasionally one sounded to me like a banjo, but the owner loved the instrument, and it was not my place to contradict her. I don’t believe a thread like this can shed any useful light on either of the companies mentioned, only a bunch of personal experiences. If you’re thinking of buying one make or another of harp, then go play several instruments made by that manufacturer. Preferably, play the one you will buy before buying it. That’s the only experience that will have any validity for you.

[GEORGEHarp Technician FLORES]

To Ariana, beginning harpist., This may be why your a beginning Harpist…?
If you spend more time practicing than on the internet you might know what your talking about…?.
I AM A VERY REAL PERSON AND AM 100% WHO I CLAIM TO BE.
I AM TOTALY OFFENDED BY SUCH BEHAVIOR ON ANYONES PART TO GAIN PROFIT.!!!!!!!!!!
SOME OF YOU PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT IT IS ABOUT THE MUSIC AND THE STUDENTS .
It saddens,and angers me to play this game, but i feel i must defend myself, and the future of the industry, as well as all the wonderful Harpist all over the world that just want to play music and perform.
I gave a honest, and straight forward answer to this question..
There is enough corruption in our world and ignorance,
WE DO NOT NEED IT IN OUR MUSIC TOO!!!!
So save your fights and your negative slander for things that are more important.
“I STAND 100% BEHIND WHAT I SAID”

George Flores ( Angry and disappointed “Harp Master” )

[bernhard-schmidt]

Hi Mr GEORGE,

no one was speaking of you…no reason to defend yourself.

On the other side…your behavior of adverting here

[GEORGEHarp Technician FLORES]

I replied to comment 59, and to answer your question, i gave my history…

if you look at the old L&H factory you can see that the Gold pic is old, “around 1998”

DID I ALSO MENTION THAT THE PINK HARP IS ONE OF A KIND… 🙂

This was not a advertisement, this was a answer to a common question.

What is your motivation????????

Thats my personal thought.

Best Regards

George Flores

[Kari Q]

Hi George,

I think there may have been confusion here.

[unknown-user]

Ariana,

I have to disagree with you.

[unknown-user]

Maria,

Your point is well taken!

[john-strand]

Ariana – at my advanced age I have no interest in spending time reading about the fine points of argument – nor in verbal sparring – and even less in reading it when

[unknown-user]

I should certainly hope that pink harp was one of a kind. I have rarely seen any harp as tasteless. What would you wear playing it? A hot pink tuxedo or hair?

I will say that I agree, that defensiveness by a business owner comes across as insecurity, something I can identify with. It is also better if employees do not post, which I am sure Mrs. Krasicki is thinking about, unless as official representatives. It is interesting to hear what builders think about the harps, but it can also be a distorted view as they are part of the process more than the product. I can say that all the harpists I know who have Venus harps are happy with them, and those that don’t like them don’t buy them, so they are not unhappily owning them. That says something about the harps.

And if you are at all interested in new designs, I have a few good ideas, plus an architect friend who would love to design one.

[GEORGEHarp Technician FLORES]

I JUST WANT TO LET ALL OF THE WONDERFUL HARPIST KNOW THAT I AM DOING WELL, AND GETTING CLOSER EVERYDAY. 🙂
I AM WORKING TO GET SPONSORED SO I MAY RETURN TO ALL OF YOU, AND TO WHAT I TRULY LOVE TO DO… 🙂
THE STANDUP WHEELCHAIR IN THE PIC, WAS TO PROVE IT COULD BE DONE.
I HOPE TO BE THE FIRST IN WORLD HISTORY TO DO WHAT I WAS BORN TO DO…
IF FOR ANY REASON YOUR INTERESTED IN MY STORY GO TO,

http://www.myspace.com/george_flores ENJOY & READ THE BLOGS. 🙂

Much Luv & Respect,
George Flores

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT , YOU CAN DO IT… 😉

[unknown-user]

You have shown an amazing amount of character!!

[unknown-user]

Dear Heart!…… not good.

When you have put the love, affection, hard work, research, sacrifice etc etc etc etc into a product that has been your life’s primary vocation – a defensive and protective reaction is not only acceptable – it’s necessary!!!!!

For the past year, I have been traveling the Country (US & Canada) performing concerts with my brother – and have been performing on Harps of every make, size, age, and condition.

[unknown-user]

I agree with Ariana 100%. You do realise that she was not criticising the harps, just abusive behavior online? I

[Fairy Reel]

I’m sorry, Carl, but I really don’t agree with you, here. I felt the question was quite innocently posed–and was quite valid. I have had similar questions and wonderings, and as Venus (and Swanson harps!) are the only two harpmakers that I’m interested in but haven’t yet played, I am very interested every time someone brings them up.

When you enter the harp world, every one has their own opinions. Living in “Lyon and Healy country”, I didn’t realize that there were other options for a while. I assumed they were the only clear choice. And if harpists can’t ask questions here, in an anonymous, educated, and helpful enviroment, then where can they turn?

Someday I hope I will be able to try out a Venus harp and decide for myself–but people must understand, that “flying out to Chicago” is not an option for everybody. And unfortunately, if they way Venus handled themselves on this post is any indication of how they do business, I don’t think I’m in any hurry. Is customer relations really such a lost art?

Amused, bemused, and enjoying my Grand Petite (finally), Fairy

[unknown-user]

Thank God we are all individuals!

[Author]

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