Buying a Used Lap Harp…?

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This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 1 month ago by elizabeth-palladino.

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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March 12, 2012 at 5:03 am #156312

HBrock25
Participant

Hi everyone!

I’m a beginning harpist – as in, I’ve had a “trial” lesson, and with my next paycheck I’ll finally have saved up enough to start renting-to-own my harp. It’s going to be a 34-string.

There is a used lap harp for sale near me. It’s about 20 years old and has 19 strings, the owner is unsure of the brand but it’s from Europe. She says it “could use a restringing at some point”. My question is, would it be beneficial for me to buy this one as well, for something I could take with me? (I’m out-of-town alot, and my parents are divorced, so my harp would be staying at my dad’s). It’s $225 plus a case, and I have no idea if this is a good deal or not, or even if I should be considering this. Maybe it’s just my desperation to finally have a harp taking over?

Everyone on here seems to be super-knowledgeable. I have no idea how to restring a harp or how much it would cost. Any help/advice/anything would be super appreciated!!

March 12, 2012 at 9:37 am #156313

daniele-di
Participant

I`m not super-knowledgeable, but in my small experience in the world of the harps I`ve understood that no one is giving you a good harp for an extremely cheap price 🙂

If it has no brand it may be one of those pakistan stuffs? and it also need restringing…

Well, trying it does not cost anything, so you could give it a go, but first play for a while your 34 string harp, at the beginning even the wrost harps may sounds nice 😛 (or at least it was for me!)

March 12, 2012 at 11:02 am #156314

deb-l
Participant

20 years old, 19 strings, not much range, probably not well cared for, maker unknown (pakastani?)

March 12, 2012 at 11:58 am #156315

sherry-lenox
Participant

If you love the harp, even from just seeing or hearing them, and you really want to play, you will want to buy that lap harp. Don’t buy it!

RENT! Everything changes during the first year or two you play, and after that, and what you thought you wanted after you took your first lesson may be entirely different in 2 months or 6 months or a year.

Unless you want too many harps, rent and wait, and enjoy the process.

March 12, 2012 at 10:04 pm #156316

elizabeth-palladino
Participant

After tons of research three years ago, I rented-to-own a Dusty Strings FH26 from the Harp Connection in Salem, Mass. I loved that harp from day one, and knew that no way was it going back. But just in case it proved to be not the harp for me, I had an “out” and a reputable company to deal with. I recommend renting-to-own a quality instrument from a reputable company. Three years later, I still have my (owned)
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