Harp conundrum

[Katia]

Hi, harp friends,
I’ve not posted in years but now I’m up against a bit of a dilemma. A few years ago, I bought a lever harp secondhand from a local harp store. I’ve not had the time to learn to play that I should have, and had meant for some time now to contact the store again and ask if they would be interested in buying the harp as it deserves to be played and I need the space in the small apartment I now live in. Unfortunately, I’ve just learned that the store closed last year, so I’m not sure what my next move should be to find a new home for it. WWHCD? (What Would HarpColumn Do?)

I am not confident that I could pack the harp safely for shipping, so I don’t want to sell it online. I’m not that fond of Craigslist, as I’m not sure I’d reach much of a harp audience there, and honestly I’ve experienced, and heard of too many experiences with, scammers and flakes to want to deal with Craigslist (and, I do not want someone coming to my home, nor can I imagine sitting with someone in a public parking lot or lobby of the local PD with a harp! lol).

What options do you suppose I have? I could see if some of the local music stores will let me put up ads (though that won’t solve the problem of how to show someone the harp, unless I could convince the music store to let me meet someone in the store– maybe I could offer them a small “convenience fee” for the favor or rent a lesson space?). I don’t imagine music stores might be interested in having it on consignment– I’m not sure there’d be a lot of interest in the area. I’m not sure of any harp conferences or conventions anywhere near here where I might hope to meet up with someone. The final option is to contact teachers in the area to gauge interest from their students, perhaps, but this kind of “cold calling” approach always makes me nervous (and is probably annoying for approach-ees to field).

(If anyone here is, or knows someone, in southeast Michigan who might be interested in a Caswell Sweetharp, please let me know.)

[Biagio]

The Sweetharp is kind of a “collector’s item” for some people but probably not something easily sold through a music store. You would probably get little through a consignment sale; the limited number made before Chris died went new for around $400.

It is small and robust and I know from personal experience that it can be safely packed in a box from U-Haul so that’s what I suggest. Advertise in the usual folk harp places (the Folk Harp Journal e.g.) and if you get an acceptable offer wrap it up carefully for shipment.

[Katia]

Yeah, Sweetharp is one of those instruments that some people really love and others don’t bother with. Personally I’ve found it to be a great beginner/casual player harp– sturdy, easy to tune (no tuning key), affordable; I always thought it would’ve been great for that market had Chris been able to make more.

But unfortunately, at a low price point, it probably won’t be worth it to a buyer to ship, even if I could figure out what costs might be and wanted to take the risk. In normal times some sort of “harp railroad” might be an option for someone (I don’t know if that’s a “thing” in the harp community the way it is in some hobbies), but probably not now that gas prices are the way they are.

[andy-b]

There’s a Facebook group, “Sell or Buy Pre Owned Harps” that you could list in. It seems to be pretty popular, definitely worth a try!

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