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Home Forums Forum Archives Amateur Harpists Hello…

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  • #156830
    HBrock25
    Keymaster

    O.K.
    for about a year now, since my German folk music friend sang her good bye story on her German 30 odd string floor harp, I realised that THAT is what I need!
    I can play all kindsa instruments, read music, perform in public etc etc but tonight… tonight I met a friend and had a go on hos 20 odd string, bit bigger then knee harp
    My resolve is made.
    I am going to get started asap so…
    I have decided 22-27 strings will do me for now, I will get a Celtic/bardic harp and I have made my list down to 2 online choices (as I am a million miles away from anywhere to buy one) would you guys be able to help me choose which one? if I put links up for the ones I want? It’s the top part, as far as I can tell it might be something to do with the space of the strings but I don’t actually know

    #156831

    I’m getting too excited tbh, like I said I’vee been looking at harps tp buy for a year now so I’ll post the links any way…

    this is the harp I want…

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260830709097?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1191wt_1037

    it comes with warranties and everything

    and this is the harp my friend has, now he’s won welsh championships (U.K.) and suchlike

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260830717409?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_1191wt_1037

    it also comes with all the warranties

    it’s the shape of the top that worries me, does it make a difference on the sound?

    #156832
    Tony G
    Member

    I’m sorry to be such a downer, but I would strongly suggest against getting either one of those harps. They are both Mid-eastern harps.

    I have done a good deal of research, and those harps sound like toys compared to real harps… there is very little resonance and no tone quality to speak of. I have also read a lot of horror stories about people buying those harps and having them come apart, or require adjusting right away.

    My suggestion is (if money is a big concern and maybe you’re not 100% sure about making a big investment on a harp till you see if you’ll really enjoy playing it) get something like a cardboard harp:

    http://www.waringmusic.com/new_page_6.htm (19 strings)

    http://www.backyardmusic.com/Harps.html (22 strings)

    If you listen to youtube clips of the backyard and waring harps, the tone is actually much sweeter and more mellow than any of the mid-eastern harps.

    I also like the sound of the Caswell harps:

    http://www.caswellharps.com/

    He has been having some supplier problems, but it sounds like he’s moving past that. These harps have a very nice tone, and he has a no-interest payment plan for all of his harps.

    Other than that, I would suggest renting from somewhere like: http://www.harpconnect.com

    However this is the blind leading the blind. 😉 Good luck on your purchase! Hopefully some of the more knowledgeable harpies will chime in.

    #156833
    Cheshire Cat
    Participant

    I have to agree.. I’ve played both of those harps and they are (sorry but…) absolutely dreadful, they are

    #156834
    A. Riley
    Participant

    Or order a harpsicle through a reputable dealer like Sylvia Woods (www.harpcenter.com), or someone like that in your area.

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