It is not harp related per-se but I just had a lovely old English banjo come in the shop. A model like this one cost over six pounds in the 30s. My father worked with the health service ten+ years later and made only a pound a week, (just post-war) and yet, lived fairly well on that. To fork out six pounds on an instrument would have been a staggering indulgence (six weeks pay, or about $3,200. in today’s money), so much more so for a less well-paid person. Today, one can buy a quite good beginners’ banjo (not as good quality as this one, but eminently playable) for under $500, but many people make that or far more in a week (not me).
My first bass guitar was an Ibanez bought in the early 80s and cost about $400. (plus $65 for a case). A good beginners’ bass costs much less today, all the more when one factors in the depreciation of the dollar.
It is, I feel, much cheaper to buy musical gear today, at least for the lower end instruments. Good ones will always cost, but you buy a L+H harp, or a Taylor guitar, you’ve got something great. Nothing great is cheap, nothing cheap is great.
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