Inspecting a harp, need feedback.

[panamamike]

Hello all!

Looking at buying an older harp for my daughter. Looks to be in pretty good structural condition but notice some condition issues, some discoloration in the metal as well as a little bit of crazing on the finish.

Should I be concerned? It is an older harp from around the 80s.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[balfour-knight]

Mike, I would be cautious about buying this harp. There seems to be a fair amount of corrosion on the metal, plus the wood-finish crazing. Has the harp been in a damp environment? Also, what brand is it? It probably needs restringing and regulating, at the very least, in the neighborhood of $1000 or more. If you live anywhere near a harp tech, have him/her look this harp over before you buy it.

Hope this helps.
Balfour

[panamamike]

Thanks for the help, I will have to ask. The harp isn’t near a tech 🙁 or I would have gone that way.

Regards,

Mike

[panamamike]

It is a Salvi. I’ve been looking for any resources I could find to date the harp but surprisingly, I could find very little info. online. I tried emailing Salvi, but don’t know if they will get back to me.

Seller doesn’t have a good idea of the age, maybe 80s or 70s. Kept in air conditioned home.

[balfour-knight]

Mike, thanks for the further updating. The next best thing to a harp tech looking at this harp would be a good harpist to look it over and play it. Since you would be buying it for your daughter, does she have a harp teacher who could look at this harp for you? I am in western North Carolina west of Asheville, and if you don’t mind saying what general area you live in, perhaps I or someone else on these forums could help you find someone to look at the harp. I have done plenty of this sort of thing regarding harps and pianos during my long career in music, and other professionals are willing to do it, too.

Best wishes,
Balfour

[panamamike]

That’s a good suggestion, only issue iis the harp is in the middle of nowhere Texas.

[balfour-knight]

Mike, are you able to look at this harp yourself, or is it something you are considering ordering and having it shipped to you?

[panamamike]

I’m close enough to drive,.but it’s a ways. I’m not a harp expert so looking for all the info. I can get before making the trek.

Anyone have salvi year and serial number series they could share?
How many did they make in the 70s and 80s?
Is there a reference book somewhere?

[balfour-knight]

I can recommend Carl Swanson’s excellent book “A Guide for Harpists”–care, maintenance and repair of the pedal harp. Part 2 (#21, p. 42) is all about “old and used harps: assessing their condition.”

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Mike,

I live in West Texas. Where in TX is this harp? I’m not an expert in pedal harps but would be curious to see this harp if it’s not too far away!

-Gregg

[paul-knoke]

https://www.harpspectrum.org/harpworks/buying_a_used_harp.shtml

[panamamike]

Thanks Paul. I was looking for something more like Piano Buyer Guide
Which includes details about make, model, year and rating. I guess no such animal exists for the Harp.

[panamamike]

Why are old harps so expensive?
If according to the used harp wisdom, a harp starts to fail at about 40 years of age and can’t essentially be repaired, because that would only last for 15 years, why are used harps so expensive?

At least, shouldn’t they be priced based on potential life expectancy?

Mike

[panamamike]

Gregg,

It’s in east TX.

Mike

[balfour-knight]

Paul, thanks so much for that link to Harp Spectrum! I even found a link on that to the actual Salvi guide, which has plenty of helpful information.
Have a great day,
Balfour

[Author]

Posts