Lever Harp Experiences

[Heartbroke and Inchoate]

Hello all! I am reaching out to see if anyone has experience playing a Salvi Titan, Mia or a L&H Drake?

I played the lever harp, rather casually, almost a decade ago. Now, I am hoping to take it up again, and my 6-year-old daughter has expressed significant interest in learning as well. We are hoping to invest in an instrument the two of us can enjoy. There are new harps on the market now, and I don’t have anywhere locally where I can try many options in person. Most options need to be ordered in from the manufacturer. Some have very long lead times (6-12 months) so I am trying to stick to options that are readily available.

The three options ready to ship are as mentioned above – the Drake, Titan, and Mia.

The aesthetic and the range (38 strings vs 34) of the Titan appeal to me. But I have listened to so many videos of it being played and the sound seems somehow… metallic. Buzzy. A little thin somehow. It seems like it could be rich, but somehow falls short and it not as warm as I expect it to be. I want to love it, but the sound always seems a little off to me. Has anyone had firsthand experience who can speak to the quality and nature of the sound? I understand every instrument is different and the sound cna change with the string type as well.

The Drake is a little brighter than I prefer, and I would be happier with a couple more strings, but I do have a positive overall impression of the sound. It seems clear and resonant, full, but no necessarily rich.

The Mia is the least appealing aesthetically, but the sound does seem nice and also seems less “buzzy.” I especially like the sound with gut strings and find the biocarbon strings make it sound more similar to the Drake. The one available to me has silkgut strings.

There is also a L&H Prelude available, but I think it would be a bit larger for us and it falls outside our budget. I love the rich sound in videos though.

I wanted to consider the L&H Ogden and Salvi Una, but the lead times are VERY long for both of those. I had a Ravenna years ago. I liked it quite well, but was not in deep love. I would like to try something different. I did love my DS FH36S (maple), but it is also not a readily available option.

If anyone has insight they can share or other models they want to recommend, I am all ears! There don’t seem to be Camac vendors in my region. Thank-you!

[Gregg Bailey]

I’m sure others with way more knowledge and experience will chime in. However, Musicmakers has a brand-new 38-string lever harp model, and 3 of them are still available for immediate delivery, according to the website. It does cost almost as much as a Prelude, but it’s much lighter in weight (27 lbs). They’re giving a $500 discount to this first batch they’ve made. The sound samples sound lovely and warm to my ears.

Also, do you know whether there are any readily available harps by makers such as Rees Harps, Marini Made Harps, or Pratt Harps? There may not be, as so many of these makers are just making harps to order at this point. There are, however, a number of reputable independent makers. I must point out, not all makers have such lengthy lead-times, as I just ordered a Brilliant 34-string Harpsicle from Rees Harps that has a roughly 12-week timeframe. I’ve started a lever harp collection, and my Ravenna 34 took a few months, but not terribly long. I bought a readily-available Prelude in natural finish last year that I mostly really love except for the fact that the base is slightly crooked in relation to the soundbox, but I hardly notice that anymore. I’m eager to see responses from others here!

-Gregg

[Gregg Bailey]

I meant to post the link for the MusicMakers Epic harp model. In case an actual link here would be problematic, I’ll just say to type in harpkit (dot) com (forward slash) epic-harp .

-Gregg

[Heartbroke and Inchoate]

Thank-you for all your insight, Gregg!

I am located on the Canadian West Coast and some of these harp makers are not as commonly seen in my region. I have also been out of the harp world for a long time. Maybe it has more to do with my ignorance, lol!

I appreciate the introduction to the MusicMakers Epic model – agree that it has a lovely, warm sound! I love the curvature of the soundboard, and the craftsmanship is really unique. I also looked at Rees, Marini, and Pratt harps for the first time. It is fun to see how every maker brings their individual touch to the style and sound of the instrument.

One of my challenges right now is that I must rely on the financing opportunity available at my local music store. And, of course, they deal in the “bigger” brands. In the future, I hope to save up for longer and invest in whatever model tickles my fancy, regardless of lead time, financing limitations, etc. To get started, we are comfortable with a student harp model.

Your comment provided a wealth of knowledge. Thank-you for investing the time to reply to me!

– Christy

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Christy,

I’m glad I’ve been able to be of some help. I really hope we hear from some more experienced people on here, as I’m relatively new to the harp world myself.

Have you completely removed the Prelude 40 from consideration? It definitely has a warmer-type sound, as it has the exact same stringing as Lyon and Healy pedal harps, just fewer strings. One thing you would have to be ready for if you were to get it is the higher string tension, but that is one of the main reasons it has a warmer sound. One of the things I really like about the Prelude is how much it looks like a small pedal harp, especially with the straight column/pillar, and the alternate gold/brass crown that it comes with adds a touch of elegance (and the alternate claw feet, as well, though I’ve just kept the wooden feet on mine for now.)

Are you at all interested in eventually playing pedal harps? The Prelude 40 is made especially for lever harpers to be able to get used to the higher string tension of pedal harps, as are the Ogden and Troubadour models; in fact, all 3 of those are considered “pre-pedal” harps.

I’m sure experts on here have advice for how a small child can sit at a larger harp, but I wonder if you could have a higher stool for her if you were to get the Prelude.?

If I may ask, what is the finish of the Prelude that is available? Mine has the natural maple finish.

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

Hello Christy and Gregg!

Sorry I came on to this a bit late, but Gregg has provided excellent advice. I was going to suggest the Prelude myself. It has that warm, pedal harp sound that you talked about, Christy. I own a Dusty FH36S in figured cherry, my “Cherie,” that also has that gorgeous warm sound, but it is brighter than a Prelude. Mine is strung in nylon, not lever gut. Dusty also makes the Boulevard, that looks like a Ravenna, but with pedal harp gut strings and tension. I have played all of those and can heartily recommend them. My wonderful concert grand pedal harp is a Camac Atlantide Prestige, “Angelica,” and it is my very favorite harp of all time, as readers here will attest to–I brag on it enough, ha, ha!

I wish you the best in your search, Christy, and it is so exciting that you and your 6-year-old daughter both want to play the harp! By the way, I agree, she could sit on a little higher stool at her age, and reach the harp fine.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Heartbroke and Inchoate]

Hello Gregg, Balfour, and Carol Lynn,

I hear you both have many good things to say about the L&H Prelude 40! In fact, the Prelude was the harp I always dreamed of having throughout my teenage years. The elegant, pedal harp-like aesthetic deeply appealed to me. It does to this day. And of all the lever harp videos I have been listening to, I agree that it has one of the richest, fullest, warmest sounds. I love it. I am glad to hear that it really lives up to my perception of it.

Since I do not have firsthand experience with pedal harp spacing and tension, I wonder if the strength needed to pluck the strings would be challenging for a 6-year-old? Or perhaps it is a fairly inconsequential difference at the end of the day. I am happy to hear you agree that with an adjustable stool, she should reach the strings without issue.

My goals are not terribly ambitious. I do not plan to advance to pedal harp at this time, but I understand that my desires may change in the future.

The one really nice thing about the Prelude is that it is actually IN STOCK and ON THE FLOOR at my local music shop (unlike the other models) so I can listen to it in person. It has the ebony finish, which happens to be my favorite (though they are all beautiful).

My biggest reservation is the price – at 60% more than the other models I was looking at, it is definitely a greater financial commitment. I may be permitted to get away with the same down payment, but the monthly payments would push the limits of my budget or otherwise have to be spread over a longer term. I also wanted to have it in time for my daughter’s birthday in April, so I have limited time to save up more.

Finally, I do worry a bit about the weight and the challenge of moving it from place to place. On the upside, my two-year-old won’t easily be able to tip it over. On the downside, we have a large staircase leading to our front door, so getting it in and out of the house may be a little more challenging (not that we would plan to move it frequently). For those who have one, how do you find moving it, especially up and down stairs?

The Dusty String FH36S sounds so nice to my ears too. I especially love the walnut. I find the sound quite warm and robust, though definitely brighter than the Prelude. The bass has a rounded sound that is not at all metallic (my problem with the Titan), and the higher notes are bell-like and not tinny. I would like to have one again one day. Since we don’t currently have financing options for one, I have placed it on the back burner. I will have to investigate the Boulevard and its sound.

Balfour, your Angelica sounds divine! I will have to look for a sound clip of the Camac Atlantide Prestige. I am definitely drawn to that full, resonant pedal harp sound. Maybe one day I will dream a little bigger. My FH36S was also strung in nylon and I found the sound quite pleasant.

I am grateful for your engagement and input. It is so nice to have people to discuss these considerations with!

-Christy

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by Heartbroke and Inchoate.

[balfour-knight]

Hi again, Christy,

Be sure to look for Isabelle Moretti playing the Atlantide Prestige harp on Youtube. She is one of our favorite harpists of all time, and we met her, spent time with her (with our harp!) and heard a wonderful concert played by her, at the Camac Harp Festival in Washington, DC, back in 2017.

That is wonderful that you would be able to get that Prelude “right off the floor” at your local music shop! We do hope all goes well with the financing, as that sounds like the “perfect harp” for you and your daughter. We have experienced very young children not having any problem whatsoever plucking pedal harp tension strings, so I wouldn’t worry about that. It is all a matter of technique. You might like to invest in a harp caddy for ease in moving the harp, and ours was made by K2 Harp Caddies. It is the 6-wheel original model, for climbing steps. Your local music shop should be able to assist you with all the accessories and particulars.

Wishing you all the best,
Balfour and Carol Lynn

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Christy,

I haven’t yet tried moving my Prelude, but I plan to eventually get a harp caddy like Balfour’s so I can move it, and it’s designed for going up and down stairs, as he mentioned.

One (minor) complaint I have about the Prelude 40 is that the bottom 2 bass wires don’t have levers like they do on the Salvi Ana, which is their comparable model to the Prelude.

I should mention that I have a secondhand Troubadour V that actually has a bigger, fuller sound than my Prelude, but that could just be because my Troubadour is older and the soundboard has pulled up more. The Troubadour actually has a wider soundboard than the Prelude, though, which seems funny since it has a smaller range than the Prelude.

If the Prelude is overall what you really want, I do hope you can make it happen! It must look so classy in the ebony finish. I can hardly imagine living near a store that has any harps at all, let alone a Prelude. When I bought mine, I just had to go off of photos and videos that the Virginia Harp Center made for me, and I live all the way down in Texas!

Do keep us posted on what you decide, and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.

-Gregg

[jaydg]

I think it can be difficult to assess harps via video, as you’ve no idea what the recording set-up is like. And speakers change sound too.

I would be wary of a ‘concert’ tension harp with a 6 year old. I started with a Camac Korrigan, which has gut strings and concert tension – I love it, and it sounds beautiful.

However, though I am far from 6, I have not-especially-strong hands because of arthritis in some hand joints. I learned some bad technique, and hurt myself, as a result of finding ways to pull resistant strings with my less-strong fingers. And of course am now having to unlearn those methods.

I hope someone who teaches harp to little ones can chip in here.

[Gregg Bailey]

The Salvi Ana is always advertised as being designed to be able to be strung in either lever gut or pedal gut, so I’m wondering if there’s any reason a Prelude couldn’t be restrung in lever gut, though the levers would obviously have to be re-regulated. I don’t know if Salvi uses the same levers on the Ana regardless of string type, or if they have one set for lever gut and another set for pedal gut.

I have the reprint of the 1899 Lyon & Healy Harp catalog, and I just happened to reread a paragraph in it last night regarding children taking up the harp as young as age 8. Obviously, that’s a couple of years older than your daughter, Christy, but I thought it was interesting to read that even 8 year-olds could handle a concert pedal harp (with concert-tension strings). Of course, this was written nearly 125 years ago and is perhaps biased, being basically an advertisement, and I don’t know how the tension of strings back then compares to now.

I’ll type the section verbatim here, starting bottom of p. 47:

“The Harp–An Instrument for Children”

“The value of an early beginning in the study of instrumental music is recognized by all teachers. Many parents who have given the subject consideration are most favorably impressed with the idea, and the result is that more children are now engaged in the study of the Harp than ever before. Another important fact in this connection is that children do not tire so easily, or lose interest in the Harp as soon as they do in the piano or in small instruments. There seems to be an indefinite something in the tone of a Harp which compels their interest and admiration, so that even the necessary drudgery attending a mastery of the instrument, seems interesting. In the chapter devoted to testimonials we present the pictures of several of the most talented young Harpists whose excellent work has commanded the admiration of all who have heard them. These little people vary in age from eight to fourteen years. They have been taking lessons for a year or more, and have no difficulty whatever in handling the instrument, and the results are more satisfactory than are usually developed in the same length of time on other instruments.”

I just thought you and others might find that interesting!

-Gregg

[Gregg Bailey]

I just realized–Christy, you said that you’ve seen the Prelude in-person at your local store; can’t you just have your daughter try it out to see if she’s reasonably comfortable plucking the strings? I imagine they would have some sort of stool she could try sitting on, as well.?

-Gregg

[jaydg]

Well, except that I didn’t experience any issues plucking the strings initially. It was repetition and finding ways that were ‘easier’, ie pulling hand towards finger not vv, that turned out to be the issues.

Harp teachers?

[balfour-knight]

As a piano, organ, and harp teacher for many years, I can say that most children I taught had very strong little fingers, especially the boys. I liked for the harp students to first study piano for at least a year before I started them on harp. That way, they could get acquainted with reading music at the keyboard without the additional struggle of plucking the harp strings. They could also develop hand/eye coordination before plucking harp strings.

I agree with Gregg, have your daughter try plucking the strings on the Prelude, with just thumbs and 2nd fingers, or maybe 3rd fingers, to see how she does. (4th fingers take longer to develop on harp, and 5th fingers are not used at all.) If the strings are just too much for her at 6 years old, maybe a Harpsicle by Rees harps would work well to get her started. Gregg could tell you all about those.

I hope some of this helps, Christy!

Harp Hugs from both of us,
Balfour and Carol Lynn

[Heartbroke and Inchoate]

Balfour, Jaydg, and Gregg,

Thank-you for all the discussion and input! My kids have been having a few restless nights and it has limited my time for forum replies!

I appreciate the various perspectives on the tension of the strings. I don’t want my daughter to injure herself or become overwhelmed by the mechanics. However, I really want to lean into and support her enthusiasm. I am inquiring with a couple of harp teachers in my region. I will take her to try out the Prelude strings herself. I think she will be fine, but I will be sure that we start with a harp instructor that will set her up with the best possible technique to prevent any troubles. Hopefully, as we continue with the teacher, they can correct if my daughter begins using poor technique.

There seem to be varying philosophies among harp instructors around teaching young students. Some have no problem starting young ones on the harp and others, as you mentioned Balfour, prefer to start the children with some music theory and piano before beginning the more mechanically challenging harp. Because young children can be fickle, I worry about staring her on an instrument that she has little interest in (piano). It may be in part because I could never get into the piano myself and only really enjoyed music practice when it was singing or playing the harp. I don’t want her enthusiasm to fizzle out, but I don’t want to overwhelm her either.

Gregg, I enjoyed reading the excerpt from your 1899 Lyon and Healy catalog. While it may come across as a bit of a sales pitch, I can certainly agree that there is an “indefinite something in the tone of a Harp which compels [my] interest and admiration.”

As it happens, one of the branches in connection to my local music store just recently received a pre-owned L&H Prelude 40 in natural (we could be harp twins, Gregg)! And the price is less expensive than all the new harps I was looking at – perfectly in my budget! I feel like it was meant to be! I have already put a (refundable) deposit on it. We are exploring the best timing to have it shipped to my local branch. I didn’t realize, but supposedly, it is risky to move harps in the winter as the cold can cause damage. I also want to check it over myself before committing 100%.

The look and sound of the Troubador are lovely. It looks like one would take much longer to order in. It’s interesting that you note a fuller sound, Gregg. And also odd that the Prelude does not have levers on the bottom two strings…

Has anyone tried both the K2 Harp Caddy and the Lyon and Healy model? I can either buy the K2 Harp Caddy on my own, or go through the store to bring in the Lyon and Healy model. I have head positive reviews for both, but if anyone has a side-by-side comparision, that would be splendid.

Thank-you all for advising on our journey into the harp!

-Christy

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