Home › Forums › Harps and Accessories › Major faults with Aoyama Etude
- This topic has 22 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by leonard victor.
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July 24, 2010 at 12:49 am #73450barbara-lowParticipant
Hi Ann,
From my own experience, a harp has to be regulated before it leaves the factory. It would be otherwise unplayable.
Then, with the amount of jostling and bumping, temperature and humidity changes, the regulation, which is all ready being stressed, becomes further stressed. Maybe not enough to break something or have the harp develop buzzes, but enough that the harp could be somewhat out of tune. Having the harp re-regulated after it arrives in a showroom would seem to be a decision the dealer would make depending upon the condition the instrument arrived in, and later, something to be negotiated during a sale. I do believe, though, that the best time to have that second regulation is when the harp is in its permanent home.
I thought Leonard had come to the conclusion that his harp was in desperate need of intonation work and was venting about how the support wasn’t coming from the dealer. Not knowing what agreement was made regarding regulations, warranties and/or guarantees between buyer and seller, I can’t offer a response. So, perhaps two issues exist: getting the harp to play in tune and expectation management.
All the best,
Barbara
July 24, 2010 at 1:08 am #73451barbara-lowParticipantHi Leonard,
If you are going to replace all the strings, don’t play them in so much that the string becomes dented from the disk pins. Also, you don’t ‘have’ to change all the strings. Changing out the top three octaves is highly recommended since the tolerances are so narrow, and changing out the bass wires will improve the sound because of sympathetic vibrations.
Not being able to hear the “double pitch” of some of the upper notes makes it hard to diagnose. The string could be false. Check for dented and worn through finishes where the disk pins grip the string. Have you tried replacing the string to see if that wierd sound goes away? Also, make sure the lower octaves are in tune with that note. You’ll be surprised how a note will sound out of tune because a lower octave of the same note is really the one out of tune.
This is new news to me, but I’ll pass it along. The harp is theoretically an enharmonic instrument, but in reality it is not an enharmonic instrument.
All the best,
Barbara
July 24, 2010 at 2:10 am #73452unknown-userParticipantDear Barbara,
I most agree with everything you have said – but I suppose it a matter of degrees.
Yes, you are right that harps are regulated before they leave the factory, and in an “ideal world” they would all be regulated perfectly. But most harp repairers and harpists I have spoken to
July 24, 2010 at 10:43 pm #73453barbara-lowParticipantHi Ann
It’s true that my interactions have been good with the manufacturers/dealers that I have purchased my harps from and admit that I’ve been fortunate in this regard. This is true, too, for the technicians (factory/certified and independent) that have worked on my harps, but have seen and heard of issues that colleagues and students have had. I’m sorry that that has been Leonard’s and your experience and agree that it’s frustrating trying to get repairs done in both a timely and ethical manner.
I really hope all the issues Leonard, you and others are having to deal with are resolved quickly and to everyone’s satisfaction. Looking forward to hearing good news!
Regards,
Barbara
August 19, 2010 at 9:37 am #73454Ben MorleyParticipantHello All – this is Ben Morley from Clive Morley Harps – have registered on this site having lurked and viewed for many years.
I would ask Leonard Victor to give me a call 01367 860 494 or email me at ben@morleyharps.com
From our records I have we have no customer called Leonard Victor, nor one we have sold an Etude 46 to – and I have no recollection of speaking to Leonard Victor.
August 19, 2010 at 9:45 am #73455Ben MorleyParticipantSorry Tel Number 01367 860 493
September 22, 2010 at 8:38 am #73456leonard victorParticipantI’ve just seen Ben’s reply. My screen name here is not my full name but my middle names. I have spoken to Ben in the past and did raise the tuning issue. I have to say I found him somewhat avoiding of the issue and he put it down to my inexperience and other things, but perhaps he felt he was being helpful. At no time did he offer to send a technician over to fix the problem. I mentioned the pinched notes and the discs needing regulation. He did not make it clear whether the Harp WAS regulated before dispatch or whether they were uncrated, given a cursory look then dispatched on to the customer.
I have been completely honest about this. I will attempt to contact Morleys again and see if I get a better response this time.
September 24, 2010 at 6:43 am #73457leonard victorParticipantI’m pleased to say Morleys have been in touch with me and there was an apparent misunderstanding about my harp, and they have now kindly agreed to do a full service and regulation under guarantee. I am happy to withdraw my original complaint and am grateful to Ben at Morley harps for following this up and offering to put things right.
I would add that Morleys do give good value and strive to accomodate the customer financially, and that was never an issue. I’m looking forward to my harp being regulated and being able to play in tune when using different keys.
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