ORIGINAL Lyon & Healy Troubadour – need your thoughts please

[Neka Borders]

Greetings,

I’m a beginning harpist and am ready to purchase a harp. I hope to one day move on to a pedal harp, but this will be a consideration a few years down the road. I have done a good deal of research, but do not have any “real life” experience in selecting a harp/evaluating its sound, feel, and features. As this will be my first instrument, I don’t wish to break the bank at this point in time. I am considering the purchase of the following harp: Lyon & Healy Troubadour (the very first model they made back in the mid-70s, 1977 I believe, 33 strings, priced around $1,000, black in color, “good condition”-no apparent defects from the pics, original owner who purchased directly from L&H 30 years ago). Since there have been so many model upgrades/changes following this original model, I am concerned that the instrument may/may not be suitable to learn on, for the purposes of later transitioning to a pedal harp. I was advised by the L&H factory that the string spacing/tension/sound board probably have slightly different specs than more current models. Since I am in no position to judge if, and to what degree this will effect 1. the sound, 2. ease of transition to pedal 3. sufficient octave range for learning a variety of musical pieces.etc… I am hoping some more experienced players might weigh in on this for me. I would be greatly appreciative of any insights I may gain from all of you about whether this would be a good purchase and choice for a beginner like me.

Thank you kindly!

P.S. Due to a full schedule, I do not have the luxury of my teacher weighing in and I do not want to lose this sale to someone else if this is a good choice by delaying longer than necessary.

[Briggsie B. Peawiggle]

Hello, and maybe I can help you. At the very least, I can tell you my own experience. I own an original L&H Troubadour I harp. I bought it from a friend for $300. The performance levers were useless and no amount of regulation would make them better. They compromised the sound horribly the way they work, and they weren’t regulated and couldn’t be so any longer. I could not use them at all, and I needed levers. Also, no amount of tuning would keep it in tune as the tuning pegs had been turned so many times over the year, the holes in which they were inserted had become slightly bigger than they should be — just from wear.

[carl-swanson]

The above is very good advice. If the harp has its original levers then they are probably useless. The point is, if this harp needs any work at all, then it’s probably not worth buying, because the work(changing all the levers, or heaven forbid, a new neck or board) is going to drive the price up to about the price of a new lever harp. So be very careful and by all means play it first and make sure you can live with it the way it is.

[Briggsie B. Peawiggle]

Oh, I forgot to mention, the repairs were

[Neka Borders]

Hello,

Thank you for your note. I can see the harp and play it in person, however because I am inexperienced, I would not know what to look for. I am going to see the harp in a couple of days. 1. Would it be obvious if the pegs were loose? Also, 2. exactly what am I looking for in the levers – I suppose the seller can advise if the levers can be regulated if this is not easily identifiable to a beginner. 3. Can you share insight about the general cost you incurred to have the harp you obtained brought into usable condition?

Thank you,

Neka

[Briggsie B. Peawiggle]

I said, but I reiterate:

[Tacye]

My first and simple test for levers is to tune the harp and then engage all the levers and play.

[mel-l]

Hi Neka,

for around 1000$, maybe a little bit more, it is possible to buy a newer instrument from Lyon and Healy certified pre-owned program. I bought a 34 string Ogden lever harp that was built in 2008 and I am very happy with my purchase. It also comes with a one year guarantee. If you are willing to invest just a little bit more, I would suggest you take a look at the website. They also have used Troubadour harps, but these are a little pricier. Also, look often if you are interested, because sometimes the price varies from a couple hundred dollars. One week after I bought mine, there was a similiar one and it was more expensive. Maybe because it was a more popular wood colour ? I am not sure why.

good luck !

[rosalind-beck]

I had an old Troubadour of approximately the vintage you mentioned.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I think it is perhaps overpriced at $1,000 though I am no expert on it. My original troubador, fortunately, still stands straight and true, and has gorgeous tone quality, even with the levers up. The levers can be regulated, but only so much. If you have to have a harp to start right away, and there are no others around for that price, go ahead and buy it if it has no cracks or warping. Just don’t plan on using the levers a lot if they are out of tune. It is just fine to have nylon strings on it down to middle c, and they are better as the levers will slowly shave down the string, and gut strings will break much sooner, I recall.

I was not advised to have new levers put on my harp. Still, if I had the money, I would. The old wood sounds magnificent. It has always had a crystalline quality. Sam Milligan was quite impressed with it.

Such a troubador can serve you well for two years or so. You can learn your technique on it and how to play musically on a harp. It will not be hard to switch to a pedal harp, but when you get one, get the very best one you can.

[Pat Eisenberger]

Do you have a teacher yet? If so, perhaps he/she could look at the harp.

[steven-todd-miller]

The biggest “harp” regret I have is parting with my very first one- an original Troubadour. I loved that thing – the design, the sound, the walnut finish. I didn’t think I would ever need it after I became concertized – I’m stunned at how many functions, events, and school settings I go to where I wished I still had it.

[Shirley Starke]

I’ve had an original Troubadour I for more than 25 years, and wouldn’t trade it for the latest model. The tone is absolutely beautiful (yes, even with the levers), and the volume fills the large church where I sometimes play.

Now my harp must go to Chicago for a new soundboard because some volunteers who were moving it allowed it to get too cold, and it cracked. I dread it, because I don’t believe a new soundboard can come close to the beautiful tone and volume of that harp!

If you have a chance to get one like it

[Neka Borders]

Hi Shirley,

I’m sorry to hear that your Troubadour I was damaged. I’m in Chicago and visit the L&H factory for things often these days (I’m only 10 minutes away!), so let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Regarding the one I was considering, after much research, and lots of advice from the Harpcolumn community, I went ahead with the purchase ($950). I do not regret it. I totally get what you mean about the sound quality – my teacher was so impressed that she wanted to buy it if I didn’t – it was made the year I was born. I’m tuning it freequently with lots of success. But alas, getting back to the Troubadour II… as I mentioned, I’ve been spending lots of time at L&H in Chicago. Right now, they have so many used troubadours with great sound quality! If you’re considering $1,660 for the TII, you can get a troubadour 4, or 5, for only $1,900-2,400. I was just there on Wednesday, 10/28. That’s not much more than the one you’re looking at, so you may want to consider this. The harps sound great – I’m sure they’d play them for you over the phone in the case you’d want to seriously contemplate this option and can’t make it to Chicago. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Neka

[Shirley Starke]

Thanks, Neka! Believe it or not, I still haven’t sent my harp to Chicago for the repair, though I have to soon because of the insurance that covered it. It is SUCH a wrench to lose that wonderful soundboard! It won’t be the same harp again, and the sound quality probably won’t compare – when I bought it in 1983, my teacher said it was the best sounding harp she’d ever heard – and she was used to pedal harps! It hasn’t lost quality with age, but has probably gained.

If I get a second harp, it will definitely be a Troubadour I. I wouldn’t trade a Troubadour I for a III, IV, or V. (The first harp I ever played was a rented Troubadour

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