Rees levers

[stardust]

Hi everyone!

I’m looking to buy some levers for my lap harp. I live far away from any other harpists – hundreds of miles away from the nearest builder or shop, so my decision-making is limited to what I can gather from information online.

The Rees look like a nice option to me, and I’ve been in touch with them via email. They have been very nice in answering some of my questions and have said that I can place an order with them if I want to.

However, there’s one question I worried might be a bit rude to pose directly to them. On my floor harp, I’ve got Universal levers, and I confess I’m not too happy with them, due to how noisy they are in action. The tone is good when they’re engaged, and changing between keys is no problem; but every time I have need for an accidental, when I disengage the lever, it makes a loud “clicking” noise. My goal is to change out the Universals on my floor harp for Camacs or Teifis eventually – or possibly Rees. In any case, I really want Rees on my lap harp, but I’m wondering – are they more silent in action than the Universals?

Would love to hear from someone who has some hands-on experience with Rees levers!

[charles-nix]

Rees are very similar to Truitt. In practicality, you must have threaded bridge pins, not plain sliding ones. So be sure of that. Both Rees and Truitt will be quiet in action, but likely have much more throw than the Universals.

Are you aware of how much hole-filling and finish touch-up will be needed to make a nice looking job of a lever change? Do you have the woodworking skills to accurately layout and drill new screw holes, even if they overlap into the side of the previous hole? Just want you to be aware that changing levers is much harder even than installing new ones. It is not a project for a hand drill, but for completely unstringing the harp, disassembling the neck, laying out with a scribe, and having a proper drill press. Or you will have a job that will be less than satisfactory.

My first thought is that the Universals are clicking as the metal hits metal as they fully open. Could you glue a dot of very thin felt (like billiard cloth) or blotter paper at the spot where the metal hits to cushion the lever motion. I don’t have a Universal here to look at, and there may not be string clearance available, but it is a LOT less work than changing levers, and is totally reversible if it doesn’t help.

Charles Nix

[stardust]

Hi Charles, thanks for the response.

I didn’t know threaded bridge pins were a requirement for Rees or Truitt levers. That is perfect though; my lap harp does happen to have threaded bridge pins! Looks like I will be placing an order very soon.

EDIT: I fear I am not familiar with the terminology here – can you please explain what you mean by ‘have much more throw’?

Regarding the lever change for the floor harp, I have some awareness of what the job entails, as I needed to remove and re-fit a few of them a few years ago. It isn’t ideal, and I have considered the possibility of one day selling and buying a whole new harp instead – though I’m immensely fond of my harp, and would be loath to see it go.

Your suggestion of ‘padding’ the levers with thin felt or blotter paper is one that hadn’t occurred to me. I’ll definitely give that a go. Thanks a lot!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by stardust.

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Stardust,

“More throw” means that the lever handle has more upward travel when lifting it to engage the lever.

I have several harps with different types of levers, including Rees. I think they’re fine, and I actually find them to be smoother than Truitt (I have a preowned Rees double-strung harp with older Truitt levers). The levers that bother me the most are the ones on my Salvi lever harp, as they produce that noisy click you describe. The Rees ones are much quieter, though some of them do produce a soft click when disengaging them.

I hope this helps!

-Gregg

[wil-weten]

For a lap harp I would consider light-weight levers in order not to get a top heavy harp. I’ve heard great things about the new Forte levers, but I haven’t been able to try them out myself.

[stardust]

Hi Gregg,

That is just what I needed to know. I have placed my order with Rees now; thank you so much for helping me out! It was so difficult to find lever reviews online, so I really appreciate it – your post, as well as Charles’s.

All the best!

[stardust]

Wil-Weten – I missed your post, sorry! Would you consider the Rees to be quite heavy, then? They do not list the size specs on their website, so I did not think to consider that.

I had not heard of the Forte levers, but looked them up after reading your post. They do look intriguing.

[Gregg Bailey]

I don’t know how the weight of Rees levers compares to Forte, nor do I have any harps with Forte levers, but consider the fact that Rees Harps puts their Rees levers on all of their Harpsicle line, including the small models, which are designed to be extra lightweight. So they’re certainly appropriate for lap harps, even if they’re not the absolute lightest weight lever.

Keep us updated on your project!

-Gregg

[stardust]

Good point. And I will! I built the harp from a kit last year, so I am extra excited to add the final touch to it soon. 🙂

[balfour-knight]

I have played Rees harps, and the levers seem to work fine. Good luck on this project, Stardust!

[balfour-knight]

https://www.shrewedfox.com/forte-levers This tells all about the Forte levers! They seem to have much to recommend them, and look good, all metal, with choice of silver or gold. There is even a separate Youtube video showing how they work and slide up the string to sharp a note. I still prefer the direct, no slide action on the string, of the Camac levers, though. The Forte levers are advertised as being light weight, probably lighter in weight than the Camacs. I have never examined a Forte lever in person, however, so maybe I’ll get the opportunity some day!

Happy Harping, friends!
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

How is the lever job progressing?

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