Salvi Orchestra 46 or Salvi Sinfonietta 47

[Eileen]

I am new to harps and would like to purchase a pedal harp hopefully within a month. It’s really not easy to find the most ideal harp in such a short timeframe.

Currently there’s a Salvi Orchestra 46 (made in 2000), Regulated and restrung March 2022, sold for $9900 and another Salvi Sinfonietta 47 (made in 2001) and it was regulated and restrung many years ago, sold for $14,000-15,000. I plan to try those harps and see which one I like better. Does anyone know price-wide, is the asking price for those harps reasonable? Or if anyone could advise me on where to look for the pricing of an old harp, I’ll be very grateful, too. Thanks!

[Sara Prazenics]

How new? My advice would be to start on a lever harp, not a pedal

[Eileen]

Thank you so much for your reply, Sara. I started learning harp a couple months ago but I practice about 2-3 hours a day. Not because I plan to play this long but because I always lose track of time whenever I start playing harp. With the help of my years of piano background, I am working on some late beginning and intermediate level score now. My teacher thinks it’s okay for me to get a pedal harp in the first place. Thanks again!

[Gretchen Cover]

I would contact Lyon Healy/Salvi in Chicago and ask for the prices new. At 20 years old and with inflation, the harp asking price would probably be around the original sales price. It will likely get down to which harp you like better in terms of sound and plucking. If all are equal, I would get the harp that was restrung and regulated more. You may want to have a harp guild tech inspect the harp or perhaps arrange a FaceTime look at the harp. I presume your harp teacher will also help you. I have owned Salvi concert grands for many years.

[Eileen]

Thank you, Gretchen, for your feedback. I’ll call them for sure. Thanks again.

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