Small lap harp for airplanes

[PassionateCross]

Greetings,

I need your recommendations for a small lap harp to carry on airplanes with good quality sound. Also, a double-strung one is preferable so that my repertoire’s not limited.

Right now, I have my eye on Stoney End’s Brittany-22 lap harp. Would you guys have any other recommendations before I proceed? I’m open to reading your suggestions!

Thank you

• This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PassionateCross.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PassionateCross.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PassionateCross.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PassionateCross.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by PassionateCross.

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, Passionate Cross! It’s so funny you should ask this right now, because this is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking into lately. Here is what my research shows. The typical carry-on limit on airlines is 22″ x 14″ x 9″, and there are only TWO double-strung harp models I can find which fit under that limit: the Marini Travel Harp (22 strings, available as either a single 22 or a double 22×2), and the Tremer Mini Luna 22×2. The Marini model is much more expensive but allows for full levers, and it has a prettier lower range of F3-F6 (4F-1F in harp nomenclature), whereas the Tremer Mini Luna is pitched up a 5th (C4-C7, or 4C-1C in harp nomenclature) and doesn’t allow for levers, and it has a look similar to a Harp-E, not very elegant at all. Other differences are the fact that the Marini Travel harp has a lyre-style vertical soundbox, but the Tremer Mini Luna has a detachable harp-style soundbox that snaps into place with magnets, and the fact that the Tremer Mini Luna has relatively high string tension while the Marini Travel harp has fairly low tension. Tremer Harps is located in Germany, and MariniMade Harps is in the U.S. I’ve been seriously considering ordering a double-strung version of the Marini Travel Harp with full levers, even though I haven’t flown on an airline in more than 25 years and have no plans to do so anytime soon! But either of these would also make wonderful road trip harps, too. As for the cost of the Marini Travel double, with full Forte levers and all the accessories (including mic pickup), it’s around $3900 before shipping, depending on which levers you get, and that’s if you go with the default cherry wood in semi-gloss coating.

Any harps larger than that, including the Stoney End Brittany (considerably larger than the usual limit at 29″ x 19″), are just large enough that you would likely have to hope that the stewardesses would have room in a closet for it and would allow it, or at the very least that they would allow a larger carry-on than 22″x14″, whether or not it fits in the overhead bin. The Marini Travel harp is 21″x13″ so that when it’s in the case, it still qualifies as a no-questions-asked carry-on!

I’ve asked Alex Marini many questions about the Travel Double model, so I might be able to answer further questions from you if you have any. I also have links to videos and websites of these models, but I don’t know if the HC forum allows links anymore.

I hope this helps!

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

I don’t see how a double-strung would increase your choice of literature–the 22 string range is very limited and double strings would not increase that range. There are folks on here who love small harps, so I hope they will respond. I am a “large harp” harpist, ha, ha! Best wishes!

[Blindharper]

Hi,
I would generally tend to agree with the feeling about repertoire, though I will note that while a double string doesn’t increase your octave range. It may still allow for more complex arrangements, which a standard single course wouldn’t allow for. I’m the owner of a 38 string model myself, but have explored a double strung in the past and can see both sides of the argument. At the end of the day what really needs to be considered isn’t just the size of the harp but how protective the case it is shipped in is. I’ve traveled with my 32 string crescendo model, which was the harp I had previously And honestly would’ve preferred a full hard shelf light case, but had to make it with a soft cover. It is doable if frustrating.

[stardust117]

Hi Greg,

Thanks a lot for your suggestions! I appreciate how you remind me of the typical carry on limits! And I’m going to search those 2 harps you just mentioned! They sure sound appealing. Again, I appreciate the thorough research.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 1 month ago by stardust117.

[stardust117]

Hi Balfour-knight and Blindharper,

Thank you for your replies. Now that you both mention about the repertoire, I’ll really do my research on considering whether I should get a double-strung lap harp, or a single string one!

[balfour-knight]

Hi Gregg,

Just found this–maybe these forums are working again.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Gregg Bailey]

Hi, PassionateCross/Stardust 117 (are you the same person?),

As you may already realize, one of the magical aspects of a small double-strung harp is the fact that you can practice/play much of your favorite floor harp repertoire simply by moving your left hand up one or two octaves as needed, since the hands don’t collide on a double; you just have to get used to the sound of the left-hand part being much higher and overlapping with the RH, but the resulting effects can actually be quite beautiful!

Here is a video of Susanna Victoria demonstrating her Marini Double Travel Harp 22×2 on Facebook; I suspect she’s doing that very thing, playing a floor harp arrangement in the manner described above, and it’s beautiful! I really like how mellow and therapeutic the tone is; it seems like a perfect model for bedside harp therapy! Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/susanna.victoria.3/videos/1000979771500294

In addition to that particular feature/use of double-strung harps, I also really enjoy the beautiful effects of intentionally playing with the hands in the same range, especially in the range around middle-C, echoing and interleaving/overlapping, even on larger floor double-strung models! There is actually a FaceBook group for double-strung harp, so you might consider joining it for further support or to ask questions, etc.

At any rate, that Marini model (double or single) is the only harp model I’m aware of which is both fully-leverable and fits under the maximum standard carry-on dimensions.

Balfour, I found out that the HC forum system had targeted my account as SPAM, for some reason, so a list moderator fixed it (for now, anyway!).

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

Let’s hope this forum stays fixed, Gregg!

[Ravenna 34]

A 26 string harpsicle would fit in the overhead bin. I had a standard harpsicle as my first harp and it is extremely light and portable. They aren’t the most aesthetic harps, but some people really love their bright tone. If you’re still shopping around I’d recommend at least giving them a quick look.

[Gregg Bailey]

Even though something like a Harpsicle/Fullsicle would technically fit in some overhead bins on certain airlines, there’s still no guarantee that it would be allowed on those airlines since a harp of those dimensions is so much larger than the standard 22″x14″ carry-on size limit, as they’re trying to maximize the overhead bin space for everyone, even though the bins are much larger than that size limit. Josh Layne posted a video about this very thing in November 2023 called “Flying with a Harp”; I’ll post a link to this separately in case the forum blocks it.

Again, there are only two “harp” models I have found in my research which are under that standard carry-on size limit and which would therefore be guaranteed to be able to be taken on board as a no-questions-asked carry-on: the MariniMade Travel Harp (available as either a single 22-string or a double-strung 22×2) and the Tremer Mini Luna double-strung 22×2. I say “harp” in quotation marks because the soundbox of the Marini version is vertical, so that one is technically a lyre in construction.

I will post the link to Josh Layne’s video about flying with his Harp-E and the stresses involved in a separate message.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Gregg Bailey.

[Gregg Bailey]

Josh Layne’s video link as promised in my previous message:

-Gregg

[Gregg Bailey]

Also, when it comes to harps with a small range (less than 4 octaves), I still firmly believe that, if you’re not afraid of double-strung, a double allows for a MUCH greater range of repertoire to be practiced due to the fact that you can simply play the left-hand part up one or two octaves without colliding with the right hand; you just have to get used to the left-hand part sounding higher and overlapping the RH in placement and sound. The unexpected effects can be quite beautiful, however!

-Gregg

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Gregg Bailey.
• This reply was modified 1 year ago by Gregg Bailey.

[balfour-knight]

Gregg, it would be nice for you to post a video here of you playing the double-strung harp, showing us what it can do!

[Gerrard Els]

I flew from Seoul to Johannesburg with my Triplett Zephyr 22 string harp just fine, and took it as onboard cabin luggage.

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