The art of harp price negotiation

[Gretchen Cover]

Excellent observations and commentary on buying a used harp.

[Harper10]

Thank you so much, Gretchen! I really appreciate that!

[balfour-knight]

I agree with Gretchen, very good observations and commentary on buying a harp, Harper 10. I just realized that you are the same as Harperkat and I enjoyed re-reading about your search for a lever harp. What kind are you currently playing? I ended up with just one, my Dusty FH36S in cherry, and one concert grand pedal harp, my Camac Atlantide Prestige in maple. These two are my ultimate harps, and are here to stay, but it took years with much patience and research, along with fate, to finally arrive at “perfection,” ha, ha!

Best of luck finding the harp/harps of your dreams!
Balfour

[Harper10]

Balfour-Knight! Indeed, it is I! Haha. 🙂 I forgot that that was my original username as I think I forgot my password for that account. Yes, you and everyone on the forums were so very helpful in helping me start my harp journey. It has been a wonderful experience. When I got started on the harp in 2015 I first rented a Lyon and Healy Ogden and took my first harp lesson 5 days later! My teacher has been so wonderful and helped me find my first lever harp, a pre-owned 2011 Thormahlen Serenade. It’s the best purchase I have ever made. I purchased it from one of my teacher’s students, who has become a dear friend. I got married in August of this year and I purchased a Rees Special Edition Fullsicle harp as a little wedding gift to myself. It’s an incredible instrument and has helped me get out of my perfectionistic mindset and focus on playing with expression and fun. The harp sure is a wonderful instrument.

Thank you for your encouragement. I really needed to be reminded that finding the right harp is a process. You are wonderful!

[balfour-knight]

Hi again, Harper 10!

Congratulations on your marriage, especially during this challenging year of the pandemic. Is your spouse a musician? My wife of 44 years is a vocalist, and I often accompany her on harp, piano or organ. We have been professional musicians all these years and even before we got married, ha, ha!

I wanted to say Thormahlens are great harps. I especially like their Swan model in its many different woods. Once Dave went over to Camac levers, his harps are especially fine for professional playing.

In your search for a pedal harp, please keep Camac in mind along with L&H and Salvi. If you are mechanically minded, you can regulate a Camac yourself. There was a separate thread running here about Camac/L&H maintenance that you may have read. You can hear in the posted videos the amazing sound of Philippa’s Atlantide Prestige in her solo recordings and with an orchestra, the Gliere Harp Concerto. She is a wonderful young harpist in Australia.

The Camac Clio 44-string is a fine harp, especially in the extended soundboard model, as is the Athena, which seems to have been replaced by the new Egerie, worth checking out. The Atlantide is my favorite, of course, and I have played many of their top-of-the-line other models. If you are able to go to the Virginia or Atlanta harp centers, they regularly have great harps of all brands to check out. (They had a few new Athenas featured recently at a very good price!)

Thanks for all your kind words. We wish you all the best in this quest!

Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Author]

Posts