Theory vs Practice vs Reality

[Biagio]

>but lets keep that entre nous because I don’t want Biagio to know. He is pretty invested in the woodworking aspect of harping. BTW did you notice your spelling of ‘would’ in your last paragraph?<

Hee hee hee back attcha, friends. Yeah, the harp and it’s design fascinates me but that should not be taken to mean that I think it is the best way to go for most people. As Wil knows from my stint as owner/moderator on the Virtual Harp Circle I will always suggest what seems the best fit for the individual, but won’t get pushy about it. Renting a Ravenna 34 for a while often seems the best fit to me for many people especially if finance is a significant consideration.

I do strongly believe however that some understanding of design concepts will help a beginner – uh, make that any player. Among other things, it will be helpful in evaluating various harps beyond “this is my favorite.” But that does mean they have to actually build one!!

Point of fact while I wait for chicken to bake and just babble on…my first teacher required all her students to evaluate their harps and explain why it sounded as it did. Some grumbled about that (hee hee again).

Wil, I’ve just about talked myself into that Cheyenne conversion. What’s a couple of thousand among friends?? It won’t be for a while though. If I do I will order the kit now and do the basics – box, neck-pillar, any required surgery – and order a spruce SB down the road a piece.

Harp hugs to all friends here,
Biagio

• This reply was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by Biagio.

[Biagio]

Trust me, you do not want to carry an FH36 or even and FH34 on your back. I do have straps for the CD34 case which fits my rather large 26 string – sheesh, ouchy shoulders. The cart thingy though is really worth it!

Biagio

[Veronika]

OK, I won’t try! 😀

[Tacye]

I see you are considering used harps, and think that can be a very good choice. As your playing develops you will learn much more about what you like and want in a harp, and your first harp may well not be your last. Different places have different second hand markets, but in my experience harps loose value fastest as they pass from new to second hand, and if well treated mostly maintain value as they pass from second to third or more hand. There are lots of great harp models which you could learn well on.

[Biagio]

Good point Tacye! In the Puget Sound area where Howard and I live, I did not see anything on consignment at DS likke we have been talking about. There is a Musicmakers Gothic 31 offered at the Puget Sound Folk Harp Society (aka Reigning Harps):

http://www.reigningharps.com/harps_for_sale.htm

Craigslist is a good place to look too but it would be wise to take someone who knows harps along – some are good some are not:-)

Biagio

[Biagio]

>Hi Biagio, I would love to follow your stories and pictures of the Cheyenne if you would decide to build that harp.<

Okey dokey Wil but let’s do it off line; I do not want to gunk up the Harp Column with attachments. I have your email address from of old.

Kimberly informed me that they instituted a policy not to allow shared emails here – too much spam. Understandable…why do spammers seem to think that harperists are naive? Oh well, I’m sure we have all received some doozies.

One that was going around started out “My [daughter cousin friend’s dog] is interested and what are your fees, where do you live etc.” So when it got to me I told them that my fees are small but I live on Adak Island so the kid would be responsible for ferry costs and arctic clothing.

Bad to the bone:-)

Biagio

[leisesturm]

>In the Puget Sound area where Howard and I live …< I just did a quick Google Maps on Whidbey Is., WA to Portland, OR. 20hr 38m. by bicycle. LOL. If I rent a car and drive it its 4hr 7m. Those logistics are why I haven’t already suggested we meet up at a Starbuck’s near you. You said you had friends in Tacoma. Is that where you think I live?

Portland IMO is not worth the drive down from Puget Sound. The ‘area’ is beautiful but the city is kind of … worse for wear? For someone into bicycles and bicycle culture it did make sense. Still, its saying something that we are both on the West Coast because I’m not from here. I’m a born and bred NY’er until just 8 years ago.

Harp content? <shrugs>

[Biagio]

Howard, my friends in Tacoma give me an open invitation to stay with them anytime so that cuts down on some driving for me. I try to avoid driving these days but when I do I love the Olympic peninsula so when I do go south often take a ferry over to Port Townsend and cruise on down that way, avoiding most of the interstate. You had mentioned that you live around Portland earlier.

I’m not a native here either: born and bred in Williamsburg VA. I moved to Bainbridge Island after shedding the corporate life and fell in love with Puget Sound!

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