Transporting a harp

[victoria-m]

Hi everyone, I need to transport my pedal harp to another city and it’s around 7-8 hours by car. I need some advice if I should loosen all the strings and by how much approximately? Are there also other precautions I should take for such a long journey? Thanks a lot in advance for all your help.

[patricia-jaeger]

Not knowing where you are located, and whether the new place will be hotter or colder than where you are now, I can’t help much. However if you (or whoever is driving the harp to the new place) are comfortable in the car, your harp is likely to be also. A “Space Blanket” of some silvery heat-reflecting material is sold in places that sell camping gear, and used to be available from Sylvia Woods’ Harps. That would keep extreme heat from damaging your instrument. Because of possible sudden stops a large harp might slide if not tied and cushioned preventively. I don’t think loosening any strings would be necessary. If your new city or the area you travel through is much cooler in temperature, make allowances for perhaps bundling up the harp in an unzipped sleeping bag or two. Put more detail into your question for more help, because no one wants your harp to be damaged : )

[victoria-m]

Thanks for the tips Patricia 🙂 actually it’s for a gig in another city and i’ll be driving it back once done. The place where i’m going has pretty much the same temperature and humidity, so no change in those aspects.

I’m just wondering if i should loosen it since new harps always arrive with loose strings and a friend of mine transported hers on a plane once and end up with a couple of broken strings.

[rachel-fowler]

I usually just pack mine in with sleeping bags (like Patricia suggested), and it drives just fine for hours! I do like to make sure the sun isn’t hitting it directly in the same spot the entire time, though.
I think loosening the strings applies to air travel, when the pressure & humidity will fluctuate quite a bit during the flight. If you’re staying in the same climate zone while driving, you should be fine!
(Just keep the car comfortable for you, and it’ll be comfortable for the harp.)
Have fun with your gig! : )

[elizabeth-chang]

Are you guys packing them in sleeping bags inside another travel case, or just the bare harp? I’m going to be driving one this weekend for a few hours, and it may or may not come with a case. I’d love to not have to shell out more zillions on the case if I can use the plethora of sleeping bags I already have!

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