Venus vs Lyon & Healy

[phyllis-adams]

While this is a “chat room” for everyone, I still do not think that it is appropriate for anyone to make comments on ANY brand of anything without knowing the FACTS! I still and always will stand by my comment that it is the harpists job to “break in” their new instrument. It does not matter what manufacturer you purchase an instrument from – it is still YOUR JOB!!! There is no perfect harp and certainly shoddy craftsmanship does not fall into this catagory. What I was refering to was development of tone and ease of playing. It takes much more effort on anyone’s part to play on a concert pedal harp than on a small folk harp and this will also take more time. You may have personal preferences – everyone is certainly entitled to that. I really don’t care what harp you or anyone else plays. Facts of life for a harpist involve amongst other things: you have to practice, strings do break, occasionally a pin does break off on a disc, harps do need regulations – some more than others depending on how much the instrument is played on, felts get worn down and affect the regulation, etc. Years ago when I studied with Eddie Druzinsky of the Chicago Symphony, I once asked him to sum up his most successful career. His response was “Blood, sweat & tears. Then more blood sweat and tears.” So let’s all “grow up” and stop whining!

[David Ice]

Bravo, Phyllis!

[eliza-morrison]

I have two Lyon and Healy harps, a style 17 and a 23, and recently bought a Venus Encore. I have been very pleased with the Venus and feel it compares quite favorably with the L&H harps. The L&H style 17 is a great harp; it’s a good size for me (I’m not very tall), and I have never heard a bad one. Mine has a surprisingly big and bright sound for a smaller harp. My new Venus has a very full “booming” sound through the bass, with a lovely clarity in the upper octaves. It is stable and remains in tune well. I am delighted with its sound which has both fullness and warmth. You can’t go wrong with a 17, but I would also not hesitate to buy a Venus. Whatever you buy, play it regularly, tune it carefully every day, and play all kinds of music on it to develop its sound fully. And enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!

[David Ice]

My two Venus HT (High Technology) harps were recently regulated and had the wires changed (and are 3 and 4 years old, respectively.)

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