Which lever harp for a rich sound?

[balfour-knight]

The difference between pedal gut and lever gut is a 4th. In other words, a C string on a pedal harp would be the G string below that C on a lever harp, the interval of a 4th lower. (count c b a g to get 4). 4th octave C (.055) on pedal harp is the same gauge as 4th octave G on lever harp.

This thinner gauge for lever harp stringing does indeed feel different, especially if the harpist is more used to one or the other, and has to change! Gregg experiences this first-hand on his Ravenna and Boulevard, but the bass wire strings are evidently the same on both models.

Jaydg, have you made a decision yet about which of these might be the right harp for you?

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[jaydg]

Hi Balfour,
I’m lucky in that the Edinburgh harp festival is in a few weeks time, and is only 3 hours away.
So I’ve decided I’m going to go for a day, and ‘audition’ harps.

[balfour-knight]

That’s great! I wish I could be there, too!

[Sophie Liebregts]

I have a Triplett Ventana 32 strings which has carbon strings. It’s not exactly the lightest but I play it in sessions all the time and its sound “cuts” through the noise quite well. I got it in The Netherlands from The Troubadour Harps.

[jaydg]

In the end, I bought a Pilgrim Clarsach.
I was able to play so many different harps, and finally it came down to the Camac Ulysse and the Pilgrim – there were others that sounded beautiful but no lighter than my current one.

I was very glad to be able to play them though, because even the six Clarsachs I played were quite different. I loved the look of the very pale ones, but bought the walnut-stained one, which was the one I liked the sound of most.

And it’s just right – sounds great, and so easy to take to folk group etc. Plus I’m still on gut strings, which I’m used to. The Ulysse has fluorocarbon, which were very thin and the coloured strings washed out – not good for playing in dark pubs! (and it was £2.5k more expensive!)

[balfour-knight]

That is wonderful news, Jaydg! I just looked on Pilgrim’s website and that sounds/looks like a nice little harp–concert tension and spacing, plus light-weight for portability. I envy your being so close to Edinburgh, though! We are about that same distance from the Atlanta Harp Center which is in Georgia, USA, and they feature nice harps and events there.

Congratulations on your new harp!

Harp Hugs from both of us,
Balfour and Carol Lynn

[jaydg]

Thanks Balfour 😊

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