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Regular ol’ Prius (2nd generation, but I hear 3rd generation (2010-2015) also works). I have to have the driver seat really far forward. Anyone taller than me (or less patient than me at being smooshed in the car) at 5’7″ would be very uncomfortable, but I play a L&H 100 concert grand. A Prelude is almost 10 inches shorter, which is a mile when it comes to fitting in cars! 🙂
Good luck with your harpmobile purchase!
The 2014 Harpmobile article lists the Jetta Sportwagon as being able to fit a L&H 23, so it should have no problems with a Prelude. One person I know who was looking at a Sportwagon said that the seats don’t lie completely flat, they are slightly pitched up. I’m not sure to what degree it is true, but it may make loading the harp more difficult. Not impossible, but maybe more difficult.
Of course, I have to support my harpmobile: A Prius. A Prelude would fit in a Prius easily 🙂
If you have anything but a minivan, you would load your harp in flat. Starting with the harp a few feet away from the car, and the levers away from the car, tip the harp so that the top lays inside the car (use pillows or some other cushioning to keep the harp from getting dinged from its own weight). Then, go around to the base, pick it up and carefully slide the harp in so the column will be behind the drivers seat. I have a mat that runs all the way from front to back that I pull out over the bumper when I first tip the harp down. Then I just slide the harp along the mat and tuck the mat in at the end. Sometimes the harp has to be angled because it is too long, so push the top of the column to the wall behind the passenger seat and angle it so the base swings to the passenger side of the car.
Perhaps someone will have some first-hand experience. but from what I can tell if you have your heart set on a Sportwagon, it should do the job.
Thanks, everyone!
You have all been so kind to comment.
Andelin, thanks for your support for my stay-at-home efforts. I would be more qualified to teach french horn than harp, but no longer have a horn! 🙂 I may be able to find some free-lance work within the field I have a masters in, so I may look into that on top of the harp “business.”
Tacye, you are absolutely right. I should sit down with the harp and at least warm up every day just to see what kind of “day” it may be. Sometimes I find myself wanting to work hard, sometimes I just want to play old music, sometimes I just want to go to bed. There’s no way to know what kind of day it is without trying! I also have noticed that my playing has not gotten any worse, and that a break may have indeed helped.
Allison, you poor thing! I couldn’t imagine my harp making me SICK! I know what you mean about things that used to bring you enjoyment not having the same power. I don’t think it is depression or anything, as I feel more upbeat than normal. I’m just lazier, really, and reading a book seems like more fun than concentrating on something :). Since it seems to have passed with others, I have more confidence that it will pass and there is hope of my “normal” self returning eventually.
John, you’re observations are very insightful. While I feel very upbeat now, I am fully aware that I will be losing the daily contact with people at work and I usually don’t do well when lonely. Perhaps it is more than just financial pressure. There may be pressure to not fall into depressive patterns by having an established plan to keep me busy during the transition.
Currently, my teacher and I have changed tactics. I’m not going to try to make money NOW, but am preparing to have everything harp ready to go come the late winter when I may be ready to get out and play. I am focusing on learning wedding music so it will be solid by the time I’m hired, and preparing a website to be launched when I feel ready to do so. I am still contacting people to find places to play indoors busking-style or at nursing home dinners to keep myself accustomed to performing, but without the added pressure of performing as a “professional.” So far, this new tactic has encouraged me to start learning new music, but not feeling so bad if I don’t feel up to working hard each night. I have time, and slow and steady wins the race!
I currently have middle C as a Premier and all the other Cs on my harp are still Bow Brand. I have noticed that, as the overhead light in my room is on the other side of the harp from me, the Premier string is a slightly brighter red and less opaque than the Bow, and tends to glow just a little bit. It doesn’t bother me, I kind of like it, but it is a difference.
On my harp, there is a dead spot for a couple of strings surrounding middle C, and I do feel that the Premier string has helped liven up that note. I am planning on replacing the other strings in the dead spot with Premier and see if the whole section can be improved.
Balfour,
I guess I was slightly hesitant to name him as he didn’t give me permission to express his sentiments on the internet. Not that he seemed shy or doubtful of his opinions. That being said, if someone cares enough to do sleuthing, he’s the same guy who regulated your harp last year! 🙂
I was about to add to my post on a similar subject the other day. I was getting my harp regulated yesterday, and the technicians have switched completely to Premier from Bow. I will repeat here what they told me: They just got sick of all of the false strings and breakage and the hassle was too great. I had 5 strings removed from my harp (put on a month ago) because they were too false for tolerance. Another harp that was just restrung had about 10 removed. They have found very few false strings with Premier, and if they did, the remainder of the strand would be fine – unlike the Bow brand where the whole package would be false.
As far as sound and feel, that will be a personal preference. Since I only have 5 Premier strings now, it’s hard for me to make a judgement on sound, but it isn’t so different that a scale run between Bow and Premier is noticeable. The regulators mentioned that to their ear some harps sound better with Bow, some with Premier.
Anyway, that’s the new information I heard!
Hi John! How exciting!
Gut Feelings. Gut is a bit stiffer than nylon, but is tied the same way as nylon. Side note, though: I made the mistake of tying some of my second octave knots in the “overhand knot” way with the extra loop over the anchor. This caused a lot of pressure on the anchors and they bent. I re-did these recently with the more “bunny ear” approach of knot tying where you have a loop sticking off to one side when you’re done and the anchors seem much happier. I think the overhand knot approach is fine for the upper registers, or maybe if you use anchors that aren’t 5th octave string pieces (or maybe I’m just bad at tying knots!).
Anchors aweigh! Use what you like. Most use string snippets. I have received pieces of string for anchors free from several retailers. Just call and ask if you need some when you order your strings. I have the impression Camac recommends the wood toggles, but not sure…
Brands: I use Burgundy on my harp. Since I am a casual gigging harpist, I decided to save the money. As I get more regular work and my harp playing can support itself better, I may get “better” strings.  The quality of the harp sound, to me, is more in the regulation and tuning than the strings, but I haven’t yet tried Premier strings.
I believe there is currently a shortage of Bow and Burgundy since they are coming out of their quality issues. Since they are aware of the issue, they should be getting it fixed and supplies re-established soon.
Adjustment: You’re harp is going to break strings for a while. I purchased my L&H 100 used last spring. She hadn’t been played or tuned in years and was given new strings and regulated before I purchased her. The strings stretched for a good month, then started breaking like crazy. I was breaking a couple a week for a few months. The regulation went out almost immediately, since the harp was ignored and was experiencing so much change. I was told that spring is a rough time for harps, much less ones that are starting a new life somewhere else. She settled down within a few months and now I break a string once every month or two. Usually during thunderstorms. 🙂
Also, the key to not being frustrated that you can’t play because you’re missing strings is to always have extras. Even if it is a skeleton set. However, since your string popping days may continue for a little bit, you may just want to fork over the money for the whole thing. You can get 2 or 3 strings out of one package for 2nd octave and up.
Enjoy!
I don’t have any links to blogs or anything, but perhaps we can get some testimonials here that can make them feel better. I find the nervousness I have in playing lessons to be a great advantage, actually. If I’m planning on performing a piece, having at least some nervousness will point out the weaknesses in your practice. How else will you know what to work on?
I see the point of lessons as not “proving” how hard you practiced, but to “proof” the practice you did. Sure, it can be discouraging at times. Sometimes I work so hard on something then feel I have nothing to show for it in my lesson. To me, it means that I know it well at home, but not under pressure. Those are two different scenarios entirely.
I can see, however, if there is an individual who has absolutely no desire to perform in any way, that the effects of nervousness in lessons cannot validate their ability to play in the capacity that they enjoy. Then they may feel that no one knows how well they play the harp except for them and perhaps immediate family.
I have found that a few times before my lesson to “perform” instead of practice first thing. Sit down with as much warm up as you would get in your lesson, and pretend to have one. Play through your pieces, imagining your teacher looking over your shoulder. Record yourself. Do something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Move the harp somewhere else, sometimes that’s weird enough!
Someone on the Virtual Harp Circle just posted about Hayden Harps. They are carbon fiber and flat (soundboard goes vertically instead of horizontally), specifically designed for travel. Price is $2200 (Canadian). I don’t know where you are, but the exchange rate could be in your favor. They are going to be exhibitors at a few of the harp festivals this summer. Here’s my attempt at posting a link…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d462V2p5kkQ&feature=youtu.be
This would be a great option for a portable harp, but at 24 strings, probably not the most versatile. I would be reticent to bring any harp (besides carbon fiber) backpacking. Car camping would be bad enough if it gets hot, even though you can get it out of the rain…
They tested a Subaru Crosstrek in the Sept/Oct 2014 issue of HarpColumn and found it didn’t fit a concert grand. There is still hope for a semi-grand, though!
You see an occasional figured wood harp out there. Atlanta Harp Center currently has 2, a birds-eye maple and a really cool looking lacewood. Of course, these are both full-sized harps. If you pick out a harp in a large showroom, there’s a chance one has details you like.
By the way, if you are a yoga enthusiast, I wouldn’t worry too much about moving your harp. It’s not about heavy lifting, but about finding the balance point for your harp and your body. Except maybe stairs. I still haven’t figured out stairs…
Perhaps you should start with “what harp will fit in your car?” if that is the limiting factor. The Clio is significantly shorter at 66in, than the other harps that I’ve breezed through this morning (Salvi Arion, L&H 85GP, Chicago Concertino, Venus Semi-Grands) that all ring in at 70 inches. The only other things shorter are 40 string instruments, but you’d be worse off with string limits than the Clio….
Might I ask what kind of vehicle you want to fit a harp in? Some people may have feedback…Or do you have access to a variety of harp models (not all 70 inch harps are going to fit in the same vehicle. The base design determines whether a concert grand fits in my Prius or not…) If there is a harp store near you, or some sort of harp meeting…? That may be the best place to start. If nothing else fits, than the question of to Clio or not to Clio is moot.
Since you ask, I am a full-on grown-up. I started playing in my early thirties. Lever harp for a couple of years and decided to get a pedal harp before we had kids and I spent all of my extra money on them!
Hi Karen!
I have, by no means, an expert opinion. I am a student player and just got my 47 string pedal harp last year. I thought I would just be playing for churches, nursing homes or perhaps weddings in the future. However, I unexpectedly joined a community orchestra when I first purchased the harp. The orchestral music I have encountered has had the 7th octave E a few times, most often played with the octave above it simultaneously. Sometimes, I determined that at my skill level leaving off the 7th octave E and just playing the 6th E allowed me to get to the next notes faster. So, even though I have the string, and my music has called for it, I haven’t always played it because of the nature of the music and my skill level.
I guess what I’m saying is there is almost always a work-around, at least at the level that I play at: Intermediate music that seems to make people happy. I haven’t ventured into the truly “big” works, so someone will have to chime in there.
Quick question, though… Why a semi-grand in the first place? Transport? Cost?
I thought I wanted a semi-grand until I sat behind both sizes. The semi-grands did not feel comfortable, they didn’t fit my body as well as a grand. So, don’t make up your mind until you try some harps on for size!
How fun! I like the gold “A” levers!
Just think on how nice some harp lights would look in addition!
Maybe the harp sounds louder because it is more festive looking. They say we first taste with our eyes, why not first hear with our eyes?
I would not buy a harp without playing it.
I bought a used pedal harp. It was a very tough decision. It came up for sale at a “showroom” and I drove about 4 hours to go see it since it was my dream style in my price range. That, in an of itself, caused a lot of stress. It seemed so perfect, I felt pressure to love it and get it THEN. When I played it, I was uncertain. Did I really want it? Was I being biased because I got my financing in place and drove all this way? I liked the harp’s sound better than the other instruments available. However, committing to something when you don’t know what else may come available is difficult. It’s like deciding to marry after a first date.
In the end, I purchased the harp. To further the marriage analogy, while sparks didn’t quite fly initially, I have a growing love and respect for my new companion. It is an above-average instrument. I have played only two that I liked better, so It suppose I’m doing pretty good. What it came down to was that my budget was for a used harp, a “Chicago” style, or a semi-grand. I don’t find semi-grands comfortable and I didn’t really want a Chicago. Finding a used harp that I was “in love” with would take quite a bit of time and effort, and in the end I would have to choose something anyway.
So, I suppose that purchasing a used harp does have some degree of “settling.” Not because the instruments lose quality (in fact a 10 year old harp may be in the prime of it’s life), but because you lose options.
If you don’t play pedal harp now, I would strongly suggest that you visit any showrooms that you can just to play. Just to experience different harps, get a feel for what you like and don’t like. On a road trip, I stopped at all locations of the Virginia Harp and Atlanta Harp centers and just played on almost every instrument. That way, I felt more prepared to make a decision when a harp came up for sale that was a good fit for me.
If purchasing new, go to the manufacturers. They will have the largest selection of instruments (including used!). You can be sure to pick the one you like the best. Don’t order off the internet. I may be way off-base, but if I were selling harps, I would send the harps no one likes in the showroom to online purchasers.
