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Thanks Biagio! I appreciate the tips. Once she holds a tune consistently (getting better all the time!) I’ll be tackling those levers… I’ll be sure to message if I need advice! And I am SO OVER the pins. You’d think it wouldn’t be too hard to design the layout so the strings could stay where they belong… Oh well. I do have the good T6 driver, as I bought one to regulate the levers on my Delight. I always laugh at the little wrenches that get put in different kits and things. Who can make them work?
I’ll have to look into buying the strings in bulk. Great idea. I actually have some work to do on the pegs of the Folcharp, but finding the time for these projects… Well, it took me a year to start this one! ha! I still play it, but a few pegs are waaaay too sticky, and they jump when I tune. James told me what to do, though, so I’ll get it eventually. That’s for another post!
I am so loving this double, being able to play unison hands, and do some overlapping of notes. Y’know, for the few minutes I have until the tuning goes and I have to work on it again. Haha!
A few further notes about the finishing process:
1) The harp came to me 9 weeks later than I was told upon ordering, with no explanation as to why the delay. That made it impossible for me to get to work on it right away, as my springtime project-completing window was gone when it arrived later in the summer.
2) The cherry wood is lovely. It really took on a beautiful depth and almost a shimmer when sanded with very fine sandpaper (up to 320– that’s higher than Stoney End suggest, but my dad (a woodworker) said I should try it. I’m glad I did.)
3) The instructions are fairly vague. While that’s not a big problem or anything, it’s slightly annoying sometimes because they are also worded somewhat confusingly. As in, “do ___ and _____, but first do________.” “BUT FIRST?!” Really. The steps,should be in order. Precise order. The wording caused some confusion, and I was without a couple tools I needed when working on it away from home. I know, I know– one must ALWAYS read instructions in their entirety before starting work, but when I read each step and there wasn’t mention of drilling out holes (that were, thankfully, already drilled. Just not to the correct size.), I thought I didn’t need to take my drill with me, and so had to borrow one and was set back a day in completing the hardware installation. Ugh.
4) Something I’ve noticed now that all strings are on and I’ve been tuning constantly– the bridge pins and tuning pins don’t fit well with each other, and the strings want to pop off the bridge pins all the time. And the thing is, you CAN’T push the bridge pins in any further because they already meet up in the middle of the wood. In fact, it is impossible to screw them in even as far as the instructions say to, because they meet up. The wood of the neck simply is not thick enough to accommodate them properly. The left side of the neck is worse as far as the angle from tuning pin to bridge pin notch, because the pins (tuning and bridge) are closer together and it’s more of a bend in the string. I’m doing the best I can to minimize it (screwing the zither pins out a bit farther than suggested, getting rid of extra turns of string around the pins, etc) but I still have strings popping off the bridge pin every time I tune. So frustrating. I see no way to truly alleviate this problem, except by a design change. Longer zither pins would be great; I understand that the bridge pins need to be at a certain place to accommodate levers.
5) I had several strings that were frayed, new out of the package, and one that actually had bubbles down the middle. I have not broken any strings so far, but have gone through 8 replacement strings already because of these flaws. I’m sure if I tell Stoney End this, they will do something to help–they seem like very nice people and they run a good business. However, as it’s been over a year since I ordered (and clearly I wasn’t inspecting each string as a first step in the process) and nylon strings aren’t that costly, I will probably leave that alone for now. Whenever I order more strings I may mention it, and have them check the ones they send at that time.
6) Levers. In a month or so, I will be attempting to install 8 Truitt levers (on all Fs, and 2 Cs, more to come as the money comes). I’ve re-read Mae’s advice about that, and I anticipate being frustrated and needing some help on the day when that takes place. 😉
Despite the mood this post might convey so far, I am actually pleased with this little harp, overall. I look forward to it holding a tune, and then being able to take it everywhere to play! I’m glad to say that I haven’t gone cross-eyed too much while noodling around with it so far. Hooray! I’m excited to explore the playing possibilities that double-strung harps provide. I think I will need to do more playing by feel than by sight (to avoid the cross-eyed situation), but I’m ok with that. It’s going to be fun getting to know this harp!
Thank you, Angela. 🙂 I’m really excited about how looks! The sound has quite a way to go before it’s what I would want, but it’s improving already. It holds a partial tune for about 2 minutes now! Haha 😉
I don’t have much advice on the business side of this, but hopefully my story can be encouraging.
When I was pregnant with my first (7 years ago. What?! That was fast!), my harp actually became a morning sickness trigger. I couldn’t even look at it without feeling nauseated! I was SO sad, and I desperately hoped that I would get over that. Well, it took the whole pregnancy and then a bit after, but I was eventually able to play my sweet little harp again. My second pregnancy didn’t do that to me, but some of my other beloved hobbies (sketching, painting, sewing) just didn’t bring me ANY joy in that time. No motivation, no creativity, etc. I have since been able to all of them again, and now that my kids are getting out of the baby stage, there’s much more energy and focus to devote to my harping and hobbies.
I hope to be encouraging that there IS light at the end of this tunnel, and once you settle in with your new baby and lifestyle, I’m sure you will be able to find ways to keep the harp going. Pregnancy hormones bring on sooo many changes, but eventually it will all settle down and even out again.
And congratulations! Babies are wonderful, and I wish you the best in your new adventure.
In regards to versatility on a small harp, I LOVE the magic that the likes of Cynthia Cathcart, Bill Taylor, Karen Marshalsay, and several others can do with 19, 22, or 25 strings.
In regards to campfires, I take my harps camping a lot! One is carbon fiber, so being in the car doesn’t hurt it. The other is wood so it needs to be kept comfortable, but it is small. Easy to stash in the camper (or in the shade near the tent) to help it stay cool on hot days.
To Jacob–
This is not exactly what you described in your requirements above, but I can actually recommend the little lap harps with cardboard sound boxes– I’m serious, they don’t sound like toys, they’re quite cheap (about $140US, I believe), you can paint/decorate and waterproof, and if the soundbox gets damaged, I think it’s only about $10 to replace. I played a 19-string Waring harp for a year, and it was great. They’re not even flimsy and mine held its tuning quite well. Backyard harps have a 22-string model that can accommodate levers if wanted.
Anyway, I’m late to this discussion, but I think any harp small/light enough to move is a great campfire harp. Have you found one that suits you?
I really hope to transition to using my iPad for music, but haven’t gotten there yet, so I don’t have personal experience there. However, I have seen people with harp lights (a band of LEDs along the underside of the neck/harmonic curve) and those really light the strings well. It’s a very pretty effect. I’m guessing it could give lots of glare on the screen at certain angles, but adjusting the iPad and possibly using a screen protector would take care of that.
Hi and welcome back!
I agree with Biagio’s suggestions, and would just add a few more of my favorites– Gráinne Hambly, William Jackson, and Maeve Gilchrist.
“Music from Ireland and Scotland” (Hambly and Jackson) is one of my favorite albums–not just of harp music, or even Celtic music, but of any genre. And I could listen to Maeve Gilchrist play and sing for days.
I hope you find your joy in playing again. 🙂 Best wishes,
-AllisonEdit: Oops, cross posted this with Andelin’s. Great suggestions there, too!
I named my first little harp right away. Her name was Lydia. Then, when I got my Delight, I thought, “I’ll wait to see what name seems right for this one.” 5 years later, still no name. I have a small wire harp now as well, and haven’t named it yet, either. I LIKE naming instruments, I just can’t seem to find a natural fit for these guys! 😉 I do talk to them sometimes, though, so there’s that.
I agree with Biagio about doing lots of listening to get the feel of Celtic styles. And I also recommend Laurie Riley’s DVD and books, as I found them very helpful. I hope your student has fun with Celtic playing! 🙂
If portability and durability are your big needs, you might check out the Heartland Infinity– 8.5 pounds, 36 strings, carbon fiber, pickups, can be held with a strap or stood up on its own retractable leg. I don’t own one, but I have their Delight and I love how sturdy and light it is.
I, too, put a big red bow on mine. 🙂 I’ve also wrapped the column with red and green ribbon before, just securing it at ends with a tiny piece of tape– but I would just tie it if I had a wooden harp, to not wreck the finish.
Angela- I like the idea of the bells! 🙂Andelin,
I also think you should go for it! I’ve done some of what Sylvia described before (sharing what I know to get them started), with a few different instruments (harp included). It has been good for me and for those whom I teach.
I think Angela and Tacye had excellent suggestions. I don’t actually run a studio because all the people I’ve taught (all 7 of them… not that many, and not all at once) have come to me asking me to teach them, and we’re pretty informal. So obviously the others have more constructive tips about starting a studio. 🙂 I just want to encourage you. Have fun!
Allison
