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I also mentioned what I did about the sharp corners because if you are on the shorter side particularly around 5 feet or so that sharp corner has the possibility to hit you in a couple of other places. The three I’ve had trouble with in the past, where my clavicle my lower jaw and my ear. To clarify my first harp was a 32 string, dusty strings, crescendo, wonderful harp but completely square back so when I had the opportunity to try a save back I thought it might do better and in many ways it did except with The corners connecting The neck and column if you are on the more slender side of the board, the width of something like the dusty strings Boulevard or similar might be a consideration as well. The harp should fit you you don’t fit yourself to the harp or at least that was how I was taught. That hasn’t been entirely true in my case because I am a wheelchair user and have had to naturally make a few adaptations one of which is playing a slightly larger harp than I would if I didn’t use a wheelchair
Hi,
One other thing since you mentioned wanting a professional great harp. In the Cammack lineup the Excalibur is as far as I can tell the currently available professional grade lever harp anywhere close to the same size as a pedal harp. I just checked the website for the Lancelot model and noticed that when you go through the listings that one is listed as a student grade model. Listen to the sound clip and see which one you prefer if considering Cammack. I’m less aware of how leon and Healy and salvy mark their professional grade versus student grade models but Cammack is pretty clear on which are considered professional grade within their lineup. That said all of their harps are good for different things dependent on what you need. I didn’t see it on the website, but another one that might be doable. If you can find it is the Camac Corrigan it was the predecessor to the Lancelot model.hello,
Please note anything I share in the following lines is my own personal opinion nothing more.
If it has sharp corners stay away from it if it can jab you in uncomfortable places when placed against your shoulder as a woman avoided unless you are willing to make that sacrifice. This is why I stick with round back harps almost exclusively. Most of the ones from Dusty strings I have ever seen are at best save back unless they’ve come out with a new model in the last couple of years that isn’t they sound beautiful but are not always kind to female anatomy. Camac harps are better in that regard. My personal preference is for the Camac Xcalibur it is strong with fluorocarbon. I think that is sold. Classic is a great harp but I find that its string tension is just a little bit too high for my taste. So not always kind to female anatomy. Camac harps are better in that regard. My personal preference is for the Camac Xcalibur. It is strong with fluorocarbon. I think that is sold. Classic is a great harp but I find that it’s string tension is just a little bit too high for my taste. So when picking harps consider what sort of string tension you and your daughter are willing to work with as well as the height and body type of each of you? Also if you prefer a brighter sound I’d go with the Excalibur if you prefer a darker one The is old. Keep something in mind though just because it is rated for Celtic music doesn’t mean you can’t play classical music on it. It’s just a slightly different strength, detention and spacing. listen to harp clips if you can to decide on your preferred sound. Here is one from my Cammack Excalibur. this is now about 10 years old. https://youtu.be/PxhwJwUUIAsHi,
I would generally tend to agree with the feeling about repertoire, though I will note that while a double string doesn’t increase your octave range. It may still allow for more complex arrangements, which a standard single course wouldn’t allow for. I’m the owner of a 38 string model myself, but have explored a double strung in the past and can see both sides of the argument. At the end of the day what really needs to be considered isn’t just the size of the harp but how protective the case it is shipped in is. I’ve traveled with my 32 string crescendo model, which was the harp I had previously And honestly would’ve preferred a full hard shelf light case, but had to make it with a soft cover. It is doable if frustrating.It is precisely because of the weight classification of a standard pedal harp, that I never tried to learn to play one. Most standard pedal harms way nearly as much as I do. Sadly, if you want to stay 30 pounds or under, you’ll have to stick to lever harps, with, perhaps the exception of the heartland starlight, which is about 38 pounds. Complete the carbon fiber. I was actually lucky enough to meet the maker of these harps a few months ago, and had the opportunity to try his legend harp, which is 36 strings and has a round back. If you are fairly slender, you want to stick to round or stave back. A full square back tends to be rather uncomfortable. Nothing quite like the neck of your harp, jabbing you in the shoulder every time you pull it back to play. Thank God for round backs. my one consistent pet peeve through the years has been a lack of interest in the creation of a harp specifically for a wheelchair user. If you’re short, get a small harp, if you’re tall, get a tall harp, if you have hand strength, yet a medium to high tension, harp, minimal or no hand strength, get a light tension harp. end up in a wheelchair for some reason well… Have fun! Especially if you’re small. A harp for someone in a wheelchair would need to be fairly light without sacrificing strings.
If you are able to, it might be worth attending a harp festival. Those are great places to test drive harps. Great place to meet other harpist to. I so much about the harp at least in my experience has been about feel. Does it feel right, does it sound right, does it behave the way you want it to. You should adjust the harp to you not yourself to the harp.
Happy harping,Hi Lily,
Please don’t pick a harp on classification alone! I saw that myself when I was doing harp research years ago. You need to try them for yourself. Sometimes they’re not always. a harp can be classified as heavy tension because of static tension, not playability tension. There are harps that are classified as light tension that I cannot play because the playability tension is too high. So, while the classifications are certainly good, please test run any harp. You’re thinking of getting if at all possible. Don’t make the mistake I did, and pick a harp based on sound alone. Though in your case, I think it would be labels and classifications. now I will grant you that my circumstances are different from yours, but while I loved my dusty strings crescendo, it was not the right harp for me. That harp I picked by research and sound quality alone without actually physically encountering the heart myself. Terrible! Terrible! Move! It ultimately ended up being too short, too wide, and a darker tone than I prefer. If at all possible, do physical test runs, don’t go off of classifications, labels, or marketing brochures.Hi,
I have played the excalibur for the last eight years. I started on a dusty strings crescendo, so I know what sort of string tension you’re working with now. From a height perspective stick to the excalibur, from a weight perspective, if you need a lighter harp, and want to consider something with carbon fiber I would actually consider a heart made by heartland harps as their harps are completely made from carbon fiber, and generally less than 15 pounds for a lever harp. They are not cheap by any stretch, but they are well worth the money. to your questions about sound and a string tension… Do you want to be able to work with concert spacing or Celtic spacing. For clarification concert spacing is more standard for lever harps that work as bridges up to a pedal harp. A harp that carries the label of Celtic Has a slightly narrower string spacing. The sound is often slightly brighter, and I have often found that the playability tension is slightly lower as well. don’t be fooled by that label! You can play anything you want to on a Celtic style harp just as you can with a harp that carries the label of classic and has traditional concert spacing! if you like playing faster pieces of music, I would suggest the Celtic spacing, but to each their own. I don’t remember what the is older was strong with, but I do know the excalibur, and I believe the ulyss are both strung with fluorocarbon strings. In my opinion, Fluorocarbon is the best, but again, to each their own. I found that nylon strings, often rolled under my hands while playing which fluorocarbon has never done. Gut strings often carry too much tension from a playability perspective. They also tend to be the most expensive. The excalibur has a slightly wider soundboard than the Isolde, which in my experience, makes for a slightly more consistent range and sound quality. When I tried the Isolde years ago, I found the upper register to be slightly tinny. If you want a harp with an even tone stick to the excalibur, especially if you want to stick to a professional grade harp. this harp has a very rich sound throughout the range and doesn’t tend to sound strange when switching registers. If you don’t mind a student model the Isolde is good. if you don’t want high playability tension, stay away from the classic model of the Isolda. That one is strung with gut and takes some getting used to. I have never had the opportunity to see the last harp you mentioned however, I have had the opportunity to try a couple of their other 34 string models and have generally found them to be too short even for me. Note, I’m barely 5 feet tall.It’s possible. I’m actually wondering if it may have something to do with the way the string was placed on the harp. The reason being when I played it in the store and later at home the same string kept buzzing. What I think I’m going to do is call Virginia harp center and try to get a replacement string. They sent me a combination tool to do the regulation of myself so I don’t have to take it to the store which is three hours or so away from where I am by train. When I said I don’t read German I don’t read it well enough to make a lot of sense out of it. The actual truth is I read it just enough to sing it but not well enough to use it for any kind of every day work. I will attempt to take a look at this review. Thanks for the info. I wish I knew of someone else who had played one before. Because it’s hard to find information until an instrument of any sort has been out there for at least a year if not longer. Anyone know what the difference is between the strings on the Bardick and the ones on the Excalibar? It looks as if they’re the same but different brands. Has anyone ever dealt with this particular brand?
As an autoharp player I can understand your point. I have to disagree though about voice not transferable. You’re right the most majority isn’t but there are certain concepts that are such as rhythm and generalized pattern related things. Then, I guess my background is slightly more eclectic than some. I had my ear training on fiddle then took up autoharp, did piano for a year, and have now moved to heart full time. Never had much use for piano technique. I’ve sung all my life and spent almost 8 years in a traveling classical choir. It’s true enough though that vocal technique helps you not at all when it comes to playing the harp. The rhythm training is another story.
Hi,
About the same C 27th. Could the buzzing actually be coming from a problem with the string? I’ve tried reregulating and loosening the screw some and noticed when I went back and took a look that there is a small Nick in the top of the string as if part of the wrapping is worn through. Is about level with the lever contact point. Should I be concerned about breakage if I should then I need to call my closest store which is in Virginia by the way and try to get hold of the base lever wire.
I really wish that some enterprising harp maker would take it into their head to attempt making a harp line specifically for wheelchair users. It’s an absolute miracle I found this one. Even with that being said as tiny as I am there are a few adaptations that have to be made if anyone is interested I can start a separate topic to discuss a few tricks . Believe it or not lap harps aren’t quite as friendly to wheelchair users as people think. .
This is why I prefer a floor harp to one that sits in my lap and less of course the base could be made completely solid. It actually needs to sit in my lap not hang sideways From my neck. Or force hyperextension over the back of my wheelchair which is far less than comfortable as the only part of my body showing above the back of the chair at that point is my head. Floor harps all the way thank you very much. At least until someone comes up with something workable in the smaller harp range. Oh the joys of being barely over 5 feet.How does the Excalibar rank in the tension spectrum as far as strings go? It feels much lighter then either the bardic or might Dusty strings crescendo 32 but I could be wrong. It’s clearly lighter then the troubadour but the troubadour is gut strung. I know I’m asking a lot of technical questions but I figure it’s in my best interest to learn as much as I can about the instrument I’m working with considering especially that this one is so green.
Are there general rules for regulation? Not specifically for this harp but generally speaking is there anything I need to watch out for? I tried to match C 27 as closely as I could to the other strings
Tunings not the issue. I had to do a tiny bit of regulation on one of the sea strings. I’ve been tuning my own harp almost since the beginning. Unfortunately, I don’t read German but if you know of any places where the Excalibur has been reviewed I would love to see them as I’ve looked and not seen much. I’m on the harp circle but I lost the email address connected to it so I’ll need to find that again sure I can get back on. But, as I said I’m more concerned about regulation and I would think even with good eyesight that it might be more difficult as you have to be able to tell how close the string is to the neck. And I doubt it’s exactly easy to look between the levers. Thanks for the response and I hope what I’m saying makes some sense. I would ask my teacher but she’s busy in performance season right now and very difficult to get hold of.
