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I asked her if she wanted me to put a downpayment to show that I am serious about wanting to purchase the harp. And she said sure. So I did. Got an email back saying before she travels to bring me the instrument, she wants the rest of the money in her bank account before she drives out to meet me, Here in Canada, I have searched all over to no avail to buy a good pedal harp used to avoid American dollar exchange, excessive shipping costs, border fees etc. Tons in USA but not here. A place in Ontario won’t post what is available for sale in their shop, and ask you to come in person to look. I live hours away and it is not convenient for me to do so. So even though I beg for an email list, nothing. Not a great way to do business. Anyway, I am still not comfy with this situation of handing over money before seeing an instrument.
In my late 50’s, I decided to go after my dream, of playing and learning the pedal harp, even though I started out on a Triplett 30 string lever harp.
Even with a music degree, I found it a challenge to adjust to having my feet make the necessary ‘lever changes’ with the 7 pedals instead and pressing the pedal up for flats, natural, pedal left in middle notch, and then for sharps, pressing all the way down. I did 2 RCM exams on the lever and hope to do the Gr.6 on a pedal harp someday 🙂It is very satisfying to be able to play a pedal harp, once you have adjusted to pedals, and it can be tricky at times, but regardless of your age, you CAN make the change even though you may have to take a break from your pieces and go back to easier repertoire for some time, to learn the pedal technique. Have fun!
Hi there
I am currently renting one of my teacher’s smaller Salvi Daphne 40 string pedal harp. I find that the pedals are not at all hard to maneuver compared to the Lyon and Healy 46 string bigger harp. The pedals are stiffer and more pressure is needed to move from sharp to natural to flat. I don’t know if a particular brand of harp has stiffer or easier pedal movement, but I am curious to know too and will follow your post.Hi there
I have checked each week. They don’t seem to advertise any of their used pedal harps or lever harps that they have listed for sale, or their prices. You have to get in touch with them for any info on what they have listed for sale, as they don’t post them, which is unbelievable. I prefer seeing an instrument with photos online before I make a 4 hour drive there and a 4 hour drive back, so I can get a general idea if it is worth my while to make a road trip to TO or not.
Thanks for the info. though. 🙂Hi there
I read your note with interest. I did my research as well, when considering to purchase a 38 string lever harp, when I started learning the harp.
As I am also in Canada, and no where to try a harp out, I rented a L&H Troubadour for 1 year from Ottawa Ontario. I paid for it to be delivered and taught myself. I discovered afterwards I would like to purchase my own harp and found the Salvi line which I prefer the touch and sound of. I purchased a Salvi Ana in Walnut, from the factory in California, who then sent it to The Gramophone Music Centre in Alberta (cheaper for me, less taxes, rate exchange, duties at the border). I actually had The Gramophone order it for me out of the USA, California to be exact, when it was ready, they sent it to the Gramophone music store in Alberta and I paid for shipping to Ontario Canada. Easy, pleasant and professional transaction and the owner of the Gramophone Store in Alberta goes the extra mile to make sure the transaction is complete, no damages etc. My Salvi Ana 38 string arrived promptly without any damage, packaged for ultimate safety and I have enjoyed it ever since! It has a beautiful strong bass, clear and expressive treble line, but you do have to work it a little harder to get the sound you are looking for. As it is a 38 string harp, it is heavier than a lever harp. The levers are the ‘Salvi slicers'(my harp is 10 yrs.old) as everyone calls them, however I just didn’t let it bother me and kept extra strings handy. It wasn’t all that easy to transport and I needed a smaller levered portable harp to fit in my vehicle. I decided on a 30 string Triplett Sierra also in Walnut and it is fully levered with Camac levers. It is a strong, little harp which produces a clean, clear voice and it is easy to get a good sound. My goal, as yours, was to get eventually onto a pedal harp. This past year, I changed over to a Salvi Daphne 40 string pedal harp, which I rent currently. It was a bit of a challenge to get used to making a switch to learning off of a pedal harp. No more levers, was great! however now I had to learn the 7 pedals, memorize their locations and also learn where a sharp and flat and natural were on a specific pedal and where my foot would have to be placed. I have done a good job, I think, and the transition is getting easier. It is my goal now, to sell my Salvi Ana 38 string, in Walnut, to purchase a Daphne 40 string pedal harp. The Triplett 30 string will be my traveling harp. (I had a bit of a challenge this past month, having to use my Triplett levered harp for a wedding, instead of the pedal harp. The transition back from pedal to lever took a good 2 weeks before I felt comfy once again with it.
PS. If you are looking for a Salvi Ana in terrific shape, no scratches, dings, falls, marks or scrapes let me know. It has not gotten outside of my home, only twice for a wedding and a workshop. It has a dust cover and tuning key plus extra strings and delivery may be possible if you are in Ontario. Hoping to get $5100.Hi there!
I could have written this note! Lots of similarities. I just did my RCM grade 4 harp coming up 2 and a half years now. I played this on a Triplett Sierra 30, fully levered. I did very well and only had one issue with a lower note which I had to leave off, because my instrument was only 30 strings. You will have to make yourself familiar with the RCM grade 6 Harp requirements. There are some changes that allow you to compensate for playing a piece that requires a wee bit larger stringed harp, ie., pieces that include F,E,D,and low C, so you would just take the note an octave higher. One of my pieces I had to do this. You will not get penalized for doing so, as it states this right in the Harp syllabus 2009. You will need to get a larger harp to do the Grade 6 exam though. For the Grade 6 RCM exam, there are many more lever changes, Lariviere exercises and Loman finger exercises which require at least 36 and preferably 38 -40 strings. My Salvi Ana lever 38 string does still not provide enough strings for all of my pieces. At the moment, I made the switch to a pedal harp and rent from my teacher, a Salvi Daphne 40 string. With advanced pieces and technical requirements, the 40 string not only accommodates every note in the piece, but gives me the comfort knowing I don’t have to make any sudden changes to a piece, which often creates stress, when I have a smaller stringed instrument. For you, it isn’t going to help you out by purchasing another small stringed lever harp to practice on. The Grade 6 RCM Harp repertoire and especially the finger exercises (Loman) are challenging and demanding and you will need a much more larger harp to accommodate leaving an octave between left and right hand when completing 2 octaves. There are carbon fiber harps–Heartland–that are 38+ strings and are very light for transportation. Other than that, it is inevitable that as you progress with your harp studies, and want to complete the RCM Harp program examinations, you will need a good harp dolly to move your larger harp around. Good luck with your studies! I am taking my time with Grade 6, the technique(scales, etc.,) pretty much mastered except for Loman exercises and my pieces all together and the pedal harp, is just amazing to play and use. I will be selling my Salvi Ana 38 to help put towards purchasing a pedal harp.Just beautiful playing!
I would love to have a copy of the ‘Willow’ piece to play. I also have a Salvi Ana in Walnut but it is too heavy to transport and lift anywhere by myself.Thanks so much for all of the advice, comments and video clips. It has been a real help to me!
SO far I am still drawn to the Salvi Titan for sound, appearance, tension. The Camac line also has some great harps, but the Melusine and Excalibur are more Celtic sounding to me.
Carbon Fiber Harps by Heartland, since I am in Canada, with the exchange rate, shipping, insurance etc. would have their 38 string come in over $10,000 which is not what I am able to afford, even though I still enjoyed playing it this past October 2017.
The Salvi Una is too tinny sounding as is the Gaia, even though Salvi did give it a good try!
I did enjoy the Stony End Marian which i had completely forgotten about, but it only has 34 strings and the pieces I am preparing for Gr.6 RCM Harp need the lower C instead of the G which my Triplett 30 has.
Triplett do have some nice sounding harps as well, but in 36-38 strings are heavier, clunkier and just not visually appealing to me. The tension I do like, but I am interested in playing more classical music, as I have done the Celtic route in the past.
So I need a 36-38 string Harp, that I do know 🙂Thanks for your thoughts.
When I really think about it, the Ana, I have had to work more to get the sound needed, and the Triplett 30, I can get the dynamics and touch/sound much easier but with much less effort.
I find the Triplett 30 is easier to play, has a more Celtic sound, but does not have the classic pedal harp sound I am looking for and maybe that is what am struggling with.
I have tried to find sound clips of the Titan, Gaia, Una, from Salvi, and the Triplett Eclipse, the Camac Korrigan and Melusine, Excalibur or Isolde online but can’t find any. I did try the Carbon Fiber 38 string, which I liked as well, however exchange rate is too high.
The weight of the harp to transport is a factor. My Triplett 30 walnut is heavy and I imagine with 38 strings would even be more heavy.
I have a lot of thinking to do and I would love to be able to try any of these harps but I am not close to any city center. thanks for your assistance here.
