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Good call about the rent/rent to own option, Evolène. @OP definitely look into that if you have a harp dealer or studio in your area that rents, especially if you want to go for a pre-pedal model.
As for my own purchase experience, since I had bought this from enough distance away requiring freight to get it to me, I was taking a risk myself. I was unable to inspect/play it before paying the asking price to get it to me. What influenced my decision was a combination of the features this model had, the asking price vs. its new price, the seller’s reputation for selling used harps previously, their disclosure of any existing damage or playing concerns, and buyer protection in case something did go awry. At the price I was getting for what it was, I was willing to accept certain flaws. I also had the local Virginia Harp Center staff to help me identify potential issues after receipt. Another thing that eased the process was the build itself – the Reve is a carbon fiber hybrid, with a carbon fiber neck + pillar and a wood soundbox. Most concern was for the soundbox and hardware (which were fine), as it would’ve taken quite a disaster to get the carbon fiber structure to break under any previous ownership! Ultimately I got a clean bill of sound and structural integrity.
I can’t speak for having a teacher accompany you to inspect the local marketplace, but they should certainly be able to instruct you on what to look for when giving a preliminary inspection as well as guide you to relevant offerings in your area. The people I would trust most in the sale/rental of used harps are also players familiar with the harp they’re selling, so you could ask them to play a piece when prospecting if you aren’t comfortable doing so yourself.
This particular build is very pretty but appears to not have any sharping levers. This will limit what you can play in addition to its smaller 21 string range. Just from my experience browsing lever harp textbooks, this seems to fall short of the requirements of what notes these materials (or a teacher, for that matter) would expect you to have. I have Pamela Bruner’s highly recommended teaching series and it expects a C5 at Level 1 and more bass notes past that at Level 2.
The most frequent tips I’ve gotten in the past when I was in a very similar situation, asking about my own first harp purchase have been:
1. Find a teacher, and with their guidance narrow down harp candidates to purchase.
2. Consider a floor model. Though cheaper, a true “lap harp” introduces another layer of complexity to the learning process in the form of steadying the harp when playing it. At the beginning stage when learning proper technique is incredibly important, steadying the harp isn’t something you want to bother with. A floor model also generally has the range of notes that would meet the requirements of any harp teacher or teaching materials.If you do want a harp of comparable size and are willing to pay a bit more, I would consider looking into the Fullsicle by Rees Harps. It has a 26 string range with a low C5 and full levers, though significantly less expensive variations with fewer levers exist if price is a major concern (Sharpsicle, Flatsicle). As long as you purchase a model with predrilled lever holes more levers can be added later whenever your budget allows. The Harpsicle line is versatile even as a secondary harp, being very lightweight and playable standing, sitting, or even walking. It can be packed up and taken many places a floor harp just won’t be practical. You’ll also have little problem reselling it if necessary. It’s hard to go wrong with this option even if it winds up not being 100% right for you.
When I was in a similar situation to you a few years ago I really overthought which harp to get as my first since it was a large purchase for my relative lack of wealth. I was looking into other options like the Fullsicle or a Mikel 38 for quite a while until I encountered a very reasonably priced Blevins Reve 34 on the secondary market. After making the right connections to get it I’m very satisfied with what I got and have a floor harp to finally call my own. I’m glad I waited to take the plunge and felt like I really lucked out with that one! Anyway, the point there is to check your local used marketplace before making any firm decisions, as a good deal might be nearby. This will also allow you to hear and otherwise inspect the instrument before spending your hard-earned money on it, which can always be a risk with sight unseen instrument purchases.
In addition to what was posted, try looking at local classifieds for used harps. There are quite a few perfectly fine harps out there from responsible owners and you may find one you like at a significant cost savings. I was able to secure a preowned Blevins Reve 34 this way. It wasn’t originally on my radar of harp models to get, but it was hard to overlook the asking price for what I was getting. I’m glad I waited at least a bit to buy my first harp to see what options came along.
Heartland Harps is a regular vendor at the Somerset Harp Festival including this year. If you’re at all able to make your way out there you can see + hear the Starlight up close along with many other harps for comparison.
I always found the design concept interesting since it opens up a lot of possibilities for moving and playing a pedal harp in more demanding conditions, but never having heard it next to other pedal harps I can’t say anything for the expected compromise in sound.
Thanks for the tips, everyone. The heat shrink tubing sounds like the best idea since it would be hard for me to get layout fluid in the tiny amount I assume I would need for just one harp.
If I had to pick a preference, I’d say I prefer the warmer, more mellow tone common in gut strung harps. To be honest I never really stopped to think what kind of tone I would prefer in a personal harp. I’ve heard a lot of models with different tones and they all sounded nice to me with their repertoire, unless it was a bit “plinky” by a limitation of its build or something.
As far as events, I do plan to observe Dr. Jaymee Haefner’s master class next month and attend the Somerset Harp Festival this year on the Saturday visitor’s ticket. Parsippany is reasonably close by.
I certainly don’t deny this, Gretchen, and I agree. A trial rent is a good idea though I didn’t think it practical now because currently much of my spare time is spent fixing up an old property to living condition. In addition to time, associated expenses with it has made saving up a bit slow going. As that’s passing over I wanted to do all of my research since the available technology and harp models have certainly expanded in the last decade or so, not to mention right now I feel like it’s really all I can do. I appreciate every voice here along the way! I’m really going to need a break once all that’s done.
Tayce, my musical background is rather minimal. When I was a young one, my sisters took piano lessons but I had no interest in what they were doing. When I hit middle school, I played violin for the 4 years I was there since there were loaner instruments available and it was accessible, but I never truly appreciated the instrument. My heart always belonged to the therapeutic sound of the harp, and now that I’m older I can make that happen for myself without needing approval from my family or whatever.
As another option I’ve been looking at, it seems that the Salvi levers have been redesigned in recent years. Two points of contact are visible, but it’s hard to see exactly how it grips the string until I see one on the floor. It appears to be a simpler mechanism than the Teifi levers but I’m not quite sure what difference that makes in the long term, though. https://www.salviharps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/mia-dett-3.jpg
It could mean Salvi Una meets my desires, as it has 38 strings, is reasonably costed and lighter weight, and admittedly the green finish is pretty to me. It’s considerable in case importing a Teifi is prohibitive to me. http://www.harpsetc.com/images/detailed/8/UNA_standard.jpg
I hadn’t thought to do so yet but I’m certain I can be networked to teachers in my area through the folks at the nearby NJ branch of the Virgninia Harp Center. The staff has been very helpful in my visits there thus far. They don’t have the Siff Saff specifically and I wouldn’t expect them to given its source location, but I had figured that for that model at least, it seems to be a safe buy.
It’s good that you finally got your money back from that experience, hearpe. I remember reading about it and its unpleasantness.
I was prepared the negative response to this idea since it’s against even my own better judgement. I have noted Mikel’s buyers have mostly been satisfied for what they pay for, just not for the particular 38 model which hasn’t had many adopters yet. I guess that depends on how much I value that $1200 potentially going awry.
As for wanting lower strings, some compositions I’m looking at (written for piano) that I would like to port over to harp do feature low notes even into a low G, so I just figured the two additional bass strings below C could only help. I was previously set on a Heartland Delight which has 38 strings with a low A so I wished to find something with a similar range. I noted that 36 string models with the additional 2 on the treble end are readily available, but I doubt I would have much need of them just going from the music I’ve been looking at. My ability to craft a Cheyenne from a kit as a more economical option is also something I’m very much not comfortable with, especially when levers factor in.
For a more conventional offering, I am interested in a Teifi Siff Saff. If I make a 6 hour road trip I can get a Siff Saff with full Teifi levers for a reasonable price from Vermont Violins. They advised me that drop-shipping a Siff Saff directly to me would cost an additional $1200 freight from the source location, so I might as well just arrange the road trip to get it from their storefront. Even though it doesn’t have the additional bass strings I’d ultimately want, a reasonable price, full Teifi levers and lighter weight relative to the Ravenna are a selling point for me.
I live in the city of Philadelphia so there is a fair selection of teachers in the area or just across to bridge to New Jersey near the VA Harp Center (I’ve annoyed them with my presence a few times already). Aside from that I’m aware of Pamela Bruner’s book + DVD series which I have a high amount of respect for, having the DVD.
The price at which I can get a Mikel 38 delivered is less than half the list of a new Ravenna 34 both having full levers + bag, which is considerable when I really should just get off my feet and take that step to start learning. It’s been so long since my childhood interest in the harp that perhaps my standards have lessened to “highest number of strings you can afford” for the purposes of a beginning instrument.
Thank you all for the responses. I was worried that to pursue the craft I might have had to do something drastic like permanently push back the hyponychium of my fingers which sounds unpleasant for so many reasons.
As neat as wire harps are, it seems that there’s a lot less support for it especially when it comes to available vendors and teachers. I can’t see it becoming my primary instrument.
The last contribution I think I can make here is the existence of the Siff Saff model from Teifi Harps. https://teifiharps.com/siff-saff-34-string-beginner-lever-harp/ . They do have a distributor in the US that stocks it: http://www.vermontviolins.com/harps
It has a note range of 1st Octave A down to 6th Octave C and weighs 8kg/17.6 lbs. It was designed to be a significantly lighter weight than their other harps. The Teifi semitone levers have also been gaining quite a good repuation. I personally wish I could outfit a Heartland harp with them…
Is there a certain weight limit you’re set on following, or are you willing to compromise? I can’t really even think of many 38-string harps not already mentioned that would have the sound you’re looking for while also being on the lighter side of weight. The Salvi Gaia is 24lbs but that’s already been ruled out, unfortunately. If you just need a lighter harp that at least includes a low C2 with around 34 strings there are many more options.
For a harp not mentioned yet, on the extreme end of lightness Musicmakers makes their Jolie as a carbon fiber/wood hybrid. It’s 13 lbs. with a 33-string range from C2 to G6. https://www.harpkit.com/jolie-hybrid-harp
