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Yes- I’d like more strings! But what I was facing when looking to buy another harp was that anything with a lot of strings was right away steering me toward the Paki harps.
Your comments have elucidated my thoughts- and I see where my mind was when I posted my queries. My concern over the sound and quality of my own Pixie harp have been quieted with closer review: I think the soundboards on the newer Paki harps may have improved. The larger ones now advertise a “birch ply” soundboard that appears lighter and of finer grain than the previous ones like on mine.
I have some regrets that I ordered the Eve, but it was already at the upper limit of what I wanted to spend- and a 27 or 29 Paki harp with full levers would cost at least $150 more. So now I am anxious to compare the two smaller harps and make what progress I can with the EVE- my old Pixie has NO levers. I’m not sure If I’ll purchase, or be in position to purchase another harp again.
Alas, I’m afraid to admit the harp is still behind guitar, piano and violin for me- and I can’t give any the time they deserve. Yet I enjoy them all! My experiences with guitars and ukuleles has me wary of laminates- that material produces a very dead sound box on those instruments, yet it is a very DIFFERENT instrument, and so I was wondering about what the principles of the harp construction were regarding the sound quality to the necessary strength needed to make a viable and lasting harp.
So anyway, I’m still waiting on the Eve, and feeling like I at least will have a better instrument, but wondering if I should have opted for the improved looking pakis with at least 27 or 29 strings. Will I ever want to “descend” again to the Pakis? The sides of those are ornate and probably thicker than need be. Still they ARE physically attractive beautiful instruments. Will I ever be at a level of playing where it matters? perhaps..
I wish sampling harps was really an option- not much opportunity in Jacksonville and I wish I was still in LA even if Sylvia Woods has moved to Hawaii, there’s that outfit now in Westwood. Wrap you harps in asbestos!
The old Pixie Harp- Benjamin Bunny NOT included!
Go look at he performances on youtube. Some o the best ones are actually done with smaller harps. When I cycled in my younger days, we used to say “It’s not the chassis, it’s “THE MOTOR”. The Mighty Bob Dylan wrote: “She’s got everything she needs, she’s an artist, she don’t look back”
A creed to live by! Be an artist! Make your music from soup cans if you have to!
Seriously, the choice is yours. The big harp may be the way to go, but maybe you should make your music closer to home then. I think you are limiting yourself by feeling limited by a smaller instrument.
But I wish I had a bigger harp!
