[karen]

CJLHarpo:  I totally understand your perspective.  My friend, Janet Witman plays both pedal harp and lever harp, and it is amazing what she can do on a lever harp.  One will never get bored or outgrow any kind of harp!  I thought long and hard about my decision to move onto pedal harp, and got clear that for me, it might open up some musical options and some ease.  It seemed like many songs that I wanted to play required pedals.  It sounds like you have more musical background and therefore, can adapt quite nicely!  At 52, I figured that pedals harp timing was now or never.  I can always revert to lever harp down the road.  How wonderful that we have so many choices with harps!

[karen]

Duckspeak:  exactly!  I hosted my HarpCircle (8 harpist) on Saturday, and there was some shoe discussion!  😉

[karen]

Thanks for the offer Laurel.  I picked up my 85E Concertino Grand last week..loving it!

[karen]

Thanks duckspeak!

[karen]

Thanks for weighing in Saul. I came to that same conclusion with the help of this forum, and some research on my own. I settled on a new 47 string L&H 85. I am hoping to pick it up this week. I chose the 85E Concertino Grand because it is slightly shorter (71″ instead of 73.5″ and a few pounds lighter). The 85 Concert Grand would not fit in my car, but the Concertino Grand did. This particular 85E has truly spectacular sound…can’t wait to get it.

[karen]

Thank you Balfour and Carol Lynn! I can’t wait to go pick up my new harp. Patience is not my strong suit!

[karen]

Thanks Eliza. I came to the same conclusion (with help from my teacher, everyone here, and my gut). I opted for a 47 string L&H 85 Concertino Grand. at 71″ tall, it fits in my car, the one I chose has a truly spectacular sound (assessed by some pretty sophisticated ears–Michelle Whitson-Stone, Heidi Spiegle,and Paul Baker). I can’t wait to go pick it up and bring it home!

[karen]

Thanks Gretchen! It really is a special harp…and the sound is amazing. I have a Blevin’s Bourrée 28 string (6.5 lb hybrid) so no need for so many harps, and no desire to tune that many strings. I am love, love my Pratt, but time for someone else to enjoy it!

[karen]

Thanks to each of you that took the time to respond and have this “conversation” with me. I thought I’d come full circle, and let you all know that I am opting for a 47 string harp rather than the 44. The L&H 85E Concertino Grand is 71″ tall so it fits in my car, and the particular one that I played was exquisite, and reminded me a lot of my teacher’s beloved 100. The 85E is a bit more harp than I was planning on, but it feels right.
Thanks again!
Btw, I just listed my Pratt Chamber Harp (truly a beauty with amazing sound) in the HC Classifieds.

[karen]

Jerusha—what is your email address? I’ll send you some pics. Don’t see a way to attach them here.

[karen]

Alyson–Yes, I’ve practiced yoga seriously for over 20 years. If I had had as much time on my harp as I have had on my yoga mat, I’d be ready for Carnegie Hall! Alas, that is not the case! I was at Harp LA yesterday, and really loved the L&H 85E. After measuring, it was too close to call, so Paul Baker actually ‘suited up’ the harp, and put it in the back of my Subaru CrossTrek. Yes, the 85E Concertino Grand (71″) DOES fit. The 85CG (2.5 inches taller) will not. One more piece of very solid information in my quest. I’ve ruled out the Clio at this point. The 85E is a LOT of harp for my 5’3″ self. But, it was quite lovely, balanced tone, so clear at the top, very nice bass–very even. The string touch was the best I’ve touched other than my harp teacher’s 100 (which plays ‘like butter’)….she just has a special one! Thanks Alyson!

[karen]

Andelin….we are the same size (well, I like say I am 5 3 1/2″!) I drive a Subaru CrossTrek (like an Outback but a bit shorter), and it is a great car for loading and unloading a harp. I measured and it seems I could go as much as 73″ in height) However, I am still the size I am, and there are times when my husband is away on business travel, and I really will need to be self-sufficient. I take my harp to HarpCircle once a month and to my recitals twice a year so I need to be able to move it. Others in my HarpCircle have concert grands and as ‘amateur harpists’ they find them challenging to move. Then there is the fear of damaging the harp in some way.

Sound snob is good. I am a ‘yoga snob’ (very picky about where I take classes and who the teachers are—so I get it!). Knowing what you don’t like is not pessimistic, it offers you a LOT of information about your choice!

I am also a “wood snob”. I am a sucker for beautiful, figured wood (you should see the lever harp that I have!). However, pedal harps (at least not in my price range) do not come quite the same in that regard as lever harps. But, I agree with you….I must love the way it looks.

Yes! Our harps are out there somewhere….enjoy the process!

[karen]

Duckspeaks….what did you end up getting?

[karen]

Loonatik (I feel so rude addressing you that way!) I have considered the Daphne but they are sooo heavy. Also, not my favorite sound. I fear I am a bit of the Goldilocks here (this one is too hard, this one is too soft….looking for the one that is juuust right!) 😉

[karen]

Gretchen–to answer your question, I have not considered Venus harps. I have nothing against them, but must admit (for no reason) that I am not drawn to them. Never say never though!

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