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Lots going on here…first, was the down payment to hold it so you could view/play it first and then decide if you would purchase at time of delivery? And is the down payment refundable if you don’t want it? Clarify that, first, with the seller. If it’s not refundable, then you either lose your down payment if seller is not in agreement with that, or she will consider this. You need to get that clear, that is, if it’s not too late. Because if you e-transfer payment in full before you meet up, do you trust her enough to actually meet you with the harp? I have only purchased a used harp once, and drove 10 hours to to try it out BEFORE I gave any money. The store selling the harp on consignment held it for me in good faith until the day and time I gave them of my arrival. All other harps I have bought were all new, and I always paid 1/2 down and other half EITHER before I picked up the harp, or at the time I picked it up. But I was always dealing with reputable sellers/stores/companies. I hope you can work out a resolve with her. Perhaps she would be more accommodating if you drove to her house instead of meeting up. I hope the 2 of you can work this out because it’s a harp…a beautiful instrument…and both of you should be happy with the purchase arrangement.
Hello again! Thought I’d mention why I decided to get a board in the first place…One time I was playing on a “carpeted” stage that sat about 1 foot up from the main floor. And my sound disappeared into the carpet. I was to play a 2nd set later that evening at this same venue, and asked my neighbor for a piece of plywood that was leaning against his house. Oh my! It WAS ugly!! But the sound filled the room, and I decided to have one available that was much prettier, if the need arose. It fits underneath my quilt in back of my Jeep for such situations 🙂
I use a piece of plywood stained the color of my harp (walnut) and it is very supportive and pretty (and yes, 3/4″ thick). You can make a footprint out of paper that will encompass your chair and harp for size, so you don’t carry excess weight. You can also screw on a leather handle on one side made from a piece of an old leather belt to use as a handle. The wood will also help your sound project. Honestly, I wouldn’t cover the wood with carpet or anything. That will absorb your sound outdoors. Best to you 🙂
Hi, Aleisha! I have played folk tunes on both the Ogden and my current Triplett Eclipse. I think it depends on just what a person considers “fast”, and if “fast” means lots of embellishments. Then I would say that it is far more difficult to play quick-paced embellishments on the Ogden than it would be on a lighter tension nylon strung harp. I play a variety of folk tunes, traditional tunes, etc. I don’t consider myself an “accomplished” harpist, but was able to play satisfying folk music on either harp. I do not play classical music. I am older now, and play my Triplett almost exclusively: (1) I love the sound (2) the lighter tension saves my fingers and hands from some of the pain that results from higher strung harps at my age (of which I have 2 — L&H Style 100 Pedal harp, and Pratt Chamber harp), and by pain I mean achy hands after playing a 1-2 hr gig). I loved my Ogden when I had it, and sold it so I could purchase the Pratt (also high tension) but BIG SOUND which I needed for playing gigs without amplification. Then I bought the Triplett Eclipse, lighter tension, nice big sound with lots of bass and clear higher register, but higher tension from some other nylon strung harps I tried. I love the flexibility it offers, for both quicker embellishments and hands and fingers that don’t ache after playing for a couple hours. Also something to consider is, you say you are a beginner. If folk music is what moves you, perhaps you are still learning technique and will master speed later, which means you could learn the technique at a slower speed on a harp that gives you the sound you currently love. I have enjoyed playing a simpler style/version of folk tunes on my higher tension Pratt harp to accommodate my level of playing along with the higher tension. You could do this. However, as time goes on (as it always does), you may just want to find yourself a folk harp later on, as I did. There really is no right or wrong way (at least not in my opinion). It is all about individuality and what moves and resonates with you. When you listen to alot of traditional music (and folk tunes) played on the harp, you will hear how most of these musicians are playing on folk harps (or lever harps) that have a lighter tension and are typically nylon strung. All the best to you, and enjoy making your decision. I would say in conclusion that I find my Triplett more conducive to folk and traditional music (sound), regardless of whether you are playing fast or slow tunes. But that is my own personal preference. That’s what I enjoy about this forum. Hearing what moves us as individuals 🙂
My reasons will be far from technical 🙂 I also started later in life (my mid-50’s) to learn the harp (have college music degree in clarinet) and really no piano experience…I thought I could teach myself having a background in music, but I needed some “hands on” private lessons to get the basics down. My teacher was an excellent pedal harpist, who also played a lever harp. When I went to my lessons I played her pedal harp. Then went home and practiced on my lever harp. Let me tell ya, when you are a beginner, this was a challenge to sound like I had even practiced at all during the week before my lessons!!! So maybe getting a pedal harp was influenced by playing hers, and having difficulty going back and forth, not a very good reason at all, if it had any bearing…I really don’t remember contemplating that thought…As time went on, I went from my 36-string Blevins lever harp to a L&H Prelude. The Prelude had many similarities of a pedal harp (types of strings, tension of the strings and spacing, and appearance) all without pedals, and relatively affordable at the time. I played the Prelude for almost 5 years and decided to apply it to the L&H “Bounty” program, which allowed for trade-in toward a pedal harp if you did it within 5 years of the purchase (of my Prelude). By the time my special order Style 100 L&H concert grand pedal harp was ready to deliver to me, I needed a car 🙁 So all the money I had saved over those years went to a down payment on the Jeep, and then I had to work toward saving and making payments on my pedal harp. Now I know everyone’s experiences vary dramatically, and reasons for doing things as well. But I guess when I look back at the decision to buy it, the reason was mostly because I could! And of course I always loved the sound and beautiful lines and appearance of a pedal harp, but also loved lever harps! Well, I then purchased a Pratt Chamber harp which has fabulous sound for a lever harp, and found I was playing it more than the pedal harp. I wondered why…And in the end, it just plain fit me better physically than the very large pedal harp. A couple years ago I bought a Triplett Eclipse. And NOW guess what? I only play the Triplett!!! I am torn about selling the Pratt and pedal harp. I do keep them tuned all the time, and run a few songs and arpeggios on them. But in the end, I enjoy playing the Triplett the most. Of course the music I play on the Triplett is more conducive to that harp, which is probably why I play it almost exclusively…So, all this being said, the timeframe from when I bought the L&H pedal harp (2008) to when I bought the Triplett (2018) is only 10 years. But I guess you could say I have been around the block in choosing and playing each of these harps, and in the end, this entire scenario becomes that of simply “personal choice”. It has been very enjoyable along this crazy path. So do whatever you want!! Whatever moves you. You don’t have to rationalize your choices. There are no reasons you SHOULD or SHOULDN’T buy a pedal harp, except for your own particular ones 🙂 And personally, I would leave the words “should” or “shouldn’t” out, and instead use “want to” or “don’t want to” buy a pedal harp. ENJOY!
I play the harp, and my friend plays nyckelharpa. We change out who plays an intro and it’s always easy for the other guy to know where to start. Just something simple is all it takes. The song is always lovely, and we don’t even have to look at each other or do the nod thing 🙂
Breckenridge, CO!!! Wonderful diverse types to choose from! Check them out online! I know it’s a long way to travel, but the scenery is awesome 🙂
When I am asked if I play holiday music or Christmas Carol’s, I reply, “not usually, because so many Celtic songs and arrangements fit the holiday spirit simply because it’s a harp.” However, I will always add arrangements for: “Carol of the Bells”, “In The Bleak Mid-Winter”, “Greensleeves”, “The Women of Ireland”, and “She Moves Through the Fair”. These are all familiar songs to most everyone, and a little familiarity seems to fit the bill, regardless. I just don’t really enjoy playing Christmas music…Never really did…And I am still asked to play during the holidays 🙂
Hi, Amy! Congrats on your first gig! I remember mine like it was yesterday! You can slip a padded sleeping bag over your harp (if it is wide enough), or a thick blanket or shipping blanket (or 2). Just be sure that if you use a sleeping bag that the zipper is covered “inside” with a flap, so you don’t scratch your harp with the zipper teeth, or that it closes with Velcro that also doesn’t touch the harp. Actually, if you have time you can make your own cover if you have a sewing machine. Just lay your harp down on top of pieces of newspaper taped together to make a bigger-than-your-harp rectangle. Then lay your harp down on it’s side, levers UP, on top of the newspaper, and draw an outline of your harp (bigger, though, so it will accommodate all the width of base, etc). Then place your template on 2 thick or padded blankets (that don’t have lint or loops to catch onto — preferably a little slippery for the inside fabric so it won’t catch on your levers and ends of wound strings at the top) and cut 2 pieces (plenty big using a bit extra so it will slip over your harp). You can close the back with Velcro! Voila! A harp cover! If you can’t afford a harp cart yet you will want someone trustworthy to help you carry it from your vehicle to where you will play. Personally, I don’t trust ANYONE with my harp except me, which makes me say to you that the best investment you can ever make if you are traveling to even ONE gig is to buy a harp cart 🙂 Here is a link to a video for the one I have had for many years, which works for small harps AND pedal harps! I have used mine for both. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17YNqa41xXc
Yes, good point about resale value! As I mentioned in my earlier post, I used the Dusty Strings Jack Clamp on both my Pratt Chamber Harp and a Dusty Strings 36. I did NOT want to take the chance on drilling my harps. And, in the end, I have removed it from the Pratt. Just don’t need amplification on that harp.
I have installed the K&K Big Twin in both my Pratt Chamber Harp (36 strings) and Dusty Strings FH36S. Both worked beautifully, and still had wonderful acoustic sound. Instead of drilling into both harps I attached with Dusty Strings Jack Clamp. Bought a small preamp which plugs into Jack Clamp with short cord, then a longer cord comes out of the preamp and plugs into the amp or whatever sound system you have available. Great sound, minimal installation to your harp, and very easy to use.
I have a Pratt Chamber harp. The cover is nothing like you describe regarding your Camac harp. I am not sure what your question is, unless the Pratt cover will fit your Camac harp. Can you elaborate?
First of all, it is best to restring your harp before regulation. And ideally have the strings holding pitch well. That is, if you intend to restring your entire set. It’s a very personal thing with regard to your question, and how often you should change out your strings. I play most every day. Usually at least an hour. Oftentimes you can tell just by looking at the strings if they are getting “strung out” and tuned to their useful and lovely sounding capacity. Other times a string or more will just not respond to your dynamics the way you hope it/them will (duddy sounding, or they don’t sustain well). For me, I can hear when the harp just isn’t sounding its best. I choose a time of year where I can handle the couple weeks of incessant tuning until they finally hold pitch. I have never been disappointed in the end result. Can you remember how your harp sounded in the beginning, compared to now? Do you remember enjoying the sound more back then, then you do now? And if 1 string change gave the harp new life, imagine what changing all of them will do. Or maybe it was just that troublesome string making the entire harp “seem” like it didn’t sound good, when suddenly it actually did, but the only culprit was 1 string 🙂 There are so many opinions about this. I choose my own opinion with regard to what I am hearing. I ask myself if I love the sound of my harp…or has it become sort of ho-hum??? Go with your gut. I like to change out all of them, except the bass wires, and leave the bass wires longer. Though it sounds like some of those for you need replacement, too, so maybe an entire set is in order. Finally, when harps are new (and by the way, I am breaking in a new Triplett Eclipse as of 1/31/19) the harp goes through alot of changes. It moves and flexes, creates some annoying buzzes, maybe there’s a loose nut someplace…And regulation is best held off for awhile until your harp breaks in (different for all harps, but you will know). Then perhaps you could do a restringing, followed by a regulation later. Best to you…
Good morning! I recently spent a full day looking for issues with buzzing strings on my Triplett Eclipse. I can’t tell you the contortions I got into to try to hold this or that as I was plucking the strings. Then, as I held something near the bottom of the harp, I accidentally touched one of the washers that was between the nut and column (there are 2 that hold the column to the base) and it spun!!! (the washer). Likewise with the other one. This stopped the majority of the problem from the middle strings on down. But the buzzing continued on up to the higher octaves. So I reached up inside where the neck meets the top of the soundbox, and those 2 washers also spun, and the 2 nuts on top needed tightening. By tightening all 4, all the buzzing stopped!! I used to have an Ogden, but can’t remember how it is put together. However, as Tanya mentioned, just be sure all 4 legs are nice and snug. That sounds like a more likely fix 🙂 So many times it’s something like this, when we spend all our time trying to figure out what is wrong with a particular string/lever/etc.
I started playing the harp when I was about 50 years old, and I am now almost 67 (YIKES!) I have a Bachelor of Music degree (Applied, Music Performance – clarinet) so figured I’d do okay teaching myself with some of the great books and videos that were available when I started. I plucked along, and realized that I really wanted to take private lessons. I had to drive 102 miles one way, and started with weekly lessons. The drive was hard, especially in the winter months. So I eventually went to every-other-week. I took private lessons for just over a year, until I could get my hands wrapped around the basics. My teacher was phenomenal! And since we were about the same age, we found we had alot in common, and are still friends to this day. I highly recommend private or Skype lessons, at least for awhile. It will help you to avoid some bad habits which are typically impossible to break. My first harp was a Blevins “Espre” 36 string harp (2 full octaves below middle C, fully levered). I took it to my first lesson, and then played my teacher’s harp at lessons after that, so I didn’t have to haul it. (Sometimes I rode my Harley to my lesson 🙂 I do recommend a harp about that size, a floor harp, to start out on. Congrats on deciding to play the harp! I am by no means an “accomplished” harpist. But I can play with others, I have 3 students, and playing the harp fills my life with joy. All the best to you 🙂
