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I know this post is two years old, but I too am trying to reach William Webster about a harp of his. If anyone has contact information or a website, could you post it or send to steve (AT) mossharpservice.com?
Carl,
I absolutely agree that there are a lot of variables and every harp is unique. Any reference material that was created could only be a guideline. For instance, the worth of two Style 23’s from 1959 will be drastically different if one is all original (and needs rebuilding) and the other has been completely rebuilt recently. But some kind of guideline would still be better than relying on hearsay.The resource I envision would strive to collect details on whether major rebuilding has been done (or would need to be done).
Thanks for your thoughts, and thank you Balfour as well.
Carlin,
It’s normal for new harps to break more strings. The instrument takes a while to stabilize under constant string pressure. Add that to the bad weather you’re having and this amount of breakage is not at all surprising. Multiple breaks on one string are very frustrating, but not unheard of in this situation. I’d agree with Tacye that this is not an abnormal amount of breakage under the circumstances.Bay,
Angela’s response is correct, constant conditions are the best. Neither dryness nor humidity are bad for your instrument by themselves, but rapid and significant changes in humidity can be dangerous. Humidity causes the wooden fibers to swell; dryness causes them to shrink. Wood is flexible and can stand to swell and shrink some, but if the change happens too rapidly, the fibers can break, and that is what causes the cracking. Strive to keep humidity changes as minimal as you can, and your harp should do fine.
Steve Moss
Moss Harp Service
