A guide to buying a Harp - Harp Tuesday ep. 100

Welcome to the 100th episode of Harp Tuesday! 100 is a big number and I feel proud to have reached it! :) Thanks to all of you who watch and comments on my videos - you're the reason I've made it to #100!
In this episode I offer some thoughts and advice on buying a harp, with an emphasis on advice for someone looking to buy their very first harp.
I hope this is helpful, and thanks for watching!
I've split this episode into individual sections, as well as the complete episode. Links below:
Complete episode: • A guide to buying a Ha...
1. Introduction • Buying a Harp - Introd...
2. General advice/synopsis • Buying a Harp - genera...
3. Three categories of harps • Buying a Harp - Three ...
4. Celtic harps - how many strings? • Buying a Harp - how ma...
5. Celtic harps - do I need levers? • Buying a Harp - do I n...
6. Build quality and ergonomics • Buying a Harp - Build ...
7. Sound quality • Buying a Harp - Sound ...
8. Strings - gut or nylon? • Buying a Harp - String...
9. Pedal harps • Buying a Harp - Pedal ...
10. Other type of harps • Buying a Harp - Other ...
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Harp Tuesday is once every two week video series about the harp. An easy to navigate list of Harp Tuesday episodes can be found at www.joshlayne.com/harptuesday/
My CD "Passage: music for solo harp" is available! Check it out at www.joshlayne.com/passage or itunes.apple.com/us/album/pas...
I teach harp lessons over the internet via Skype - email me at [e-mail] if you're interested!
Cheers,
Josh

[@777theprophet]

I make folk harps, and there is so much more to say. I have seen harps that look very nice but have very little sound. A solid wood soundboard is a very good thing. Spruce or yellow cedar. The types of wood used for the sound box all make a difference as to sound quality. Some hardwoods must be very thin to give good sound while a softer wood must be thicker and probably need a hardwood veneer to give durability against dints and scratching. Some people like higher tension strings and others like light tension strings. For an affordable harp Sharpsicles are good. Many harps off the net look good but have little sound. Try as many harps as you can before you buy. If you find a harp ring maybe you will find people who will be able to put you in touch with people who make harps in your area. If you have several makers in your area you will find a multitude of harps to try. My harp making is mostly a hobby. I still don't like the feet on most folk harps and have seen few that match the integrity of the instrument. I have never made two harps the same my addiction is the infinite set of variables involved. Try try try is my advice. Unfortunately if you don't live in or near a larger city your chances of finding a variety of builders is greatly diminished. I have given away many harps only to find the people gave up on playing after a short time, and now a wonderful instrument is now an unused un tuned decoration. I could have carved a sculpture In much less time and if I knew before hand the interest was only temporary I would have. Some makers show you on the net how they build their harps, most of these are good, but a couple made me chuckle. Robinson's harp shop. Markwood Heavenly Srings are good places to find plans and parts for those who would like to save money by building their own. These people have inspired many of the harp builders that are out there. Often local small time builders use better materials because they are not enslaved to a model that has to look like the catalog picture. The exotic woods with great Character are often one of a kind pieces that will never be found again. At any rate try all the harps you can before buying. Often local builders will give you rent to own options some can be haggled with and are open to reasonable offers.

[@JoshLayne]

+Keith M Great post, thanks so much, Keith!

[@grimluna]

Where could one find the harps that you make?

[@kukacostejberizs]

I tried CAMAC, Lyon & Healy, Aoyama, Salvi, Bernadette Kerschbauer and Papfalvy harps before buying one (I also rented before). It's my best decision.

[@777theprophet]

@@kukacostejberizs Glad you tried first saved some grief I'll bet

[@kukacostejberizs]

@@777theprophet It was better:) The world needs more pepole like you.

[@nycgingercat]

Thanks for making the distinction between student vs. professional harps regarding the quality of the wood used and how it affects the sound.

[@KevinRoddy]

ONGRATULATIONS, Josh! Wow - 100 episodes! I've turned many people on to your videos - so helpful, so insightful. Happy New Year!

[@JoshLayne]

+Kevin Roddy Thanks Kevin, and Happy New Year to you, too! :)

[@musicalmarion]

Great guide Josh! One thing to remember is the size of your vehicle too! Plus, you need 34 strings minimum to take exams here. Thank you Josh for your inspiration.

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

Congratulations Josh on this your 100th video! Good stuff here and interesting comments. Things I pick out of what you said: contact a harp teacher BEFORE you buy; and "get more strings". These are two things I wish I'd done, but I am very happy you are my teacher!

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Susanne! :)

[@shmc66]

Congratulations on your 100th Harp Tuesday, Josh! What a wonderful milestone! The information you provided was very interesting, and I learned a great deal from what you had to say. I'll draw from your wisdom as I build my harp collection. :-)

[@JoshLayne]

+Sharon Hey, thanks Sharon! :)

[@lonib2776]

Wow, so informative. Thanks Josh!

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Loni, glad it was helpful!

[@jcortese3300]

Excellent overview -- thanks! One thing I'd mention as well regarding nylon vs. gut is that gut strings also tend to be more unstable in their tuning, reacting to someone opening a door to the outside or a heater or air conditioner going on by wandering out of tune. Nylon is much more stable although of course not entirely. For me, as much as I love the more chocolatey-sounding harps over the citrus-sounding ones, the instability of gut puts me off of it completely. That might also be another thing to consider for someone in addition to the feel and expense.

[@JoshLayne]

+Janis Cortese Thanks Janis! I've actually never found gut strings to be particularly unstable - one's mileage may vary, I guess. (And may depend on climate?)

[@NotAGrandMaster]

Very good info, thanks, Josh :)

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Joshua!

[@Galsaggie]

Thank you Dear Josh, I enjoyed your guide very much :-)

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@GorefeastDrummer]

Renting a harp is almost an impossibility for me, since I live 7 hours from the closest harp shop. I have been listening to videos of harps though, and have found the sound I like but I'm also concerned about making the wrong decision since i live in the middle of nowhere. I have to choose between 4 different cities to visit. yet i dont have the money to travel to all of them

[@thedulcimer]

Thanks for taking the time to post this. I am not in the market for a new harp now, but I continue to be very satisfied with my current harp. I have a Lyon and Healy Prelude number 236. (Do you have any idea when it may have been made? I'm thinking it may be fairly old.). I enjoying comparing all of your advice and opinions to my own experiences with my prelude and my small 22 string lap harp. I have been slowly changing many of the lower and mid range strings on the prelude to gut. It is very expensive but it is almost like a new instrument in terms of the quality of sound. Look forward to many of your posts!

[@thedulcimer]

Oh, the Prelude is actually number 245

[@JoshLayne]

+thedulcimer Thanks, and yes, wouldn't it be nice if we were like violins and could changes strings and experiment with a different sound by only changing/buying 4 strings... :) I don't know when your prelude would have been built, but I'm sure you could email the serial number to Lyon and Healy and they'd be happy to tell you!

[@Tesserain]

I am buying my first harp, a Dusty String Ravenna 34!

[@JoshLayne]

Awesome! Ravenna's are great harps, hope you're enjoying it :)

[@donnakelley1202]

Thanks for making this video. I have a question. When you buy a leaver harp from the company that made it does it come with the strings..or do you buy them separately and string it yourself? There aren't any music stores in my area to go try it out. I don't know anyone who gives lessons I could ask. I really appreciate your expertise.

[@JoshLayne]

Hi Donna, a new harp will always come with strings :)

[@inthedaysstillleft1257]

What do you think of a 29 string harp, that has octaves starting with A? (variant of Music makers Sonnet lap harp)? Thanks!

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

What about choosing the finish? Which finish is best for the stage vs weddings vs Church?

[@greekgodapollosfarts7823]

Hi, i just bought a harpsicle and it arrived broken.Are they good with returning an instrument if it broke during shipping?.I am just so upset about this and actually almost cried a bit because it was my first harp... :(

[@JoshLayne]

Oh wow, so sorry to hear! :( I hope everything works out!

[@greekgodapollosfarts7823]

Thanks, i heard they have a good reputation so i am hoping they let me send it back to get a new one.

[@NapierThompson]

Great advice. You forgot to mention Paraguayan harps, though. :-)

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Napier! (I think I briefly mention Paraguayan harps on the last segment - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWmaknt8bJ51n6c I don't have enough experience with them to do them justice :)

[@gronkmusic7973]

Do you ever actually play any of your harps?