Harp Comparison Video Part 1: Fourteen Lap Harps!

Today I have a comparison video like no other! I've gathered 14 different lap harps with 24 strings or less and will be showing off and comparing ALL of them.
Aklot 15 String on Amazon: amzn.to/37rdDl5
Derwent Adventurer 20: derwent-harps.myshopify.com
Waring Double Cardboard Harp: waringmusic.com
Fireside Double Cardboard Harp: backyardmusic.com
Konghou Double Harp
Resonance Capris Harp: reverb.grsm.io/CaprisHarp5743
Tristy Harp (with wire strings): magicalstrings.com
Stoney End Eve Harp: www.stoneyend.com/
County Clare Noteworthy Harp: notewood.com/
Stoney End Esabelle Cross Strung Harp: www.stoneyend.com/
Roosebeck Caitlin Cross Strung Harp: reverb.grsm.io/CrossHarp
Vavra Honey Double Strung Harp: www.vavraharp.com/
Oladion 24 String Wire Strung Harp: magicalstrings.com
Marini Double Strung Harp: www.marinimadeharps.com/
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means that if you buy something from the above Amazon link, I might get a small share of the sale :) Thank you!
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[@moirbasso7051]

I hope you know how much this HELPS those of us who are 'harp shopping' and who cannot go to the 'big harp stores' or to things like Folk Harp Conferences due to lockdowns; and virtual events which, while enjoyable, cannot take the place of 'harp tastings' that help so many people to find their 'forever harp.' I would ask that you continue all the way up to your pedal harp, to give us a full immersion into the Harp paradigm.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Yes! I am one of those people with nothing nearby, and I definitely rely on other videos when planning a purchase! I'm so glad to help others in the same boat 😊

[@ChoirFly]

Wow! That's a lot of harps! Now I don't feel so bad about wanting to get a 2nd one! LOL ~Lisa

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Yay! I hope you find the perfect 2nd harp 😊

[@pelinicoz8669]

I dont even play the harp but i love your energy and your passion for music so i watch all your content

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Aww, thank you so much for the support 😊

[@pelinicoz8669]

@@MusicalMollyKhan You're welcome you deserve it 💕🙂

[@qltygrl3187]

Wow! That’s a great collection!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Thank you 😊

[@thathandpanlady4510]

Fascinating! And you play absolutely beautifully!! 👍🏼💕☺️🛸🎶🦋

[@musicalmiscellany]

Wow! That was a cool harp tour! I can't wait to see part two. You have some really unique harps. A lovely collection and a great video.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Thanks so much! I do have an affinity for the more unique instruments 😅

[@mysterysound8869]

WOW!!! Amazing collection!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Thank you 😊

[@Iceland874]

The plunky one is decorative. Maybe its good for a conversation piece and as furniture. The cardboard harps sound very nice! What a nice collection! This is a very enjoyable video! The purple hardwood harp has rich low notes. Wow so many harps!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I was thinking it might have a better tone with a different string tension, so I may try to find a better set of strings - but maybe it is better off as a decorative piece! I absolutely adore the purple heart harp as well 🥰

[@peaceweaver3]

Thank you so much for sharing this joyful harp tour, Molly! I love it, and I also love mermaids! :-)

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

How fun 😊🧜‍♀️

[@serabee8197]

Looking forward to part two

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

It's definitely my favorite of the two 😊

[@glick278]

Thank you infinitely! HareKrishna.GodBless ❤️🙏😀

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I'm glad to help! 😊

[@kristenann9467]

Hi! 😊😉 Great to see and hear your harp collection! 😉🎵 (Just today my Marini Bass Lap Harp arrived!)🤭😯

[@connieLo87365]

wow!!!!!!!! so glad to see you marked your tuners lol. I picked out a couple sounds really good now I have to rewatch and remember their names. Such a project you have.. I'll be back lol

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Yes, marking them is the only way to know what belongs with who 😅

[@paulbecket7399]

I'm jealous...I want a front room full of lap harps!

[@ReenBlom]

Do you have a video comparing the double strungs? Would be helpful.

[@3762302]

Are you not afraid one of your harps might tip over, fall on another and break the harp or harps?

[@jillc2700]

😯 that is a lot of harps! I think I may get a second larger harp in a few years… but my first and only harp thus far is beautiful and I’m very happy. It’s nice to hear all these sound clips. How do you decide what instrument to play any given day?? I’m keeping up with both harp and piano practice but more to choose from would be crazy for me!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

That is a great question! Honestly, I spend a lot of little chunks of time with my harps each day - I may sit in the bedroom and play my pedal harp for 15 min, then when I'm in the playroom with my kiddos get the Harpsicle out for a quick 10 minute practice, then pass by a double strung and play and relax with it for a few minutes.. it sometimes comes down to whatever catches my eye in the moment 🥰

[@soniaorel3730]

I have wanted a Noteworthy County Kerry 24 string harp for ages. I tried contacting the manufacturer a few times since 2014 but have never heard back. I cannot see that any Noteworthy harps are still being sold 😞It was great seeing a County Clare 22 string harp! Thanks for the demonstration of all those harps - very helpful!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

You're welcome! Sad to hear he isn't making harps, or at least isn't reachable. It's an absolutely gorgeous instrument. 😊

[@soniaorel3730]

@@MusicalMollyKhan Good news! I contacted West Coast Harps in Canada and the lovely lady Alison gave me Jeff Gaynor's direct telephone number. I called him this morning and he is going to make me a harp! Yippee! It also worked out because he never received my emails even though I was using the correct email address, so he is going to look into that as well. I will have to wait for at least 3 months because he is in so much demand. He had 5 orders for musical instruments already that day and has a backlog of orders and it will take ages to ship to Australia BUT since I have been waiting since 2014, that is nothing! I'm very excited! 🙂

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

@@soniaorel3730 oh I am so happy for you!! I hope you love it 😊

[@bertilak6580]

Have just discovered your channel - you play several of my favourite instruments 😃 I was fascinated by the Marini double-strung harp - have you done a video reviewing it specifically? I couldn’t find one on your channel, apologies if I’ve missed it!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I haven't yet! I have the footage from the unboxing sitting on my computer and I just haven't gotten around to doing a review portion 😅 I will definitely try to get to that in the next week or two!

[@robinmaine9368]

Wow! I feel like a little kid in a candy store. Absolutely amazing! Thank you for making these videos. Most of us won’t ever have the opportunity to be in a room with 24 different Harps. That was more fun than the symphony. How do you rate the tension lowest to highest between the Stoney End Eve, Rebecca, and the Dusty double? Also, which is most comfortable as far as how they fit up next to your body? I noticed that the Rebecca has a larger frame and soundbox than the Dusty double strung. Thanks for all your help, Molly. You’re an inspiration to us all. 👍

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

So glad to help! I tried them out again, and to my fingers the Rebecca has the most tension, followed by the Eve, followed by the Dusty double with the least tension. Personally, they all feel pretty comfortable to sit with. I don't have any problems with any of them, but none stand out as the "most" comfortable 😊

[@christopherstube9473]

Thank you Ms. Khan for this exposition, it is sort of like touring a candy story. Is there a reason you like the C compass more than the G compass on these lap harps? Also i would suggest that the ones with the strings parallel to the sound boards could be classified as lyres. That being said, they sounded a bit richer too. It was the first time i saw a lap form of the Chinese harp which is pretty impressive given the ability to bend the pitches like a clavichord. Altogether a wonderful presentation.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Thank you! Yes, technically a few are classified as lyres, but since they have harp height, spacing, and tuning I think they belong in the collection 😅 So glad someone picked up on my preference for starting on C! It actually really helps me to orient myself to different harps. I was playing the Shaylee earlier today which has F as the bass note and it really takes some adjustment for me - I'm sure that's different for everyone though! 😊

[@purityshallabide1645]

Stoney End - Eve 6:27 surprising resonance Vavra Harps 10:17 Therapy harp, very clear Marini Made Harp 12:22 lyre type harp, beautiful sound

[@cheryla9951]

Hello Molly! I am happy to see you were able to get all your harps in one video ( at least the lap harps). I had no idea you had that many! Do you find them or do they find you! Hahaha!! Thanks for the comparison and looking forward to the floor harps comparison! Love ya :)

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Both!! I have sought some out, but oftentimes they seem to pop up at the most convenient times.. I love the story of the little cross strung harp. I had been idly thinking about one for awhile and a woman who lived 50 miles from me put one up for sale on FB and I stumbled on it out of nowhere! I feel like I get very lucky sometimes 😁

[@cheryla9951]

@@MusicalMollyKhan I love it! It thrills me to think you can "stumble" on harps like that! I am going to keep my feelers up for such possibilities in my area besides my continual search for the "perfect" harp! I enjoy watching Tracie Lin's channel because she plays several harps that I would love to own. P.S. Your local harp circle idea is a wonderful plan for all those harps!

[@tiffanyharpandsong]

Hi Molly! This is a great video. I can't seem to find the Fireside double strung on their website. Did you get it from somewhere else? PS I was surprised to see the Noteworthy, they're near me! I've played one of those :)

[@xiaolim4528]

Thanks for the great video Molly!!❤️ Can I ask: does the Derwent harp have levers? Thank you!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

My Derwent does not, but they can put them on when you purchase! 😊

[@Kojirakage]

I think for my first harp I want to buy the Caitlin. Having cross strung sounds really interesting to me. Do you still have a good recommendation for it? Have there been any actual issues with it other than it being generally poorer quality?

[@clairesmith3961]

Molly, would you mind posting a link to the harp wrench you use to tune the 15 string allot? Thank you!!

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Honestly I'm not sure where to buy it separately 😔 I can do some checking and see which brands fit it and may be able to figure out the size from there!

[@ilovepedalharpstheybeautif6692]

That is definitely a room full of harps

[@ImuluKazuko]

Hello. I am planning on buying my first harp. I first had my eye on the 19 string harp that you suspect came from the creator of the Aklot one, but I did not see that one in this video. Is it one you gave away or sold, and if so, is it because it was not a favorite? Between it, the Fireside, and the Derwent Adventure 20, which would you recommend most? The Derwent harp would likely be the most durable, right? I apologize for the questions.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

No problem, I love questions! That particular harp is not in the video because I didn't get it until after the video was made. I personally think the Derwent is the best of the 3 options, it's a nicely made instrument. The Fireside is fantastic as well, but slightly less durable due to the cardboard construction. The 15 string harps like Aklot and Lotmusic are good introduction harps, but have a limited range and a slightly plinky sound. I hope that helps! 😊

[@SecretplaceintheGlory]

Just now realising I prefer metal strings over nylon strings.... 12:12

[@amandal2878]

What would you recommend for a beginner? I am 5’1 nothing too big thank you

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I think it really depends on what kind of music experience you have and what you want to play! An accomplished musician on another instrument may feel limited by a smaller harp with no levers, but it might be perfect if you're just learning :)

[@GloriaGarcia-yv1tk]

I have to ask (kind of new to your channel): Do you own all of those harps, or just have them to review & then send back? Wow! I have 4 harps & it’s almost too much for me🎶😨

[@datharpist9949]

From my understanding she owns all the harps! She buys them, reviews them, and then sells them if she doesn’t want to keep them. (Also, I feel you, I have 3 harps and couldn’t imagine having more than 2 more!)

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Great question! I do own all of them, but as the other commenter said I tend to pass them on if they're not what I'm looking for. I have a LOT of small harps because I'm dreaming of building a little harp circle locally where many can learn together, and when that happens I'll have several high quality but not too expensive harps to pass along 😊

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

You got it! I am hoping to get a small harp learning circle going here that I can pass on some of these smaller harps to - I'm currently talking to my kids' school about a possible after school club 😁

[@LeRoiDansLeCiel]

Are you planning to open a harp center/shop ? I have no intention to be mean, I'm just very curious to undertand why so much harp.. and that you may have the desire to open a business with it (I can't imagine my family having to deal with so much instruments.. I have already an accoustic piano, a cello and a harp so... ^^' poor us! poor them I mean!) ^^'

[@datharpist9949]

I've got to know the total of all of thte strings on your harps. I always joke about having 118 strings to tune. Edit: I counted 440 for just the lap harps

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

Wow, when you put it that way it's a lot 😂 In next week's video on the floor harps, I did note that my Shaylee Meadows has the most with 60 strings!

[@niplusnimoins1124]

Funny kids

[@matfellows6706]

I love the sound of harp music, but listening to you play made me wonder if you can sing?

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I can sing, but I wouldn't call it great 😅 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIO0gWRnbM-djKM

[@matfellows6706]

@@MusicalMollyKhan that was absolutely beautiful, i really want to hear more, i have no musical talent whatsoever but my ears know talent when they hear it. and the sound of your voice alongside the beautiful sound of the harp was magical.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

@@matfellows6706 aww thank you! 😊

[@matfellows6706]

@@MusicalMollyKhan oh no, thank you it really was beautiful, i hope you'll make more like it? ive listened to it twice already. x

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

@@matfellows6706 I definitely will be! Thank you 😊