How NOT To Buy a Harp | How to Buy a Harp and What To Look For In a Used Harp

[@ginnabaker2725]

Thanks so much for making this. I'm going to look at a used harp today, and this gave me exactly what I needed in terms of what to look at and why.

[@wholovesyababy5574]

I think dryness is a bigger problem than humidity. In the winter, house heat is a big problem for drying out the wood and cracking in instruments.

[@rondelby2482]

Love the way this looks and harmonic curve to the neck. I wish I had the blue print plans for it and I would make a maple or cherry one. Excellent as of looks.

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

It is so beautiful! I wish it was well constructed because it's gorgeous 😊

[@connieLo87365]

Great tips Molly, bought my first used harp on Kjj. Didn't know anything about anything? including make sure you have enought light to view the harp. Fortunately I only had some peg and pins and strings to change. There was warping on the oak. but cosmetic after we had it checked out. Love this harp now as it has taught me how to repair before play. lol lol I feel for that harp, May make a good decoration in a green room or outdoors

[@jillc2700]

Enlightening video, thanks for posting. Sorry you ended up purchasing a purely decorative harp-shaped object though. 😭 as a side note I’ve been faithfully running a humidifier or dehumidifier since purchasing my own harp and observing the humidity levels in my home through the few seasons I have had it. No wonder my skin has been so dry in the winter! 🐪

[@Tinykniter]

Great video! Reminds me of the time I brought my 15 string cardboard Waring harp on a trip. A relative had a small Pakistani harp and they were amazed at how much better my “good” harp sounded. I showed them how to tune their harp, but it wouldn’t hold its tuning for more than a couple of minutes. Truly, a Waring or Fireside cardboard harp would be a better option if you are watching your budget.

[@lowcountryhooper]

Those actually look like the new levers. I have an older Pakistani harp and my levers look completely different. The old levers do work if you go after them with WD-40, remove about half of them and drill new holes to move them up further, and file down the edges on the levers for the highest treble strings to accommodate the bridge pins so that you can get them high enough up the string to get a half step. I bought a Fullsicle after a few months instead of trying to do all of that as a harp beginner. Even if you do all of those things, the levers are only suitable for setting key signatures, not accidentals. I’ve been using the Pakistani to try my hand at lever regulation and harp maintenance/repair since I now have two good harps. I’m trying to fix it up as a loaner harp for people who want to try harp without a huge investment. The Pakistani harp also sounds like a banjo. I did get lucky with mine. I’ve had mine since 1998 and it is still structurally sound. Other people I’ve seen on Facebook weren’t so lucky and their harps weren’t dropped like the one you bought was, they just failed.

[@Moonlightrealgirl]

Great tips Molly! :) Just bought myself a new harp and I live in a humid city… wondering if I shud get a humidifier regardless since there’s a heatpump in the living room.

[@eileenkoszyk4665]

I miss you on this channel! Hope you come back soon.

[@albertgarcia7958]

That's wad😢 very helpful and good tips, I. Wonder how much does one harp of that size ,"Value cost " 🤔

[@qiqi2692]

You are a life saver! So buying this Pakistani harp was not a waiste! 🙏

[@MusicalMollyKhan]

I'm so glad it was helpful! 😊

[@anopinion9830]

Is the soundboard of the harp supposed to be completely flat? I’m looking at a harp, I haven’t yet seen in person, looks good to me, but I did take a free lesson, and showed that teacher and see said she sees signs of warping. When she pointed, I actually didn’t see it. She recommended another seller and had a harp for sale, same price, but, they weren’t really my style. The photos weren’t really that good and although I trust her opinion, it’s still possible the photo was actually just grainy. So I will look in person before buying, and looking for a second opinion. She said harps can explode

[@geringergasse2]

Thank you, very interesting.

[@PracticaProphetica]

Pretty much the same applies to Pakistani bagpipes, smallpipes, northumbrian pipes, and uillean pipes, from what I have heard. I don't know how they get away without more negative feedback on eBay...probably because the people who buy their pipes don't know enough about them to realize the instrument is not really playable. There might be the odd exception, of course. But who wants to gamble?

[@cathydrums2846]

Hey, you can always make a lamp out of it! 🤣👍🎶

[@HeavyMetalBagpipe]

if an instrument is too beautiful and too cheap to be true, well... ^^' edit : thanks for your videos, I started playing the harp last year and your videos are wonderful to discover and understand this instrument ! :D

[@Cocytus]

Next Video - Molly demonstrates How to properly repair/restore a harp from fair to pristine condition

[@wholovesyababy5574]

A lot of good information. Just stop giggling.

[@Folcharper]

In the case of a Pakistani made harp of this ilk, the odds are very much against getting a harp well made of of good materials. New or used.

[@vernonbowling5310]

How unfortunate you got stuck with this harp, I'll bet the picture displayed for you didn't show any of the damage.

[@GaryNichols50]

What a shame. Sorry you got ripped off, Molly. Sad to be reminded of the level of ethics in some people.

[@LanaLeon]

Why do you buy so many harps all the time? 😄 out of curiosity.

[@rondelby2482]

Get someone reasonable to use it as a pattern and have you one made

[@Luna73565]

Looks like you have rights to get money back!

[@CoffeeBreakHarp]

Sadly from what I heard this is not very likely in case of these harps ☹️