Mikel 38-string harp -- a review

Join me as I discover my new Mikel 38, from picking it up at the airport to unwrapping it, tuning it, and discovering its unique sound and features.
To read about my experiences over many years purchasing harps from Mikel Harps, check out my blog at mymikelharpexperience.wordpre... These are very good harps and represent excellent value for money.

[@LastDaysIntercessors]

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for making this video! Very helpful, very well done and very encouraging for those of us who are considering a harp from the Mikel company.

[@nyharp5696]

One of my friend have mikel saffron 34 harp and she is so happy with it..;

[@Pythonaria]

Thank you for this informative video. I got a new harp 10 days ago and I've been having difficulty in tuning it. It always goes sharp. I'm tuning to C maj. It is a 36 string harp, not an expensive one as I'm a late beginner (mid 60s). It is nylon strung except for the last few strings which are nylon core/wire wound. The last 3 strings seem to be very slack and low C barely makes any sound, more like a buzz. I'll try tuning it from middle C down and see if that helps. I've been using two tuners - a Snark and a Korg. Think I'll try the Pano Tuner.

[@angienichos4003]

Yes, one of my student have a Mikel Harp and its good quality harp in small budget.

[@DjSkillerTV]

Did you heard any more details from your student after a year?

[@thepricillove5244]

this guy knows his harps. I've had a hard on for a full sized aged pedal job. but I simply don't trust eBay or its heathen sellers. in this case a may have to. the smaller harp Mr Johnson had are shamelessly expensive, but it strongly renewed my desire to start back playing

[@joanncooper7297]

Mikel Harp Review 7/31/23 The harp itself is beautiful, mostly from a distance as the finish is poorly applied. I'm not complaining; you get what you pay for and I made a bad choice choosing a Blue finish and expecting it to look smooth and one single tone of blue all over. I should have went with a natural finish, painting is not within Mikel's skill set, but I didn't know that ahead of time. Finish is bubbly and inconsistent in color. . . I stared at it for a while, thinking of how I could remove the finish completely without damaging it. . . I don't know, so I'll leave it. Try to get use to it, let it grow on me. The carrying bag that came included with the harp in the description was the reason I purchased the harp in the first place -value for your money. That was what pushed me to buy it on eBay rather than directly through their website where the carrying bag is a separate fee. However, it appears the item description from the seller is misleading, it says "Weighing 15.8kg and coming with it's own carrying bag to enable transport" . . . How else was I supposed to interpret that sentence? When people say "I am coming with you" that means they go together, it's a package deal. . . It's okay, I brought some cargo blankets from Amazon to sew together and make my own harp case but the whole reason I went for this product was because it was an all inclusive deal. Honestly, I just got it home a few hours ago and the customs/ cargo/ brokerage process was an extended nightmare, such that I am too tired after all of that to tune it and hear what it sounds like. So, as yet I don't know. I hope it sounds as bright and full as reviews say. . . As long as no one stands too close while I'm playing; it will look like a picture of beauty. I'm not beating up on Mikel, I am as happy as can be expected when purchasing an instrument sight unseen. It's fine. . . I did this to myself. I'm an adult, no one made me buy this. It is what it is.

[@gordonjohnston758]

@joanncooper7297 now that you’ve had a year with your harp, how do you like it? How is the sound? Is the tuning stable? I’d enjoy hearing an update from you.

[@rondelby2482]

I hope they can be available over her in USA instead of the red tape and expense of getting one. People do not like red tape, so to speak. The shipping and fees are horrible. That expense money could be used on a Lyon & Healy Ogden or Drake model. Good harp I am very sure but the shipping and fee too high.

[@321Rosey]

Interesting thank you. It is very bright at the top, I hope it settled a bit. The timeframe with the large manufacture you mentioned that is going back a long time now. Before COVID harps were in stock. Unfortunately now with the effects of closures at all levels of the process, there can be some catching up across the globe. Many things are personal preferences, I think testing at least one lever in each octave is important and the by the first few weeks when it has settled, all of them to know it has been regulated correctly. Also I personally found apps on phones can be as good as the microphone which can very enormously. I am very sensitive to pitch, and prefer a dedicated tuner with clamp on line in, on vibration not microphone, and checking the A in the mid or fourth octave same as middle C for lever harps 440

[@ilovepedalharpstheybeautif6692]

I love that pedal harp that is behind you

[@gordonjohnston758]

I love it too! It's a Lyon & Healy style 23, has a fantastic warm sound and feels like liquid gold to play. Thanks for checking out my video :)

[@denisemayosky1955]

Me too, it's gorgeous!!!💖

[@daevaskye]

Hey Gordon, thanks for the review! How does the Mikel compare to your much more expensive (I assume) Camac Excalibur?

[@gordonjohnston758]

@daevskye It’s a little unfair to compare a low-budget harp like the Mikel with a professional-level harp like the Camac Excalibur. This is just my opinion, from my own est and my own taste: I had a hard time liking the sound of the Excalibur; I found it thin and twangy. After a year of trying to like the sound, I completely re-strung the Excalibur in Bow Brand lever gut. That warmed the sound a little, but it still was not rich and resonant. Eventually I sold both harps because I was not in love with them. Now I’m thinking about the one harp I’ve never owned and secretly wished for, a Dusty FH36.

[@gordonjohnston758]

@daevskye It’s a little unfair to compare a low-budget harp like the Mikel with a professional-level harp like the Camac Excalibur. This is just my opinion, from my own est and my own taste: I had a hard time liking the sound of the Excalibur; I found it thin and twangy. After a year of trying to like the sound, I completely re-strung the Excalibur in Bow Brand lever gut. That warmed the sound a little, but it still was not rich and resonant. Eventually I sold both harps because I was not in love with them. Now I’m thinking about the one harp I’ve never owned and secretly wished for, a Dusty FH36.

[@mandarinlearner]

Is the soundboard made of spruce or baltic birch?

[@gordonjohnston758]

The soundboard is spruce with veneer on top.

[@samanthathompson9812]

The import costs are why I went with a local maker in Ontario.

[@RonDelby]

They are losing a lot of money because of the customs charges etc. Not good.

[@mindybongiovanni9755]

How much is your harp? Thank you.

[@brianwoolery6576]

a person can buy their sharping levers for $6 each. Are they worth that? I need sharping levers for a Musicmakers Regency I just acquired. I can get Lovelands for $7.50, but I think thy kind of must the sound, or Rees Levers for $11.00 each (have never tried them). Any thoughts?

[@gordonjohnston758]

I'm the wrong person to ask, because I love Loveland levers, find them effective and easy to work with. I think they are more easily adjustable than Mikel levers. But there's only one way to find out, give it a shot and then report back and let us know what you decided and how it turned out.

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

Canada customs is making bank! Beautiful Harp😍💕🥰😘 Cracked me up @3:04 heehee and I'm glad you didn't stab him @4:20! LOL

[@gordonjohnston758]

Haha yeah, I'm glad I didn't stab him :) A good harp husband like mine is worth his weight in gold :)

[@RonDelby]

Very discouraging when you have to go through red tape to get one. They need an American distributor.

[@321Rosey]

Bummer no edit. Below post, middle octave A string 440 Hz. It is important to make sure with new harps A = 440 or it throws out the whole harp’s sound. When testing levers for those new to harps, if tuning in C Maj the string with the lever not engaged (lever up) the string is in its natural position and should tune as C etc. To use strings in sharps when you engage the lever it should tune perfect C# by your tuner. If it is not your string needs some work. Over time (years) the strings get old, they do drift or if dropped, exposed to extreme temps and need a technician to Regulate the whole harp.

[@gordonjohnston758]

If your strings get old, you don't need a regulation, you need new strings! Regulating a lever harp should be a rare event because the mechanism is more stable and used much less than a pedal harp. Of course with a 38-string harp one would normally tune it in E-flat.

[@321Rosey]

@@gordonjohnston758 yes old strings get new strings. However if you use your levers constantly to play in different keys or accidentals the harp can need Regulating two to five years depending how often and how long one plays. I have exceptional pitch. If you tune your harp then shift from Eb Major to C Major raising all Es Bs and A levers then play in D or G increasing more or A-major. They get well used. So tuning then raising levers and checking with the tuner (I use a line in tuner on vibration and a Snark on microphone tuner, two at the same time to check, one can see if the harp needs Regulating because the string will be out of tune. No matter the time it needs Regulating.