My new harp - one year in! A year with a Camac Excalibur, Harp Tuesday ep. 140

[@Maris-W]

You had me smiling throughout the video as I watched how each time you touched the harp during a description, you got lost for a few minutes in the pure enjoyment of playing it, then came back for another comment.

[@JoshLayne]

Hehe, thanks Maris :)

[@floridacelticharpist]

Hey Josh, I really am impressed with Camac harps. Considering one for my next harp. Around the same time you got your harp, I had gotten my Dusty Strings Ravenna. In the beginning I was excited and was happy with the overall sound. Now I’m actually impressed how much fuller and richer the sound has become a year later. It’s starting to belly up and it sounds great. I feel like a lot of people come in contact with the Ravenna when it’s newly built and it hasn’t had enough time to show its sound potential and a lot of recordings don’t do it justice. I love the attachable stand, it’s nifty when not sitting in the same chair all the time. I know you perform mostly on pedal harp, but you do the lever harp justice and show its potential.

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Christopher, and nice to hear about your experience with your new Ravenna!

[@birdwoodp3342]

My Excalibur arrived yesterday. I love it.

[@JoshLayne]

Nice!

[@paulinelife]

Today I celebrate three years with my Excalibur 🖤 Happy to say that we had so many awesome adventures together and I think I love it everyday more ☺️ It was fun to watch your follow up review in this occasion 🙏🏻

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Pauline and congratulations on your 3 year anniversary :)

[@rondelby2482]

I made an Irish 30 stringed one from plans and made it with a flat back and it sounds similar to an orchestra harp. The woods I used were not woods you normally use They are Oak for the neck and pedestal, and yellow Poplar for sides and Baltic birch laminate for front sound board and back. It sounds very similar to an orchestra harp although its smaller..

[@TheOldestSoul]

Dude, you are a master harper. An inspiration to us all.

[@JoshLayne]

Haha, thanks!

[@VictoriaJohnsonHarp]

I love how much you adore your instrument! 🙂

[@pheona1000]

Great projection from this harp!

[@perinatalcares]

I appreciate you so much! I wanted one of those, someday...I am happy with my Blevins. Love watching and listening...

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Mona!

[@amber7891]

Mona Seering ohhh the Blevins harps are so lovely!!

[@NaiadViolet]

You're amazing. Love your teachings in all your videos.

[@JoshLayne]

Aww, thanks! :)

[@loripeytonband]

It’s very bright sounding.

[@JoshLayne]

Yep, definitely on the bright spectrum (as opposed to warm).

[@balfourknight7011]

This was most enjoyable, Josh! I still feel the same way, in love with my special cherry Dusty Strings FH36S after three years! Wishing you all the best, my friend!

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Balfour! :)

[@kyradearadodaday]

I am deciding between the FH26S in cherry and the Camac Excalibur do you have a insights or recommendations to decide between these two harps? Thanks! :)

[@MiaStrayer]

Awwwwwwww she's beautiful really nice sound

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks Mia!

[@MrWordshark]

OK - so that posting arrived! 3 years on, and my only regret is that I wasn't able to buy my Camac Excalibur 60 years ago when I was able learn new skills rather faster! I'm still delighted with my purchase, no ifs or buts. One poster below asked about Fl Carbon strings: I found I preferred the feel of these to gut or nylon, and they seem kinder to my fingers (I play violin too, so need to watch my finger pads!). The sound is I think slightly brighter -though with 2 hearing aids, I am probably not the best equipped to judge! I had a couple of breakages in the first year, then around a year ago 8 in rapid succession over a month or so. I noted each one, and each was a white string in the same general octave area - and the 8 were actually 3 strings which broke multiple times. Photographs back to Elen, replacement stock, and I've not had a break in over a year. The frayed breaks, mid-string, I suspected it was a dodgy batch. That said, at last year's weekend the Camac techs did explain exactly how to tie and wind new strings. This is worth knowing - as Fl Carbon strings are all the better-lasting if fitted correctly! Anyhow - I absolutely share Josh's joy and enthusiasm, if not his hair, beard youth or harping skills!

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks for this and your other post - sounds like you're having a blast with your harp :) , too, have found breakages have slowed/stopped and yes, they were all concentrated around the 2nd octave and multiple times - so perhaps a bad batch, I dunno!

[@qiqi2692]

Thanks for the review : from my experience with piano : it does pay off having lower strings , even if you don’t play them that much . The harmonic vibrations of the lower notes , build and size of the soundbox help a lot in the overal sound . All strings resonate even if you don’t play them . I’m doing research now for my first harp , want the best warm deep sound but have to be able to travel with it .. still doubting about Ravenna 34, Ogden or a German brands : Glissando Beryll 34, or Pepe weisgerber. Cost is also a major factor .. wich harps have you tried ? Thanks for the review !

[@keiththurlow-bishop1617]

Hi Josh. What lead you to choose the Excalibur over, say, the Camac Korrigan or Isolde Classic? They all look very similar on paper.

[@MrWordshark]

Bother-my posting has mizzled.... here I go again, in the hope this is not a repeat! My 60th birthday present was a "low quality" harp- I soon grew out of it, and 3 years ago bought an Excalibur from Elen at Telynau Vining Harps, Cardiff Wales. Every 2 years she runs a simply fantastic Easter harp long weekend, and Camac guys join her for this. I'd soon put Camac in the top bracket for build quality, wide range, sound quality, even with the pre-BREXIT fall in £ versus Euro they still offered good value for money. The opportunity to try out the whole range, with Camac staff, many harpers, harpists, teachers all giving willing advice was wonderful. After several hours the two that "fitted my 6 ft body" were the Isolde and Excalibur, and the slightly extra power and sensuous feel of the latter won. I will post again regarding the strings and 3-year feelings.

[@johnharpdalton7766]

Hello, thanks for the video and info on this fine harp. I play Melusines mostly, and like the versatile nylon sound and the fact that these nylon strings break incredibly rarely.... so I was curious about the carbonfibre here being more fragile. How would you characterise in tone terms the carbon strings as compared with nylon? Yours, John D

[@JoshLayne]

Hi John, I feel the carbon strings are close to a gut sound. As far as breakages go, it's really only been a handful of strings - perhaps a bad batch, or maybe a slightly heavier gauge needed for some of the 2nd octave? I dunno, but things have been pretty good this past while, knock on wood :)

[@amber7891]

I was able to get a cherry sp Ed fullsicle to start with. I love the nylon strings and the cherry wood. The lightness of the harp actually has been a challenge for me, I come from playing cello and I want that reassurance of weight so it’s not moving around. But at the same time I want to take my harp into the fall leaves so it can’t be too heavy and I’d love to carry it in a backpack! So maybe my fullsicle will be that harp, and I can get a bit heavier of an instrument. Also thank you for reviewing the carbon strings, I’ve been very curious about the differences. ☀️☀️🎼🌌

[@rondelby2482]

I do not like very light celtic harps. I like to feel some weight on me

[@PaisLeysaSkye]

I’m having massive decision making issue between Isolde and Excalibur….I’m a new harper, previously learning on an Ogden…this harp sounds like a piano ha….I’m a small person….so….I just love the sound of this so I am torn, very much 😔 trying to determine if the money on it is what a new harper would spend and if I deserve that

[@mnemosyne866]

Please play beauty and the beast ( camac Excalibur) . and a whole new whole .thanks It's Tuesday.. Thanks

[@ChoirFly]

Great follow-up review! Your continued joy with the instrument is most telling! :) I imagine the folks at VA Harp Center and Camac are just as pleased with the endorsement. (They’re great people and deserve props btw) Interesting info about FC Strings. I would have figured them to be as durable as nylon as well, but apparently they’re somewhat fragile. They give a good tone once they’ve settled in.

[@JoshLayne]

Thanks, tons of great options out there but I'm certainly very happy with this one :) And yeah, I'm curious as to what my experience with the strings will be a year from now!

[@LanaLeon]

Do you think a Camac 34 strings is a good brand for a total beginner? 🙏

[@JoshLayne]

Yeah, I think a 34 string harp is a fantastic way to get started, and Camac makes wonderful harps. So many great harps and options out there, of course! Hard to choose, haha :)

[@gt_oliver]

What's the difference for you between this harp and other models such as Telenn, or Melusine?

[@sakurapixey3043]

With my current situation I purchased the dusty string blvd, the size and the price is super nice, but im not in love with the sound :/

[@kristinjayne6720]

I’ve found a Camac 30 string (no longer produced) full leaver lap harp for sale in my area for $800. The seller says it’s about 30 years old and in excellent shape with great sound. This would be my first harp. Any thoughts?

[@JoshLayne]

Hi Kristin, the price seems right! I don't know that particular model, but you could always email Camac and see what they can tell you!

[@kristinjayne6720]

@@JoshLayne Thank you!

[@MiaStrayer]

Try being 4 foot six and playing a medium size puddle Harp both my hearts are bigger than I am I have a Lyon & Healy shamrock and I have a Lyon & Healy 85 grand petite

[@JoshLayne]

Haha, yeah, that's definitely a challenge! :)

[@moirbasso7051]

Sorry, Josh. It sounds like a zither or an autoharp to my ears. (Although, I truly do appreciate your videos) And while some Camacs intrigue me (Elysée, fi) greatly, I just don't 'get' this 'French' sound (for lack of a better term to call the sound) envelope. I know- chacun à son gout.

[@JoshLayne]

Hah, yeah, I'm certainly glad that we don't all like the same sound and that there are a wide ranger of sounds and colours available :)

[@LanaLeon]

Do you still love your Camac? 😍

[@JoshLayne]

Haha, yep!

[@danielodriscoll9903]

How much does this harp cost

[@JoshLayne]

Will depend on where you live, of course, but right now (Jan. 2022) it's US$5,200 from the Virginia Harp Center: www.vaharpcenter.com/harp/excalibur/

[@木下京子-j4t]

(*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡わぁ～～✨✨✨✨ ステキ～💕ありがとうございます🙏

[@pheona1000]

May I gently ask why you didn't purchase the Camac 'Isolde' Lever harp, which also has 38 flurocarbon strings and weighs only 14 Kilograms (1 Kg Lighter than the 'Excaliber') and has the option of flat feet or 'higher legs' - the latter option increasing the height to 156 centimeters (8cm higher than the 'Excaliber') and is at least £660 pounds Sterling cheaper than the Camac 'Excaliber' model?

[@JoshLayne]

Hi Pheona - hmm, good question. I think I've played an Isolde (can't always remember the models) a couple times and I didn't fall in love with the sound as I did with the Excalibur. This is where it can be so hard to choose a harp without trying them - you can compare any listed stats, etc. - but why is one harp more expensive than another, for example? (As you note, both models are 38 strings, etc.) Will that translate into something that matters to you? As for 14 or 15 kg - either is much heavier than I would prefer, hehe :) I also don't see an option for legs for the Isolde on the Camac website? For the strings, my feeling these days is that it's the thinner gauge stringing, rather than fluorocarbon per se, that gives (or helps give) the Excalibur the feel that I like.

[@mnemosyne866]

It's me again , please play "eyes on me" theme song of final fantasy VIII Please .please. Thanks.

[@silenthillappreciator5749]

Anyone know where to buy a Camac Excalibur? I can't find them anywhere online, I've also noticed alot of Camac harps of various models are out of stock... does anyone know what's going on?