Starter Harp Review: Muzikkon, Harpsicle, Camac Odyssey, Salvi Juno, Dusty String Ravenna 26

[@lincorrie5894]

Very, very useful, thank you. At age 76 I've just started learning the harp and invested in a Salvi Juno. I absolutely love it. For me it fulfils all I hoped it would and more. ❤

[@wholovesyababy5574]

I bought a 29-String Muzikkon McHugh Round Back harp as my first harp to see if I would like learning it and if I would stick with it. It was only $800, so not a big investment, and perfect for my purpose. And it was delivered to my door. It looks like the Muzikkon that she played first, but mine is a bit bigger (or maybe I'm much shorter than she is). I've had it two months and I think it is excellent for what it is. If I stick with this for two years, I promised myself to buy myself a good quality 34, 36, or 38 string harp. If you decide to buy from Muzikkon, make sure you get a string chart with the harp. After you have your harp, they are impossible to deal with. Very unresponsive! As long as you know the correct gauge for the string that breaks, you can always buy strings in the US. (BTW, if you are new to harps, or string instruments in general, then you should know it is normal for strings to break and not a sign that the instrument is defective. In two months, I have already had two strings break. In the middle of the night, while I was sleeping, I heard the twang/snap. Both times. My understanding is that when the temperature drops, the strings contract, and one can snap.)

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thank you so much for sharing back your experience, this is great! I am so sorry to hear Muzikkon was not responsive when you contacted them, when exactly did that happen? (normally the Muzikkon team try their best to help, just wondering whether this may have coincided with the time when their previous harp manager transitioned out of the company). Should you have any question about their instruments please feel free to throw them at me in the comments as I might be able to help! And you are absolutely right - harp strings break pretty frequently, something i was not prepared for as a piano player! In my experience I have experienced more frequent string breakage with the harp than with the violin or the guitar but the high number of strings just increases the odds! Indeed harps are very sensitive animals and any big variation in temperature or humidity will create changes in string tension and increase the risk of breakage.

[@spokenwordillusions5756]

What i learned from this video was that the harp has a percussion element. all 5 of these models have it, but i first noticed it with the Canac. Thanx for the demo, it waa a pleasure to hear each instrument........

[@Liiza61]

Thank you. Very nice introduction. I have Camac Bardic and I love it.

[@mirandaz1272]

My favorite is the Ravenna 26 and my second favorite is the Muzikkon Claddagh 28. So now if I start out with a mid-size harp I know which ones I prefer!! Thank you!

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

So glad you found this useful! Thank you for your comment 🙏

[@richardmuskett931]

Very helpful review . I bought a Gevon Vogga H7 , 22 strings and no levers for € 175 . Despite being warned "don't under any circumstances buy a Pakistani harp" I decided to go ahead and buy one ! I haven't regretted it . I've had the harp for a year or two now and have found it absolutely fine for starting out on . And I practiced for a year or more without needing to change the pitch of the strings ...... so I didn't worry about having no levers . And retuning a few strings isn't rocket science anyway . I also found 22 strings perfectly adequate for my beginners needs . If anyone is worried about spending a lot of money when their commitment to the harp is still uncertain , I think the Gevon Vogga H7 is a good way to go . You can get started without needing to rob a bank. I'm confident that when I want to sell it , I could get a good percentage of my money back and then move on to one of these smashing harps you demonstrated so well here . Thanks .

[@torstenbelzig1159]

Liebe Marianne, ich möchte mich von Herzen für deine hervorragenden Videos bedanken. Du erweist der gesamten Harfenfangemeinde einen unschätzbaren Dienst damit. Man merkt wirklich, wie sehr du dieses himmlische Instrument liebst und möchtest, dass es allen offen steht eine qualitativ gute Harfe zu spielen. Danke danke danke 🙏 ❤ Übrigens finde ich die Odyssey vom Klang am schönsten (das hört man erst in den anderen Videos, in welchen du mit ihr spielst). Noch dazu bietet sie sämtliche Optionen, die man mit einer mittelgroßen Harfe in Erwägung ziehen könnte.

[@davidabbott9417]

A Fig For A Kiss' sounded lovely on all 5 harps dear Marianne but I'm with you the Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 has that very special sound quality. You have such a beautiful voice, describing all the wonderful qualities each harp processes. I should get ready for work this morning before I get easily distracted lol. Have a very beautiful day my very dear friend 🙏🥰❤❤

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

This is so nice of you dear David - thanks for being so kind and supportive even with my most technical videos 🙂 I’ve been quite obsessed with the Fig for a Kiss tune lately so it was the perfect choice for me to play it 5 times in a row without getting tired of it! And I’m so impressed by the Ravenna which is supposed to be Dusty Strings lowest quality harp - I cannot imagine what their premium models sound like if this one is already that good! Hope you had a great day, stay safe 🙏 lots of love from Belgium ❤️

[@takkmoran9770]

You do a great job with these reviews, Marianne. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and talent!!!

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thanks Mark for your encouragement! I am way less comfortable speaking than playing… so I appreciate the push 🙏

[@takkmoran9770]

@@mariannebouvettemusic You do an excellent job of speaking and explaining in these reviews, Marianne! I mean that sincerely!!☺👍❤

[@leeki345we]

This was an excellent review of the harps! It was really helpful for me as a beginner. I only knew Harpscicle at first and rented it for practicing and as you said, it's not that stable and it's wobbly for me :( It caused pain in my back and neck that I already have weakness in those points. I wouldn't expect this to come when I first started to learn the harp and after 1 month, my body ached then I realized the reason was this Harpsicle with a lap stick use. I really like this instrument because it's really handy and does not take much space but when I go to harp class I could experience Camac 38 strings and it was so stable and the sound was of course really beautiful. In our country, S. Korea, there are not many options for harps with under 30 strings so if I have to buy then I need to get them by myself through overseas delivery with taxes. However, this was a great comparison, and I love Dusty as well! I could hear the sound was unique from the others. I would like to have one but then it comes to my mind that it would be better to buy a harp with over 30 strings if I could afford. Someone said that I will need a bigger one soon... though I only experienced 2 months for now.😂

[@LeRoiDansLeCiel]

HI Lee! Why didn't you buy the harp stand (for the harpsicle)? I have the exact same problem that you have (neck and back problem everytime I am playing.. So I have to make small session to not get a "back and neck crisis" for weeks (pretty bad yes...) I think the lap stick use is indeed extremely bad because your head is turn in a bad kind of angle (I had one for another harp). But I think that with the stand, you probably would not have the same problem no? I am thinking to buy this (the fullsicle) and am wondering if it would be a good choice because of that I would be honored if you let me know what you think about this :)

[@leeki345we]

@@LeRoiDansLeCiel Hi! Yes it would be probably a lot better with the Harscicle stand but it was out of stock everywhere when I tried to get one after the pain. So I had put an order on retailer and still waiting it to be available. I also had a chance to try it in my harp class but it was just a few minutes so I couldn't test out for enough time. However, I once bought other harp stand which was a handmade, made with wood, 3 legs and suitable for mini harps but it was slippery and couldn't adjust the angle like the Harpscicle steel stand. So I returned it😥. Anyway, for now I found my own way to fix the harpscicle while using the lap stick that I try to lean the outer edge of the harp to my desk, which means I play the harp sitting in front of my desk. It makes to disperse the extra strength I needed to fix it on my lap and it's really much better! But it's just a temporary way to cope with this unstable issue. I will let you know once I get my stand and how it feels for me. 🙂

[@LeRoiDansLeCiel]

@@leeki345we Thank you so much for answering! I will be glad to read how it goes for you, I hope it will make a considerable improvement. I also forget to tell you earlier: I have found that playing the harp standing up is way better for my back and my neck. So my harp is always on a piano bench (with somme books to make it at the right size). I don't know if that will have the same effect on you but I highly recommand you to try it! worth the try! good luck dear, and talk to you when you will have receive your stand, if you don't forget our exchange here :)

[@leeki345we]

@@LeRoiDansLeCiel Hi Shira, It's been a while since we talked about the Harpsicle stand. For now, I got the stand and played for a month with it. At first, I still found the Harpsicle unstable, and my neck and the right were getting too strained. Someone advised me to examine my playing posture. So I tried to check out the harpists who were playing a lap harp on KZbin, and I found out that I didn't put my right wrist on the harp. Also, I needed to hold and fixate the harp between my legs and knees. It's a lot much better now that I don't need to move my face and shoulders towards the left to see the strings either but rather to turn the harp itself(I got this information from Christy Lyn's video). However, the light string tensions on the bass I guess, make the Harpsicle not stable enough, but it is really a lot better with the stand, still, I get some pain though. Worth buying it! I'm satisfied with my stand, but I would like to get a more stable harp with more strings someday! :) Every harpist seems to recommend starting with a floor harp for beginners to learn the correct fingerings and body posture.

[@bettertomorrow2625]

@@leeki345we I totally agree about the string tension. It's not low tension, it's floppy in the entire bottom half - from C3 (the lowest string all the way to F4 (the F above middle C). I find it strains my hands to get a decent tone out of any of those low strings and the lower it goes, the looset it gets. I have a stand which makes it much more stable, but still requires me to stabilize it to keep it from moving. I am now in the process of upgrading to a 34 string harp. Dusty Strings Ravenna 34 is high on my list as well as Lyon and Healy Drake, Salvi Mia, Dusty Strings Serrana, and Musicmakers Ballad hsrp.

[@taxol2]

Soundwise for me the Dusty Strings Ravenna produces the best sound, followed by the Salvi Juno.

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Another "Amazing" KZbin production!

[@Hugo-mh1pe]

Thank you so much for making this video, incredibly useful since I'm currently deciding between possibly the salvi juno or perhaps a harpsicle, and I had no expectation to find such a great comparison of them in one video. Awesome! :)

[@isabelleg2758]

Marianne Ravenna 26 is definitely my favourite too. I've played for years in therapeutic facilities (palliative care units) and it was perfect ❤ Thanks for your videos

[@sheilablackford9322]

I have a DS Crescendo 34 but looking for a smaller harp for palliative care when the 34 string floor harp too big. Do you use the Ravenna drop down or the stand or have a carrying strap?

[@isabelleg2758]

​@@sheilablackford9322hello, I use the drop down either, the Ravenna 26 is light but yet too heavy to have it on strap.

[@sheilablackford9322]

@@isabelleg2758 Hello and thank you Isabelle. The drop down looks like it would be especially helpful in more crowded room areas. The legs can take up room when tilted back to play if someone needs to get by. It has a beautiful sound compared to other 26 strings I’ve been considering. Sheila

[@isabelleg2758]

@@sheilablackford9322 hello Sheila It is indeed a beautiful round and warm sound you'll have with the Ravenna 26. This one has been my favourite for therapeutic purpose since 2009. Tried a lot and got back to this warm sounding harp. In therapeutic setting we have to be extra careful with certain notes that can upset a patient having morphine. Never ever had that problem with the Ravenna 26. I tune my harp in A 432 as it is far more mellow and has specific properties as you can witness on some videos called Cymatics. You'll see how 444 and 432 differ.

[@nightflame69]

The 15 string aklot was the first harp I got from Amazon. Now I’m renting a 34 string harp and have been taking lessons once a week for a few months

[@CzechJamie]

Excellent review! I have watched several demonstrations and yours has been by far the best one, thank you!

[@perfectious]

I’m getting my first Ravenna 26 next month I’m so excited🙂

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Congratulations, wishing you wonderful music moments with your harp ❤️ the Ravenna has a wonderful sound, you will love it!

[@Havenscythe]

Very helpful, thank you :) I ended up going with harpsicle but will probably upgrade to ravena 34 in the future.

[@GeorgePencilArt]

You're such a great presenter, Marianne! I enjoyed listening and will check out which one you used in the stand alone video if that pretty tune.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

That’s so nice of you George! I’m not that comfortable presenting but it’s an interesting exercise :) and thanks for watching both videos! ❤️

[@jamiepittman5083]

DANK U..... I was just about to purchase fullsicle se. but i was needing to finance my purchase. i have located where i can get a ravena 26 and rent to own in 24 months. your video compared them! So, I can have the better sounding harp for monthly payments vs a regular purchase.Again, thank you!

[@edieramone]

Thanks a lot for this video!❤ What do you think about Muzikkon model Boru harp 29 string, Walnut or Rosewood? Same quality? It seems similar to the Claddagh, just more attractive in visual details, but i know, the sound is first, so that's why i ask you.

[@loubedoo]

Thank you Marianne, very useful information and I can hear the differences between them well.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

So nice to hear! Thank you very much Louise. I tried to improve my audio recording equipment since my last review video so hopefully it helped 🙂

[@pheona1000]

Great review!

[@4gma59]

Wonderful review! Well worth my time. Thanks so much. Subscribing.

[@jandunn169]

Fantastic, Just what I am looking for in a video, and I need a stand as I would have a hard time bending my knees on the ground for a long time as I am 73. The Carmac definitely had the wonderful sound so far in the mid range. I like the Salvi Juno too, but you are right, the Dusty Springs Ravenna has a deeply resonant sound. Well I am 1´4 of the way there. You have helped me to narrow it down. Thank you for playing them all together so we can hear the differences. How are the leavers working on the Muzikkon Dublin?

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

So glad you found this video helpful! I have a stronger and stronger bias for Muzikkon and have happily signed up to become their harp brand ambassador recently, as I look up to their effort to make harps more affordable and more accessible, and I have been very impressed with their constant effort to innovate and keep improving their designs. I have tested and participated in the design of several of their instruments in the past year and I can vouch for their reliability and professionalism! All their instruments are quality checked, regulated and yes their levers are fully operational! And they have an incredible passion to come up with smart designs and materials all the time (it’s not just about keeping the costs down and it’s not about compromise) 🥰 hope it helps! Good luck again with your search!

[@jandunn169]

@@mariannebouvettemusic How well do the levers work on the Muzikkon Claddagh? I have heard that the Pakistani harps can develop cracks, but this particular one looks really nice. Also does the xtra string make a good difference in the harp? Is the longest string still a C?

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

@@jandunn169 hey, thanks for reaching out. 1. The levers are well regulated and work fine. 2. I know “made in Pakistan” harps have bad press, in the same way “made in China” has bad press in other sectors. However, you can have terrible “made in China” appliances on the one hand and amazing “made in China” iPhones on the other hand… well the same applies to “made in Pakistan” harps. Muzikkon strives to combine the affordability of Pakistan manufacturing with the quality and innovation of European standards. I’ve been witnessing Muzikkon’s commitment in the past 2 years where I’ve partnered with them on the testing and co-design of several instruments and I can only vouch for their professionalism, mastery, rigour and passion! 3. I personally feel you can do a lot with that string range and don’t find it limiting, I know the rule of thumb is “the more strings the better” to access as much as possible of the existing repertoire, but there’s more and more music arranged for smaller harps and if playing by ear or improvising of course it lifts that constraint even further!

[@jandunn169]

@@mariannebouvettemusic And I am 73 and do not have forever to save up for a harp so I will definitely consider that Muzzikan harp. Thank you so much for your feedback! I am on Hawaii where all the stringed instruments are ukuleles and guitars.

[@jessihamilton1848]

thank you- so helpful when beginning. : )

Got my 22 strings gothic harp last week

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Ooooh felicitations! Je vous souhaite beaucoup de bonheur avec l’arrivée de votre « bébé » 🥰

[@spottedgoats7048]

Please can you review Morwenna Rose harps?

[@SongOfMoonchild]

Thanks a lot for review! :) Can you tell me which sort of wood Muzikkon Claddagh 28 was made of? There are several types of wood on their website

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thanks a lot Gunel! The Claddagh I have here is the Rosewood one. I have made a detailed review of that specific harp on kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp3Rc2duo8Zld8k in case you’re interested. Warm greetings from Belgium!

[@SongOfMoonchild]

Thank you ;)

[@organist1982]

Wonderful video! Which one of these has the highest string tension?

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thank you! I don’t have technical measurements on these but empirically I would say the Harpsicle has the lowest tension, while all others have high tension (with the Camac and the Dusty directionally higher than the Juno and Muzikkon, but they’re pretty similar). Hope it helps!

[@dennisbrauer3322]

What are the colored strings mean

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

C strings are red and F strings are blue or black typically

[@bettertomorrow2625]

They help you find your place among a sea of strings. It would be very hard if they were all white. Just like a piano has black and white keys. They show the sharps/flats vs the naturals but they also make it so you can tell what note it is very easily. Imagine if a piano had all white keys all in a row next to each other. Not offset for the black keys. Just a bunch of white keys the same size. Sure you could tell with a lot of practice, but even professionals would make mistakes if it were laid out like that. It's a very useful tool.

[@SandrineDamfino]

Bonjour, pourriez-vous faire une video ou donner votre avis sur la harpe-luth ? Je voudrais acquérir une harpe celtique mais je ne peux pas me permettre pour le moment. Je préfère vraiment le son de la harpe à celui de la lyre. J'ai découvert quelques vidéos sur la harpe-luth (il y en a trop peu !) Et le son me plaît beaucoup je me demandais si elle pourrait être un bon compromis en attendant de pouvoir m'offrir une harpe celtique?

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Bonjour Sandrine! Pour ma part, j’aime énormément la sonorité des cordes métalliques, et du coup la lyre est un instrument qui me parle beaucoup, même si elle force parfois au minimalisme mélodique lorsqu’elle est de petite taille… par contre je ne connais pas la harpe-luth, pourriez-vous m’envoyer un lien afin que je me renseigne?

[@SandrineDamfino]

@@mariannebouvettemusic je vous remercie beaucoup pour votre réponse ! Je vous poste ci-joint un lien pour cet instrument que je trouve etre une sorte d'hybride? À mi-chemin entre la lyre et la harpe. J'étais impressionnée quand je l'ai vu, il y a d'autre videos en cherchant "Lute Harp" sur KZbin, j'avoue que je serais très curieuse de vous écouter en jouer je pense que ce serait un enchantement comme toujours ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHyZZ6V9edmfiNk

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

@@SandrineDamfino oh c’est trop gentil, vous me faites rougir 🥰 merci beaucoup pour le lien, c’est toujours un plaisir de découvrir des instruments dans la grande et belle famille des cordes pincées! Je n’ai jamais testé ce spécimen, mais il me semble qu’il est proposé chez Muzikkon, je me renseigne et j’essaie de mettre la main sur un exemplaire au plus vite! Encore un grand merci de votre gentillesse et à très bientôt j’espère pour un test en ligne :)

[@SandrineDamfino]

@@mariannebouvettemusic il est proposé également chez Thomann et Gear4Music 😊 j'ai déjà fait mes investigations pour peut-être m'en offrir un. Les compliments sont mérités 😊 j'ai hâte de peut-être voir bientôt cet instrument sur votre chaîne agrandir votre collection et entendre de belles mélodies qui m'inspireront sans doute dans mon apprentissage 😊❤

[@brentbreault7606]

The harpsicles always sounded dead and weak to me, and this video proves it. I was never sure why everyone went crazy over them.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

It’s probably a matter of taste, combined to the fact they are super convenient - they are portable, reliable (in terms of sturdiness, longevity and ability to hold the tune) - and in NA I think they are one of the most accessible instruments you can get (in terms of affordability/lead times/availability). So they’re a pretty safe choice and a good trade off for many people!

[@aprilmarie6453]

For me I got it for around $800, it's very portable, and I don't have to worry about it getting knocked around.

[@Tregnier52]

@@mariannebouvettemusicI am thinking of getting a harpsicle for travel purposes. I do wish the sound quality was better but the convenience seems worth it.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

@@Tregnier52 hey, Muzikkon is just about to launch a brand new range of fantastic travel size harps, will review them very soon so watch this space! :)

[@MairiKeltia]

Salut Marianne, merci pour cette vidéo :) Je crois que tu parles français ? Petite question sur la Ravenna et l'Odyssey : la tension des cordes et l'espacement sont-ils similaires ou la Ravenna est-elle plus dure ? J'ai l'habitude de jouer une harpe à cordes boyau et je voulais savoir si la Ravenna me conviendrait mieux (en tout cas j'adore le son !)

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Merci MairiK! Il n’y a pas une grande différence de tension entre l’Odyssey et la Ravenna… je dirais que tout au plus l’Odyssey a une tension un brin plus haute que la Ravenna mais rien de tes significatif (la Ravenna n’est pas du tout comme certaines harpes pakistanaises par exemple, où là on remarque carrément que la tension est sensiblement plus faible - ce qui soit dit en passant peut être intéressant quand on a des problèmes de motricité ou qu’on veut jouer de la musique thérapeutique… mais c’est encore un autre débat). L’espacement est également similaire. Ce sont 2 instruments assez « standard ». Bonne chance dans ta recherche ❤️

[@jjsc3334]

Any of these lever harps will make me happy, Pedal harp? let it stay in my dream.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

A lever harp you love is surely better than a bad pedal harp (yes they exist)! And those Celtic harps are easier to carry outdoors to enjoy playing in the middle of nature 🥰

[@kaybhee6]

wouldn t cushion be easier on lap,,, rather than that metal bar,,,, u sound and look quite cute,,, thankx

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thank you! 🥰Somehow I find that the bar allows you to adjust the height more accurately and more flexibly. Also it feels sturdier and more stable than a cushion. But to each their own!

[@kaybhee6]

@@mariannebouvettemusic stability too.. si.. no cushion better

[@ReenBlom]

Do not start on less than 34 strings, I did and had to replace within a year. Portable harp is not the same as "beginner". Most books are designed for 34 and one has to arrange for less strings from day 1. Especially challenging for those who are just learning to read music. Also, would be nice to include Callan student and Derwent harps, which are budget friendly.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Thanks for your comment, I will investigate!

[@ReenBlom]

@@mariannebouvettemusic I also have a gear4music 36 string pakistani harp, it is 750GBP. Really great starter instrument.

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

Forgot to mention - If you’re looking for music to play on mid-sized harps, the “Celtic Dreams for Harp” e-book is available for sale on my website mariannebouvettemusic.com :)

[@mariannebouvettemusic]

@@ReenBlom this is great to hear! I love the Gear4Music 36 string harp too! I made an unboxing video of it last year :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5LGqoV-YtupmZo. It is really nice for Irish Celtic music ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3yXeXt9gZtmj9k