—by Rhett Barnwell and Erin Wood

Editor’s note: This article is presented in two sections, beginning with Lever Harp. The Pedal Harp section begins mid-way through. Scroll to the end of each section for comparison charts of lever and pedal harps.

Whether it’s your first or fourteenth, buying a harp is exciting. It’s also daunting. You’re undoubtedly putting down a big chunk of change, and you want to get it right! In this article, we’ll walk you through the harp-buying process and give you a starting point to compare different models (see the comparison charts, left). Since lever harps and pedal harps are different beasts, we will consider them separately in this article. But there are many similarities in the harp-buying process for lever and pedal, so even if you’re only in the market for one, be sure to read about the other—you’re sure to find some valuable insights that are applicable to you. We can’t choose your harp for you (though that would be fun!), but by the end of this article you’ll be well on your way to knowing how to choose the right harp for you.

Lever Harps

So, you’ve decided to buy a new lever harp. If you are like me, I would guess that you are looking for that “perfect” harp that will sound great, have fantastic levers, look beautiful and be lightweight and easily portable, but with at least a four- to five-octave range, and be inexpensive! I am here to tell you that such a harp does not exist in reality—trust me on this one. But there are some that come pretty close, and this article will help you find them.

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The Perfect Harp Myth

I am both obsessive-compulsive about and addicted to the lever harp. These two factors, combined with a type-A personality and a quasi-unhealthy dose of perfectionism, have led me on a quest for the past 20-some odd years for the Holy Grail of lever harps. It is not the place of this article to tell the reader which specific brands I found to be to my liking or what I currently own, but instead to give you the “method to the madness” to help you on your own mission to find the harp that is right for you. I was very fortunate to have been the manager of the Atlanta Harp Center, part of the Virginia Harp Center, for four years, which gave me invaluable insight into the whole process of choosing a lever harp. Many people only look at price, color, or appearance, but this is not where to begin. One of our associates at the Harp Center had a phrase that she often used, which I think is about the best piece of advice that could be given in making a final decision. She would always say, “choose the harp that speaks to you,” and I think this is what it really boils down to. In order to find that harp, you need some basic guidelines to narrow down your choices.

Primary Use

First and foremost, you have to decide for what purpose you will use the harp, and how advanced a player you currently are or desire to be. If you are a self-nurturing harpist and wish only to play at home for yourself, then you do not necessarily need a harp that will fill a concert hall with sound. If you are planning to play at nursing homes or do therapeutic work, you need a harp that is light enough to be portable, but not so small that the sound is thin and “tinny” or overly bright. Patients often respond to lower pitches, and harps with only three octaves and little bass will not be nearly as effective. On the other hand, you may not want to be hauling a heavy 40-string harp from room to room. This step requires a certain amount of introspection and self-honesty. If you only want to play simple tunes at home for yourself and are on a tight budget, then getting a smaller 20-something string harp is just fine, but if you aspire to play in church or in other public settings, this won’t necessarily work. Also, some people make the mistake of thinking they will get a small harp at first and then eventually trade up to a larger one as they advance. This is actually not a good idea, for several reasons. One, if you do in fact have aspirations of becoming an intermediate or advanced harpist, you will limit your technical and musical development by starting with a harp that is too small to cover interesting repertoire. Additionally, smaller harps tend to have more narrow spacing between the strings—this can be an adjustment when going to a larger harp.

Style and Sound

As important as determining what kind of harpist you are or aim to be from a technical point of view, is deciding what kind of music you wish to play and what kind of sound you wish to achieve. If your goal is to play primarily Celtic or folk music, there are certain harps designed to do that very well. These harps tend to be brighter in tonal color, have lighter string tension and generally 34-36 strings or less. Celtic music generally takes advantage of the harp’s nature as a pitched percussion instrument, so you want to look for a harp with the kind of sound in the same spectrum as the hammered dulcimer, guitar, and other folk instruments. The majority of lever harps on the market today are designed with this type of sound concept in mind, with some variations.

If, on the other hand, you play primarily pedal harp or classical music, and want a warmer, less bright sound for your lever harp, you may want to find an instrument that has heavier nylon or gut strings, higher string tension, and usually a larger bass, with a range of 36–40 strings. Of course, it is possible to play any music on either harp, but Celtic music generally sounds better on a harp designed for that type of sound, and likewise classical music sounds better on a gut-strung harp. But you must determine whether you prefer a brighter, perhaps more metallic (in a good sort of way) sound or a warmer, less percussive sound, more akin to that of a pedal harp. Of course these terms are highly subjective and what sounds bright to one person may not sound so to another. As an example, and this is by no means an endorsement or judgment, but simply an observation, Dusty Strings harps would fall into the Celtic category whereas Lyon & Healy lever harps would be at the other end of the sound spectrum.

Sticker Shock

Once you have determined what type of sound you are looking for, and what types of music you wish to play, then you need to start thinking about how much is in your budget. The cost of a harp is directly proportional to the features, number of strings, and sound quality, in most cases. It is a good idea to buy a harp with as many strings as possible, even if you think you won’t need them all. One of the reasons that the harp is such a beautiful sounding instrument is that the strings not being played resonate “sympathetically” when the others are being played. This is particularly true of bass wires, and this will make a huge difference when we discuss levers. Harps with more strings in the bass will typically sound louder even if you are not actually using all those strings down there. Be realistic about your budget, but also be willing to stretch yourself if necessary. As one harpist said, “don’t expect to spend $1,000 on a lever harp and have it sound like a $20,000 pedal harp!” If you expect to play in public, in church settings, or in therapeutic work, you are looking at spending a minimum of $2,500–$3,000 on an entry-level harp, and upwards of $6,000–$7,000 for a top-of-the-line concert quality instrument. There are some very good quality student model harps that can be had for less if you are just beginning or have no aspirations to be a performer. If you are comfortable with financing, many companies offer payment plans. Most of us have to finance our cars and houses, so why not a harp?

New vs. Used

There is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether to buy new or used. New harps will be in pristine condition and have factory warranties, ranging from two years to the lifetime of the harp. In my experience warranty issues are rare on lever harps, and when there are problems, they usually involve the levers, which are typically inexpensive to replace. I have yet to see a well-cared-for harp by a quality maker that has fallen apart or had some other catastrophic failure. So, buying a used harp without a warranty is not, at least for me, a deal-breaker. Harps generally have a “breaking in” period—harps that have been played for several years tend to be more resonant than new or “green” harps. As the soundboard pulls up over time, the harp will usually sound better and better (assuming that it sounded reasonably good to begin with). If you are looking at used harps, you have to take it upon yourself to do your homework on the instrument—find out about its history, who played it, was it moved a lot, has it had any repairs, and most importantly, whether there were smokers or pets in the house. These odors are virtually impossible to get out of a harp. Trust me, I’ve tried!

Strings

So, you’ve done some soul-searching and have determined what kind of harpist you are or want to be, what kind of sound you want to get from the harp, and have started to set a budget. The next issue to consider is strings—how many and what kind? Most harps range from about 22 strings for the smallest “lap” harps to 40 strings, sometimes more, for a concert-type instrument. The standard for professional lever harp players is 34–36 strings, generally going down to low C, and then stopping at high A or C. To cover essentially the entire lever harp repertoire, 36 strings is optimal—that gives you five complete octaves. Most lever harps are made with some type of nylon string, which works very well with Celtic and folk music, and most other types as well. There are several different gauges, or thicknesses, and generally with thinner strings and lighter tension, the harp will sound brighter and facilitate faster music, such as Celtic jigs. Some makers are now using another synthetic string, called fluorocarbon, which works really well with Celtic music. Gut, in either folk gut or concert gauge, can also be found, usually on lever harps made by pedal harp manufacturers or by special order. Gut will create higher tension and also a warmer and mellower sound in most cases. Gut strings will break with much more frequency than nylons, but some players prefer the unique sound that only gut will give, which works particularly well for classical repertoire.

Levers and Wood

Are you ready to start shopping yet? Well, yes, but there are some more things to look at—namely levers and wood. Many people tune to the key of E-flat, in which case you most definitely need a full set of levers. There are actually only a few different kinds of levers available, but they can be crucial in determining sound quality when they are engaged. Remember that even if strings aren’t being played, they are still resonating sympathetically, and if they have levers up on them, this will diminish the resonating properties greatly. It is therefore important to get the highest quality lever possible. Some makers exclusively use their own in-house levers, so you don’t have a choice there, but others will give you a choice of Loveland, Truitt, or Camac levers. Again, it is not my purpose to endorse a particular brand, but you can easily look up reviews and discussions of these levers online.

Wood choices can be daunting, as some smaller makers offer a dizzying array of domestic and exotic hardwoods. Maple is considered the standard for pedal harps, and some lever harp makers use this wood, particularly if they wish to get more of a pedal harp sound. The complexities and subtleties of wood choices are beyond the scope of this article, but realize that there is a huge difference between wood finish and actual wood. Harps made in maple are usually stained a different color, such as mahogany, walnut, ebony, etc., but this does not affect the sound. However, harps actually made of walnut, mahogany, bubinga, etc., will all have very different tone colors. Be careful not to choose the wood based on appearance, but on sound—you may end up with an exotic looking harp that doesn’t sound good and you will not be a happy camper!

Start Shopping!

So, how do I choose a harp maker? Your initial shopping, at this point, should be online, looking at the manufacturers’ Websites. But don’t stop there. If you don’t already, you should subscribe to the Folk Harp Journal, Harp Column, and any other magazines that would have information or even ads from different makers. Harp Column has excellent resources on its Website (harpcolumn.com) for reading discussions and reviews about different harps, but remember that these are based on individual opinions. One person may trash Harp X while another loves that model. Once you have started gathering information and comparing harps, models, and prices, you should begin to narrow down your search somewhat. If you are in a city that is fortunate to have a large harp showroom, you should by all means be making regular visits and trying as many harps as you can. There are several large and reputable harp dealers around the country that carry major lever harp brands. They can provide invaluable assistance to you in finding just the right harp, and they can provide follow-up service if needed.  You should also ask your harp-playing friends to play their instruments. I found my first “dream harp” quite by accident—I went to a workshop and asked a friend if I could try her harp, which was a make I had not seen before. I instantly fell in love with the sound and the feel, and ordered one the next day. So, be sure to put yourself in places where you can play a variety of harps. If you can’t do this locally, then you should drop everything and get yourself to the nearest large harp convention! There are many conferences going on regularly all over the country and the best way to compare harps is to go to one that has a large vendor hall. The two largest ones for lever harp are the Somerset Festival, in Parsipanny, N.J., in late summer, and the Southeastern Harp Weekend, in Asheville, N.C., in early fall. There are, of course, many others scattered around the country, but these tend to have the largest number of harp manufacturers represented.

Play Before you Buy

If at all possible, you should play the actual harp you would like to buy before you buy it. Even two identical harps by the same maker side by side will usually sound different, though usually not radically. If playing the harp you wish to buy is impossible, see if it can be played over the phone for you, or via Skype, or have them send an mp3 recording if they can. Make sure, if you buy a harp that you haven’t played, that there is an adequate return policy, especially if you are purchasing online. Remember that you will have to pay shipping both directions if you return it, which can cost many hundreds of dollars. And speaking of which, is eBay a good place to look for a used harp? It can be, but make sure that you get as much detail as possible, and as many pictures as possible, and again, a return policy. Don’t be afraid to ask for references if buying a used harp from an individual.

More Considerations

When you have your eye on a specific harp, you should also consider some logistical questions. Will this harp require a dolly to move it? Does it come with a case, and if so, is it a padded “transport” case or just a light dust cover? Will it fit in your car? I have found that I can get nearly every lever harp I’ve ever owned into nearly every car I’ve ever owned (and I’ve owned more cars than harps!). Even smaller cars now often have fold-down back seats and most harps can be gotten into most cars, but this is still a big consideration. You don’t want to be buying a new harp and a new car!

One of a Kind

Several makers of higher-end harps offer the option of having a harp custom made to your specifications. The advantage to this is that you can choose exactly the kind of wood, strings, levers, finish, decoration, etc., and have a harp that is truly made for you. The disadvantage is that you will not have a chance to play the harp before making the final payment, and these instruments are usually not returnable. I would argue that sound is the most important factor in choosing a harp, and you are taking something of a calculated risk in going this route. Neither you, nor the manufacturer will know exactly how the harp will sound until it is “birthed.” As I said before, even the same model by the same manufacturer will sound different from harp to harp, but the differences are usually not extreme, merely nuance of tone color. So, if you have played a number of harps by a maker and are comfortable with their consistency and happy with their range of tone colors, then you are probably safe with a custom order. I recently took this “plunge” and have been very happy with my harp, even though I didn’t get to play it before it was delivered. On other occasions, I have spent hours in a harp showroom agonizing over a couple of different harps!

The Bottom Line

Your goal in the harp-buying process is to find an instrument that fits you, your musical personality, and your sound concept. At the risk of being too repetitive, sound is the most important factor to consider. You may end up with a harp that looks different than what you had envisioned but sounds better than you had dared to hope! Another harp colleague went to a harp factory dead set on picking out a maple harp, and after trying a room full of maple harps, fell in love with the one harp they had in walnut and went home with that. So keep yourself open to a number of options, but in the end, pick the harp that sounds the best!

Click on the images below to enlarge the comparison charts of lever harps that appeared in our print issue.

Pedal Harps

“How much does that thing cost?”

We have all heard the question a thousand times. Chances are your harp was one of the most expensive purchases you have ever made, with perhaps the exception of the minivan you had to buy to haul it around. Buying a pedal harp is a big investment, one that will likely bring you a lot more joy and fulfillment than your car investment! But the process of buying a car shares many parallels with making a harp purchase.

Do your Homework

When our family needed a new car we did a lot of research—consulting Harp Column’s buying guide, reading online reviews, visiting several dealerships, testing how the harp fit in different models, comparing new and used options. It was a long process and lot of work, but we finally found the car that was the best fit for our family and our budget. Recently my friend bought a new car. She and her husband went to the Toyota dealership, chose a Camry in their favorite color and came home with it that night. I was amazed at how simple the process was for them, but they knew that the Camry was a reliable vehicle and they didn’t need to waste a lot of time shopping around.

Your options for buying a harp are similar: you can do a lot of research comparing makes and models, looking at used versus new, searching classified ads locally and nationally, visiting a retail shop or factory, or you can call up the factory and have them ship you your favorite model that is within your budget. All of the pedal harp factories are of such a high quality and consistency that you will get a great instrument. But every harpist has different priorities, needs, and budget so the process will be unique for each person. This article will walk you through the process of buying a harp so that you understand what options, choices, and criteria to consider when you make this big decision!

Choos your Criteria

If you are in the market for buying a pedal harp, chances are you already know a lot about the harp world, but figuring out where to begin can be difficult for anyone. The first step is to figure out what you need out of your harp and what is most important to you. Will it be used primarily for outdoor weddings? Orchestra? Recordings? Practicing? Teaching? Michelle Abbott of Vanderbilt Music, which sells new and used harps in addition to music, advises, “Buy as much harp as you can if you have any plans to earn money playing the harp. If you are a hobby harpist, buy what you will be happy with that meets your needs.”  Alexandra Perdew of Salvi Harps’ Los Angeles showroom says, “The number of models between all of the brands seems overwhelming to some. The first thing to do is look at your budget and narrow down possibilities so you have fewer distractions. You can play any harps you want in the end, but having a smaller scope for the search will keep you focused and you will better remember the qualities of the few instruments you are actually interested in.”

Diana Elliott manages the Virginia Harp Center’s showroom in Haddonfield, N.J. “Every harpist has different requirements—budget, tension, weight, and every hand is different,” she says. “It is important to find the harp best for you. Remember a teacher is an important part of the buying process but your teacher does not play that instrument. It should be something that fits in your budget and something you really love.”

Take a Test Drive

Marni Williams of Classic Harps Northwest in Portland, Ore., says considering all of your options is important. “Keep an open mind and try all the harps available to you,” she says. The more harps you play, the more you hone your sense of what you like and don’t like about different models. So play your teacher’s harps, play your friends’ harps, or perhaps the harps at the local university. Harp conferences and workshops from the local level to national events usually include vendors who bring many different models to try out. Another great option to try out a variety of harps is at a harp retail shop in your area. There are more harp shops than you might think—too many to list here, in fact—and with a simple Web search you might find one within driving distance. Harp retail shops will often have harps from several different makers, which is nice because you can compare and contrast different makers side by side. At most harp retail shops, their new harps are personally selected by a professional harpist who has extensive experience in playing on many different instruments. Most shops also offer used harps. It’s important to ask what, if any, work has been done on the harp recently (i.e. restringing, regulation, etc.). You will also want to find out if the retail shop gives a warranty on their used harps.

Buyer Beware

Buying a used pedal harp from a private seller can be a great way to find an affordable harp but it is not without its risks. Lisa Kikol found a Lyon & Healy Style 85 on Craigslist, an online marketplace, in her local area. When she went to check it out, the seller was keeping it in a dirty garage. She says, “The harp must have fallen and the neck was completely cracked all the way through and was being held together with a huge eight-inch nail. The mechanisms were rusted and brown. We won’t even talk about the scratches on it and the sounding board. I figured it was too far gone.” Most harpists would have run away from a harp like that but Lisa felt since it was such a good price she would take it home and clean it up and let it die with her. When her harp technician, Erich Rase, saw the rusted and broken harp he said he could not only make it playable, but also beautiful again. Lisa says, “Since I paid so little for the harp it was worth the investment to restore it. I use the harp for jobs and smile every time I look at it. I feel like I won the harp lotto. I was lucky.”

If you are brave enough to play the harp lotto like Lisa did, there are some things you can do to ensure that you get a good instrument. Ask the seller if the harp has been recently regulated and if you can contact the person who did the regulation. That should give you a sense if the harp has been well maintained. Harp technician Kurt Berg shared a few things you can examine when looking at an older harp. “Two of the easiest problems can be seen from behind the harp. By looking at the neck straight up towards the column, you can sometimes see a twist caused by string tension that happens over time,” he says. “The other problem is seen looking down the soundboard. The string tension also causes the soundboard to get a belly, mostly in the bass section. That is supposed to happen and helps the sound mature, but if it gets too pronounced, it can cause regulation problems.”

Cracks often show up in older harps, but some are of more concern than others. “Usually a vertical crack will show up along the center strip (of the soundboard), close to the strip,” says Berg. “Sometimes a crack will be horizontal in the bass section.” He says both types of cracks are problems and the soundboard will need to be replaced.

Berg says the area where the base meets the body should be tight without a gap. If a gap is there, the base frame is coming loose and will need to be fixed. The bigger the gap, the bigger the problem.

You also want to check the harp’s action for “clicking” sounds. You can do this by putting the pedals in the natural position and moving them back and forth, into and out of the sharp position. “If there are clicks, the main action needs to be fixed, but if it is quiet, that’s good!” notes Berg.
Of course all harps will eventually have these problems and need some repairs, but it is important to have an idea of how far down the road these repairs will be needed. Suddenly a used harp may not seem like a very good deal if there are thousands of dollars of repairs in the near future. New York-based harpist Laura Sherman recommends, “Do some research about used harp prices before committing. Classified ads in the major harp journals and magazines are a good source.”  Sherman bought a harp after falling in love with it while playing it on tour in California. She insured it with her regular harp insurance before shipping it across the country.

Straight to the Source

Going directly to the maker is an option as well, especially if you are fairly certain of the model you want. For harps made in a foreign country, like Aoyama, Horngacher, Salvi, and Camac, your order will go through each maker’s respective importers in the U.S. You can go to their showrooms and compare various harps or order a model directly over the phone or email. Alexandra Perdew at Salvi recommends that as you try out harps before you buy. “Take notes in the catalogs next to the harps. It helps to remember the look of the instrument with the sound you associate to it.” With all importers, if they are out of stock in a particular finish or model, they can order it in from the factory, but this will usually add months to the buying process. Perdew says it can take 4-6 months to order a harp from the Salvi factory in Italy. When buying a foreign harp through the importers, you will not be responsible for the foreign import taxes or shipping to the U.S. You only have to pay the shipping from the store to your home.

If you choose to order a harp directly from a factory in the United States, then a trip to Chicago to see the Venus and Lyon & Healy factories is definitely a great option. When you take a tour of a factory and see the amazing amount of work that goes into building a harp, you will realize that the price tag of the harp is quite a deal, considering the hand craftsmanship and attention to detail. When Brook Boddie was in the market for a new pedal harp he determined that he needed a concert grand. Based on factors like budget and sound, he settled on two Lyon & Healy models: the Style 100 or 85CG. He had a preference for ebony harps but knew that this may require a wait of several months or even longer. In the end he was willing to make that sacrifice. It was important to him to play the harp for himself and not let someone else select it.

Boddie talked to the sales manager and described his wants in terms of models, finish, and sound, and she agreed to be on the lookout for harps that best fit his requirements. He says, “Several months later, I received a call from the sales manager at Lyon & Healy. She had two ebony harps in stock that she felt were good options for me. I made arrangements to fly to Chicago and try the harps out. When I arrived, I was pleased to find out that a third harp had come up from the production line that very morning, so there were three harps for me to choose from: two Style 100s and an 85CG, all in ebony. I spent the morning trying out the harps, being sure to take breaks to rest my ears and fingers. I also listened to the harps while others played them so I could gain a perspective of the harps’ sounds sitting away from them. Early in the process, I had ruled out the 100 that had just come up that morning. However, in the end, and especially after hearing others play all three harps, this ended up being the harp that I chose. It was everything that I wanted in a pedal harp and more, and it was definitely worth the wait and the expense of traveling to play it and hear it played in person.”

Boddie sums up his experience with useful advice for anyone looking for a harp, “I know that my personal experience only represents one way to successfully choose a pedal harp. Before purchasing a harp, you should know what you want in the sound of a harp, determine how flexible you are on manufacturers, models, finishes, etc. Then decide if you are willing to put the time, effort, and money into choosing a harp youself or if you can allow someone who is qualified to make the choice for you. There are no perfect harps, but this does not mean that it’s impossible to find a harp that has all the elements of ‘the one’ harp you have always dreamed of owning.” •

Click on the images below to enlarge the comparison charts of pedal harps that appeared in our print issue.

A few closing thoughts…

EENY, MEENY, MINY, MOE…

So once you’ve got a few harps lined up in front of you, how do you choose?

Listen

Even though you’re the one who will be playing the harp, you gain a different perspective on its sound by sitting back and listening while someone else plays the harp.

Close your Eyes

Or turn your back. Taking visual bias out of the process will let you focus on the sound you like best, regardless of the looks.
Compare apples to apples. Play the same piece or excerpt on each harp you are considering so you can make an accurate comparison.

Change it Up

While you want to compare the same music across the line-up of harps, you also want to make sure that you are playing a wide variety of music to get a true sense of the entire range of the instrument. Play something notey, something big and lush, something in the upper register, something the lower register—you get the idea.

 

Too Good to be True

You’ve found the bargain of the century—a lever harp online for only $200! Seems too good to be true…because it is. You definitely get what you pay for. Many lever harps are custom or hand made and that sort of workmanship costs more than something stamped out from a factory in Pakistan or China. These harps may look attractive and only cost around $250 or less, but they are only harp-shaped objects. They are lovely decorative objects but are not realistically playable as harps. Avoid the temptation!