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I’ve played one before. I didn’t care for it at all. However, everyone has different tastes. Definitely try one out first before you commit. They are nothing at all like wooden pedal harps.
I have played both before. I’ve heard some Daphne’s that were exceptional and some that weren’t. Same with Camac, but I find that Camac’s are a little more consistent, at least the one’s that I’ve played. It’s best if you can try them out in person, of course. Vanderbilt Music in Bloomington has a used Daphne 47EX that I’ve played before, and it’s got a beautiful sound.
Check out https://www.inlaystickers.com/ They have some nice decals that would look nice on a harp, I think. I haven’t been through all of them yet–there are a lot! If anyone ends up using this company, please let us know how they look/feel.
Hi Teva,
I don’t know if this website will allow you to post a web address of another site or not, but if you happen to know the site where you found those, if you can post it here or even send it in a private message, I’d appreciate it. Thanks for your response!
Hi Linda,
I’m not sure this website will allow me to share my email address with you, but I’ll try it here and see. If it doesn’t, you can send me a private message. I’ll check and see if this posts with my email, but if it doesn’t, I’ll send you a private message. Thanks! nelsonbrook33@gmail.comHi Linda,
I have a custom-made double-strung Brittany for sale if you might be interested. It has levers on the B’s, C’s, and F’s, along with the third-octave G on the right side. It’s a superb harp in every regard, but just a bit too small for my 6’4″ frame and large hands. I’ll try to include a picture. The harp has a very nice sound for its size. Contact me if you’d like more info.Hi Sarah,
I’ve owned multiple Salvi Ana’s through the years, along with several Preludes. The Ana’s have gone through changes, especially in the last few years, that improved the harp’s overall sound quality, volume, and appeal. While the harps do look alike, there are some subtle differences that make the Ana’s the more appealing harp to me of the two.L&H uses sitka spruce, while Salvi uses spruce from the Fiemme Valley. In general, I find the Ana’s to be the warmer of the two models. The Preludes are warm as well, but in general, I think Ana’s have a more robust, warm, and resonant sound. Some people may prefer the sound of the Prelude, which is certainly just fine. But if you’re looking for warmth, I’d stick with the Ana. I have an Ana right now, and the church I work far also bought one so I would not have to carry my own personal harp back and forth. They both sound quite nice to my ears with a good balance of darkness but also brightness when the music/setting call for it. I usually replace the 2nd octave nylon strings with pedal gut from the 2nd octave F up to C (thus, five strings). This practice helps to warm up what can be a sometimes-bright 2nd octave.
The best move that Salvi has made recently, in my opinion, is the redesign of their levers. I am not a fan of the L&H performance levers–at all–and Salvi was using these for a while after they discontinued their old silver levers, which I actually liked. The newer levers rival Camac’s in their ability to keep the string’s timbre, volume, etc. unaffected when engaged. My biggest pet peeve with the performance levers is that they can end up really affecting a particular string’s tone. Too many of these on one harp can really affect the harp’s overall volume and resonance. The newer Salvi levers are smooth, silent, and quite beautiful in their appearance (gold-colored finish). One of the best parts–they don’t produce that horrible crunch sound when engaged that the performance levers do at times–the one that literally makes me cringe anytime I hear it!
If you can’t tell, I prefer the Ana over the Prelude for these reasons I mentioned. However, I have heard plenty of Preludes that I could have sworn were Ana’s and vice versa. I’ve also played some Preludes that have had especially good levers on them. I do not begin to claim that one harp is “better” than the other–only different. I also believe you are right on the pricing. The Ana’s come in several different versions now based on the lever type and soundboard decoration. Also, I don’t know if this is still the case, but the Ana’s destined for North America are strung in pedal gut while the ones for Europe and eastward use lever gut strings.
In short, I don’t think you can go wrong with either harp, but if possible, try to play them side by side to see if you can notice the difference. That very small difference in lever function or the degree of warmth may be enough to sway you one direction over the other.
Best,
BrookVery good info, guys. Thanks for your input. I’m not crazy about the Harpsicle line in general, but I know they do fill a very important niche. I’m having some pretty severe back issues right now and was thinking about getting one for therapy work, but the sound/tension just worry me a bit. I appreciate your feedback.
Karine,
I have a new Salvi Ana that was just built late earlier this year at the factory in Italy. It’s strung in pedal gut, and it has a new version of Salvi levers that are some of the best I have ever seen (I’d put them right below Camac). I think it will depend on the age of the Ana you’re looking at, but if it’s brand new, it should have the better levers and pedal gut. I can honestly say that it’s the best lever harp I’ve ever owned, at lease lever harps that are meant to sound like pedal harps. The levers look exactly like performance levers from far away, but when you take a closer look, you’ll see that they are built differently. There is almost no change in timbre of the strings when the levers are engaged. Mine are very quiet when engaged, so I’m wondering if Wil may be talking about a different kind of lever. I’m definitely not saying he’s wrong–only that perhaps the newer model I’m playing has undergone some changes. The levers are actually gold-colored and look stunning. The harp has a huge, warm, rich sound. I’ve owned a lot of lever harps in my life–trust me–and this one really is one of the best, if not the best. The Egans use lever gut stringing, so there would be some automatic differences right there. I’ve played an Egan before as well and much prefer the sound and feeling of the Ana. Good luck with your search!I own a Stoney End Lorraine. It’s a nice little harp with a good sound. I’ve tried an Eve before–same result–but the harp is lighter and has reduced string spacing. This bothered me so much that I had to send the harp back.
I have a double string Lorraine, but I would avoid it if you have large hands. It can be quite tricky. Good luck with your search!
Hi John,
I have a Serenade strung in folk gut. It has a deep, warm, beautiful sound that I think would be perfect for accompanying. I have never heard a bad Thormahlen. I’m tall also–6’4″–and Dave can make you some tall legs that will help elevate the harp. I have them on mine, and they raise the harp to the perfect height for playing while sitting in a regular chair or bench.My Serenade holds its tune very well. If the weather is stable, it will hold tuning for days or even weeks. It’s very light and easy to carry. If I’m taking it somewhere in town where I don’t have to park a long way from the entrance, I usually just put it in the back of my SUV on some mats without the case (the case adds a good bit of weight). The harp is light enough to carry in one hand. Granted, I am a tall male with long arms. I’ve never had a maintenance issue with the harp, and it has only broken one string since I’ve had it.
I think you will be very happy if you choose a Serenade. Mine is ebony, and it’s a striking finish with the Camac levers. Keep us posted!
Brook
Hi Carys,
At some point in my life, I have previously owned both of these exact makes/models. Please hear me when I say: take the Daphne 47EX and run!! It’s a much superior harp in every regard. The Chicagos are inexpensive (when compared to other L&H harps) for a reason. I’ve heard from a very reliable source that the boards are made from spruce that has not been aged nearly as long as their professional models. The Chicagos also have a different body construction. Because of both of these, their sound is quite dull, even dead. The particular Daphne I owned wouldn’t compete against a 23, but it was definitely miles ahead of the Chicago when it came to sound. I have since played some D47EX’s that have been very nice. I also think the Chicago 40’s are nice harps, much like the Daphne 40’s. It’s when you get to the larger Chicago’s that the sound tends not to be up to par.
Of course, there are always exceptions, and the litmus test is being able to play the harps in person from which you are choosing. But as a general rule, stay away from the Chicago 47’s if possible. If you can swing an 85, I don’t think you would be disappointed, but I know they are several thousand higher than the D47’s, at least here in the USA. L&H harps are backordered right now, but if you look hard enough, you may be able to find them. Best of luck to you!
Don’t I wish, Kathy. I’m about to have another procedure on my back that is going to limit my ability to lift another over 10#. My first thought when my doctor told me that was “the harps???!!!!!” I may end up having to sell my pedal harp (Style 30), but I’ll have to work out something for the lever harps. I’d love to hear this one just to see how big it sounds, but I will forever miss my 30 if I have to sell it. 🙁 How are you doing? What’s the newest toy in your harp arsenal?
Hi Kristen,
Ugh…I just went to their website to be sure the harp is still there, and it’s been sold. 🙁 I wish I had seen this a few days ago. I’m so sorry about that, but maybe another one will crop up, or they’ll be at Somerset. I also love their Gothic harps, but I don’t think they make those anymore. The sound samples they have of the Jolie online sound very nice. Regardless, I really hope you can find a nice Voyageur. To my ear, they are no different than a really nice Dusty or Thormahlen. Again, this is assuming you can find one of the newer ones. I’ve not played any really old models. Keep us posted!
