I'm getting a harp

I am getting a harp. I think I wanted one from the first time I ever saw Harpo Marx sit down to play. Of course, at that time my parents wouldn’t have dreamt of getting me a harp, because the only ones available then were the big concert pedal harps with price tags similar to purchasing a home.


However, by happenstance, this past September a busker from Australia was playing his harp in the streets of my town. It wasn’t the tune, it wasn’t even the harp itself, it was the sound that moved me totally, unexpectedly, and deeply. After some soul searching I decided I would get a harp.

I began with a web search for companies making harps. Here are some of my results:

I really like the sound of the Stoney End harps. www.stoneyend.com/ I also like their 5 year guarantee and their “package deal” on some of their harps. I wouldn’t mind waiting to have my harp “built” but I seemed to have asked them too many questions – not that they aren’t very good at answering questions!

I also really like the bright sound of the Dusty Strings harps www.dustystrings.com/ and can say that after a skype session listening to two of their Ravenna’s live, that they do indeed sound like their sound samples! They also come highly recommended. Dusty Strings has absolutely great people, helpful, knowledgeable, and real professionals. Their webpage is packed with very helpful information. They are prompt in replying and really care for things. They only offer a 2 year guarantee, but as you will see – if you read to the end – that is not a stopping point. I was concerned that so many of their harps seem to be seeking new homes. Of course some people will realize after purchasing a harp that learning to play the harp is a lot more work than listening to harpists and harpers on you tube, others will move up to bigger models with more sound. Still that little detail niggles at the back of my mind…

Triplett www.triplettharps.com has some marvelous harps, and I see many people in various places recommend them. They also offer a 7 year guarantee. My problem is that I want sound clips of each harp and they don’t offer that. But they definitely will get a much closer look if I decide to get something else later.

Harpsicles harpsicleharps.com/ seem to offer a great deal if one is planning on opening a music school and want harps beginning students can actually make music with, but which won’t break the budget! Nice bright sound.

Sweetharps www.caswellharps.com/Page17/Page17.html really seem to be a deal – rather similar to the harpsicle in price and sound, but there was a telling forum on The Harp Column online site which showed considerable problems in actually getting one!

Surprisingly, the BIG names in the world of lutenists (makers of harps) Lyon and Healy www.lyonhealy.com/ and Salvi salviharpsinc.com/salvifactory.htm in Italy, and Carmac harps www.camac-harps.com/ in France are makers of the big concert harps for harpists worldwide, and they are now also making some smaller more affordable harps also, so please be sure to check them out thoroughly if you’re in the market for a harp!

If you’re wanting something more medieval then there are places like Eric Harps www.eric-harps.de/ in Germany and Ardival Harps www.ardival.com/ in Scotland. The latter has excellent sound tracks. I’m not yet sure if I want to add a bray harp or a wire harp later. I especially like that the later also has a summer course so one can learn and experience the harps before buying!

Meanwhile I think it is vital to actually hear the harp you want to by before you buy. Skype is great for connecting if you can’t actually get out there, travelling the world to find the ideal harp. According to Salvi, it takes three months to a year for them – as full time professionals – to build a harp. Most of what I’ve seen and found online from my exploration of this, confirms that. Reputable companies also don’t expect payment until the harp is ready, and most will have showroom models available which do the “auditioning”.

What did I choose – or more accurately, which harp chose me!? The Nico, by Telynau Teifi www.welsh-harps.com/ in Wales, although I must admit their Robyn, not to mention their Eos, really have me drooling! In a rather intensive Skype session, I listened to three Nicos and one Robyn. The extra strings on the Robyn really make a notable difference toward a full robust sound. Though the Nicos are all made the same way, they were of different woods Ash, Poplar, and Black Walnut. In discussing my age and so on with the harper and teacher, we came to a very clear decision about which harp was the one for me for now. So that’s how this story unfolded!