Hello! This is my first post here, hoping to find some advice. I've recently started to learn the harp using a rental instrument, and now I'm looking at buying options.
The ones I adore most are the wire strung harps. I know there are a few well-known makers like ardival and triplett, but they are also terribly expensive for someone just starting out. I found a couple of smaller non-ebay harp makers as well - folcharp, dreamsinger and another era lutherie, for instance. Does anyone know how reputable they are? Or am i just better off saving up and buying from a well known maker?
Help buying a wire strung harp?
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Re: Help buying a wire strung harp?
Another option is building your own, if you are handy and feel confident (or, have a woodworker friend who would help?). Musicmakers and Markwood both offer a kit... the 26-string Musicmakers Limerick and the 22-string Cambria kit.
(Is it okay to post links to the site?)
Here's the Limerick: https://www.harpkit.com/limerick-lap-harps.html
And the Cambria kits page: http://markwoodstrings.com/cambria/the- ... harp-kits/
It seems Musicmakers have changed their offerings since the last time I looked, but perhaps they still have videos that also help with the build.
(Is it okay to post links to the site?)
Here's the Limerick: https://www.harpkit.com/limerick-lap-harps.html
And the Cambria kits page: http://markwoodstrings.com/cambria/the- ... harp-kits/
It seems Musicmakers have changed their offerings since the last time I looked, but perhaps they still have videos that also help with the build.
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Re: Help buying a wire strung harp?
Hello there, monochrome_rose. I'll email you a contact (too soon for PMs, yet). He's an experienced wire harper and he'll be glad to offer whatever guidance you need.
"If you take music out of this world, you will have nothing but a ball of fire." - Balochi musician
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Re: Help buying a wire strung harp?
Fwiw, I have a triplett 25 - wire for sale (USA)
Last edited by cat on Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Help buying a wire strung harp?
My wife has one wire harp from William MacDonald on Skye, and another on order.
http://macdonaldharps.net/
I thought they were very reasonably priced, for a hand-made instrument. Lovely tone, but they are much more difficult to bring up to tune and keep in tune than a modern gut-strung harp.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h218/ ... nu01kn.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h218/ ... icdabk.jpg
http://macdonaldharps.net/
I thought they were very reasonably priced, for a hand-made instrument. Lovely tone, but they are much more difficult to bring up to tune and keep in tune than a modern gut-strung harp.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h218/ ... nu01kn.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h218/ ... icdabk.jpg
Deartháir don phaidir an port.