Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp

Subject: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: Teresa
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 07:48 PM

I have a small (twenty-three?-string) folk harp. The low G lever has a bracket loose and the string is buzzing. It looks like some sort of hex screw driver is required, but I'm not sure. Does anyone know what tool I'd need to make adjustments?

Thanks in advance,
Teresa

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:00 AM

Since no harpers have responded, I will offer that the first thing you should do is to look for the maker's name. If it's not obvious, look for a label inside the sound box. Then see if the maker has a website, and send them an e-mail asking for help.

Plan B would be to locate the nearest harp teacher. If you are American, check the site for the American Harp Society.

Plan C would be to take it to a good hardware-store employee, point to it, and say, 'How do we tighten that?' However, I would go about the adjustment in a gingerly manner after that.

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 01:00 PM

Thanks. The manufacturer is Breton. I'm thinking the tool would be pretty standard. I'll see if I can find an email address for someone to talk to, though they do offer repair services. Not sure I want to ship it way off out of town somewhere, but you provided a lot of options. Thanks.

Teresa

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 07:08 PM

Oh, I see. Breton is the maker, it's not a harp from Brittany.

I saw a page that implied that Breton harps have imitations of 'Loveland levers.' See what you can find on Loveland levers.

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:19 PM

Thanks, Leeneia. Sorry for the breton confusion there.

There's a site called Music Makers that does kit instruments. They have a Loveland lever regulation kit, which includes a driver, wrench, and instructions, but I'm going to bounce this off a couple more people and see what they can tell me.

Thanks,
Teresa

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 12:12 AM

If the base of the bracket is loose you can tighten it with the proper size of ball-end allen wrench. It has to be the ball-end type because you won't be able to come straight at the screw. When you tighten the bracket make sure to check the intonation. The bracket should have a slot rather than a round hole that allows for some adjustment.

If the bracket is tight but the lever itself is loose you will need a proper size of open end wrench to tighten it. There is a spring washer that applies a bit of pressure. Adjust the lever to be as tight as you like it. It has to move when you want it to but not move when you don't want it to.

These recommendations for Loveland levers and written in American, i.e wrench=spanner (I don't know the UK translation for allen wrench)

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 07:07 AM

I've heard them referred to as allen-keys, and you can buy them in various sizes from any hardware shop / ironmonger. A harpmaker gave me one for my Lovelands ages ago, which suggests it's the right idea.

Where are you based, Teresa? And are you sure that it's Loveland levers you have on your harp?

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 03:44 PM

The Loveland suggestion came from me, as something to check on.

Subject: RE: Lever Adjustment on a Breton Folk Harp
From: Teresa
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 10:29 AM

Yep, a very handy piano-tuning instructor of mine was able to tighten it with an allen wrench. I don't think he had a ball-end one, and therefore had to remove the lever to get to the bracket. The base of the bracket was loose, but not the lever. I'm not positive it's a loveland lever, but that does seem right. I'm debating whether to buy the lever-regulation kit from Music Makers, or just go to the hardware store, but at least the mystery is solved. Thanks, guys.

Teresa