Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?

Subject: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:23 PM

For you harp players out there, please take a moment to look at the $329 harp listed on this page and let me know what you think of it, please? It would be for a beginner, who is well-experienced on many other instruments, including stringed; they're just looking for something to start with that isn't too expensive.

Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:41 PM

These look an awful lot like the Pakistani harps which do NOT have a good reputation.You should buy from a reputable builder. Personally, I would never buy an instrument without looking at/hearing it first...
One basic thing to check is whether the tuning pins are uniform so you can reliably tune it. Also look at the neck from the front to see whether it is warping to the side.The direction of the wood grain is also important- the neck will snap if the grain goes the wrong way.

Where do you live? Perhaps there is a dealer/ builder near you
Have a look at www.harpmall.com

These are good entry level instruments at a reasonable price
http://traditionalharps.com/TastyHarpsMenu.html
Or http://www.stoneyend.com

All the best- Julia

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 07:09 PM

Sorry I never came back to this thread, Julie. Thanks for your input. I will look at those other sites.

Anyone else have any experience with Shofar Man harps or the ones at the sites Julia posted?

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 07:52 PM

The link no longer works, Kat, but I've never heard of Shofar Man. I heartily agree with everything Julia says, and would only add: be careful about wasting your money on cheap (and $329 IS cheap) "beginner's" harps. There's nearly no such thing - if someone wants to become a decent player, they will very quickly outgrow it and then be stuck with something they can't sell and can't progress further on. Reputable teachers and professioals will steer their pupils away from any harp that's only short-term. There are a number of excellent makers of small harps who can provide you with an instrument that allows the student to keep on growing without hitting against its limitations, and which is re-saleable if harp study doesn't work out.

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 06 - 10:28 PM

Oh, sorry, Bonnie, thanks for pointing that out. Here is a current LINK. I understand what you are saying. I am asking for someone else. At the moment the Shofar's are on sale and they wouldn't feel too put out if they decided they weren't interested in progressing. I will pass this on to them.

Thanks, very much,

kat

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: harpmolly
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 01:28 AM

My rule of thumb when it comes to harps is, "If they're selling it in an in-flight magazine, it's not worth the price". We see tons of the Pakistani harps (of which this is definitely one) at the shop, and they're always a disappointment to the owner, who is expecting to really be able to learn and play on one. They're decorative, but not much more.

My first harp was a Magical Strings Tristy harp, and it was really wonderful for how inexpensive it was. I wish there had been a Dusty Strings Ravenna around when I was starting out, because I think it's the best harp for the money I've seen. However, honesty compels me to admit that I work for Dusty Strings, so I may safely be called biased. *grin*


M

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 02:30 PM

Thanks, Molly!

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Hawker
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 05:11 PM

katlaughing, I cant make the link work, but if it is a pakistani type harp, it has an awful sound, and the tuning is reputedly not reliable. I dont know about the US but in England, beginner harpists can hire a harp for a regular monthly payment to try out whether they are going to be able to or like playing the harp, some with the option of buying. This gives you the chance of getting a quality harp for a minimal outlay. Another way may be to contact a harp tutor who may have a pupil wishing to sell a harp that they either have not got on with or are upgrading. Good luck, The harp is a wonderful, if challenging instrument to play, it is worth getting a quality instrument if possible.
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Kaleea
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 05:27 PM

It really looks like a mid-east co. (Pakistani) harp to me. First harp I had was made by mid-east manufacturing co. & it was horrid. It buzzed like crazy. The levers didn't work--I spent a couple hundred & plenty getting decent levers put on it for all the good it did me. The strings were puny little nothings, & better ones would not fit through the holes. The tone was awful, dull, the harp simply could not speak.   
Find the closest harp shop in a city near you & make a road trip. Buy a used harp first, or rent a harp if they'll let you. If this is not possible, get online with a harp forum & ask about used harps. Take harp lessons if at all possible!

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Matt Woodbury/Mimosa
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 08:53 PM

kat,

I second (or third or fouth?) what the others have said. Sometimes these harps can be fixed up to sound good, but ir reqires major reworking and restringing, and by the time you've spent the money, you might as well have bought a higher quality instrument. I would suggest checking out www.stoneyend.com for decent, well priced harps, or www.blevinsharps.com. Some of my students have been fairly happy with theses as beginner harps, but Dusty Strings are a good buy for the money, and the Ravenna or Allegro are realtively affordable. www.triplettharps.com are really good, too, and many good harps are available used at www.harps-international.com. (use my name and maybe I'll get a commission).

Hope you're well.

Mimosa

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 10:57 PM

Matt/Mimosa!! It's so GOOD to hear from you! Thanks for the suggestions. I have passed all of this along to my sister, bet. She's got the bug.:-) Do you have any new CDs out? I still LOVE the one I have and have such good memories of hearing you play at my house.:-)

(I am very well, thank you. It's been almost a year and I feel better and am doing more than I have in years.)

Thanks to all of you. Blevins is very near to where I live, so I could actually go try one out for her. She is in Alaska, so shipping is a real consideration as well as price. She'll be along here when she finds a spare moment.:-)

Thanks, again,

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: harpmolly
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 03:00 AM

What region of the country does your friend live in? If they are anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, they should check out www.reigningharps.com (it's a Puget Sound Folk Harp Society site). There is a "Harps for Sale" page which might be helpful (again, assuming location is convenient).

Cheers,

Molly

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 05:21 AM

Kat, can you give us a clearer idea of what your sister wants to do, musically? What other instruments does she play, and does she sing? Alaska, hmmm... Dusty are in (I think) Seattle, and there's a fine maker in Oregon called Dave Thormahlen. Make sure she gets something with a full set of semi-tone levers.

The smallest harps - even quality ones - will not have much in the way of bass notes owing to their size (bass strings have to be longer to sound good, hence require a larger frame). And the lack of a bass can get to sound a bit monotonously tinkly after awhile. But at least with a good harp she'll have something that holds its value if she decides she doesn't want to do it.

But I hope she WILL want to do it - it's always great to welcome another harper to the fold! There are some good email forums around which are a great source of info & finding harp buddies. PM me if she wants to know more.

Bottom line with harps - as with so much else - is: You get what you pay for, and reputable instruments are simply going to cost more. But they will work, and they will last. Knockdown prices don't usually mean saving - they mean you're throwing your money away.

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 05:25 AM

Great website here (and based around Seattle I think):

http://www.harpspectrum.org/

Subject: RE: Shofar Man celtic harps - any good?
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 10:10 AM

Thanks, Bonnie and Molly.

She is in Alaska. She was a music teacher, so she's quite versatile in what she plays, though stringed instruments are her forte. She, like me, wants to try a small harp as she's become quite interested in them over the years. We both tend to pick up a new instrument, try it for awhile, and sometimes lose interest. The new one I have really stuck with is my lap dulcimer. She plays fiddle and violin with a couple of groups and will always do that, but she's just looking for something new to try at this point. She sings, but mostly when she plays her baritone uke. If she gets a harp it will be for playing at home and with family, only.

She is definitely checking out the websites you all have mentioned. Budget is a consideration, but we both understand, now, that cheap doesn't equal quality or satisfaction. Thanks, very much!

kat