Help: Harp repair by mail

Subject: Harp repair by mail
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 11:36 AM

I need to get some new levers put on my Celtic harp. It could use a new set of strings as well. The problem is that I am nowhere near any major city and so am faced with trying to accomplish this by mail from West Virginia. I'd like a few suggestions as to where to send it to get this work done. Please, no guessing about this - it is too important. Factual, anecdotal information would be most appreciated.

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 03:44 PM

Not getting much help, here are you, Allan?

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 03:57 PM

Harpists may be slow, but they can play all night, Sorcha.

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 04:01 PM

Allan, I just went to Google and put in harp west virginia, and this teacher's name came up. Perhaps you could contact her????
Christine Mazza
612 Poplar Woods Dr.
Morgantown, WV 26505
304-598-2569

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: John P
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 04:20 PM

Allan,
I work at Dusty Strings in Seattle. We build harps, but also have a retail shop with a repair facility that can fix almost anything. Putting levers and strings on a harp is not usually a difficult job, although it is time consuming (as in expensive . . .). There is also a store in Houston called Melody's Traditional Music and Harp Shoppe that does lots of harp repair, especially lever work. There is a store in Virginia called The Virginia Harp Center that deals with all kinds of harps, but I'm not sure if they do repairs. Call or email me at work and I can give you some more resources. Of course, sending the harp to the person who built it is always a good choice. And lots of people learn to do lever work themselves. It requires a lot of patience and the willingness to take sharp tools to your harp, but it can be a good skill to have -- the levers need to be adjusted from time to time anyway. Who was the builder of your harp? How many strings does it have? What sort of levers do you want on it? What are the strings made of? Do you have a shipping box for it?

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Gloredhel
Date: 02 Sep 01 - 08:56 PM

If your harp is a major brand, strings are easy. Just look up the maker on the web and they'll either sell you strings themselves or direct you to someone who can. Depending on the kind of repair needed, makers of other instruments may be able to help you (mine has cosmetic damage about to be repaired by a reputable guitar-maker).

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Peg
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 11:44 AM

I have a small Celtic harp (23 strings) also badly in need of restringing. Not sure if putting levers on it is worthwhile, I just want to see if I can get the hang ofit before I invest in something bigger or more complex...

I live in Boston; anyone know of someone in this area who does this work?

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 11:46 AM

Go down to the Black Rose Pub and ask for a harper....Boston should be easy; large Irish contingent there.

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Sep 01 - 02:32 PM

This sweet little harp has only 22 nylon strings. There are some marvelous carvings on both sides of the soundbox. A rather rudely carved design is carved into the sides of the frame and then were emphasised with white paint. It appears to have no brand markings at all on it. A tiny, illegible signature and date are written inside of the soundbox. The harp's original(?) owner is deceased and so no further information has been available to me so far. I know nothing about harps whatsoever, but the levers appear to me to be rather rudimentary (no brand). Some of the levers do not seem to function properly. In addition, one of them audibly vibrates when not engaged. I don't know enough about harps to know what kind of levers would best suit this one. No case or shipping box came with the harp and so far, I haven't acquired either. I could certainly knock together a good shipping crate for it, though.

Frankly, John, Dusty Strings was my first choice, despite the distance. I'll be sending you an email.

Subject: RE: Help: Harp repair by mail
From: John J
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 04:16 AM

A friend of mine has renovated a couple of harps. He had no previous experience. I'll dig his website details out for you.

John J