Harp FAQ's

As you can see, the harp is pretty huge. Not as big as a double bass, but still huge. That means you will have quite a bit of work to do to clean it. 

Your harps’ biggest enemy is the buildup of oils and grime that can damage the instrument’s finish. You can prevent that by using clean cloths to wipe the instrument down. If you have a dedicated cleaning solution, all the better. Start in spots where the hands rest or touch the instrument, and where the knees touch the harp directly. You should also regularly dust the harp with clean cloths wherever dust might collect, including the sounding board and the neck. 

Nodding again to the harp’s size, you need a good technique to transport the instrument safely. Your foremost goal is to protect it from any sudden knocks or bumps. Do this by getting heavy-duty covers and draping them over the harp, to provide a certain level of cushioning for it. Be sure to move it carefully when placing it on your car. We strongly recommend that you lay where the mechanisms (i.e. levers, strings, etc) are facing up with no weight over them, and nothing below them that can push them outward. 

Restringing per string costs at least $2.50 (£2), and you’ll need to leave your harp at the shop for at least three days for a complete restringing. We recommend that you replace the harp’s strings in the first and second octaves once every year. Leaving bad strings in these octaves are hugely detrimental to the instrument’s overall sound, and believe us when we say you will hear it. It’s not a pleasant sound. The most important thing is to replace the strings even if they don’t actually break if only to keep your harp sounding good without needing too many adjustments. 

It might sound cliche but you’ll know it when you hear it, or by gut feel. As a musician, you likely have a good ear that will help you identify which strings are starting to sound bad. Always remember that some strings on your harp can last for a while, but there are others which will wear out faster. These are often the strings on either far end of the harp. Their short lengths tend to make them more vulnerable to wear and tear over time. On the other hand, you can afford to keep the thicker bass strings for a while longer, but they will still eventually lose a bit of their shine and sustain.