& Appraisals

Harp Repair

Harp Maintenance/Regulations & Appraisals

For regulations, general maintenance, problems & appraisals.
Contact Karen at: KGHarp@pacbell.net

Appraisals are available for insurance purposes & for resale/purchase of used harps.

For more info on the Technicians Guild,
please visit: http://www.lyonhealy.com/techguild.htm

Professional Harp Repair Experience:
Regular Clients include:

• San Francisco Symphony
• San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet
• San Jose Symphony
• San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• San Francisco State University
• University of California at Berkeley & Davis
• Mills College & Holy Names College
• Humboldt State University
• Harps Etc. in Walnut Creek, CA.

She has also serviced harps throughout Northern California and Seattle areas as well Mexico City Opera, Ballet, Symphony & Conservatory of Music. In 2006, she was one of the designated harp technicians for the American Harp Society Conference in San Francisco.

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What is a Regulation?
Just as your car needs a tune up and oil change every 5,000 miles, a regulation is the general maintenance of your harp on a regular basis that includes a thorough inspection of your harp, a change of pedal and slot felts, oiling, adjustments of pedal rods and discs for intonation and noise control. It can also include replacement of basic parts as needed.
A standard regulation includes:

• Inspection of the base
• Pedal levers
• Springs
• Greasing
• Checking pedal rods and connections
• Adjusting rod length/overmotion
• Changing pedal and slot felt
• Adjustment of string/disc positioning
• Noise control
• Calibrate the intonation of intervals
• Overall inspection of body, frame, neck, column, and mechanism

A full service regulation performed by a Lyon & Healy certified harp technician is $300 (does not include restringing, changing wires, parts or strings). Additional services are available. When your harp is regulated by a Lyon & Healy certified harp technician:

• A detailed history of the service performed on your harp will be recorded
• Your warranty terms will remain intact, and
• If your harp requires additional service or repair, Lyon & Healy Harps guarantees its work.
  
  

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Regulation Appointment Preparation
Some things to consider when you are going to have your harp regulated:

• String condition:
  Look at the harp strings closely. Where the discs or levers touch the strings, the strings often become worn; nylon strings can be grooved. When strings are worn, frayed or dirty change them about one to two weeks before the regulation. In any event the strings in the upper three octaves should be changed if they are more than two years old.
  Aged strings can become "false", a condition where the string cannot vibrate in tune properly thus leading to bad sound. Often, the idea that the harp needs regulation may come from the string itself, not the regulation settings. Regulation or control of a false string is impossible. Nylon strings quite often become grooved where the discs engage them.
  Important: Bring your extra strings to the appointment.
  
  
• Price and Payment: Payment is required at time of service. It may be made by cash or check payable to Karen Gottlieb. The price for pedal harp regulation is $300. A discount is offered for all harps that I service on a regular basis.
  
  
• Wire Strings: Wire strings can be replaced during the regulation process. The fee for wire string installation is $50. Please make it known when requesting service.
  
  
• Restringing: If you would like your harp completely restrung, the instrument will need to be left with me for at least four days. The service charge for a complete restringing is $200. I am also able to provide a complete set of strings of your choice. The client will be billed standard cost plus shipping fees.
  
  
• Tuning: Please see that the harp is holding tune before the regulation appointment. It is helpful to tune the harp the day of the appointment.

• A standard regulation is about three hours. Scheduled drop-off and pick-up times are flexible upon prior agreement.
  
  

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Simple suggestions to enhance & maximize performance & enjoyment of your harp:

Learn how to string a harp properly.
There are reasons for proper stringing that will help eliminate buzzes and extend the life of your string. Do not let strings wrap on the tuning pins all the way to the neck of the harp or get so stretched that they do the same. If this happens, replace the strings. It might be time for a new string, or unwind it, pull-up most of the slack and rewrap the string and trim the end. 
Know how to tie the knot properly. Do not leave any extra string at the base near the knot. Be sure when the string is on, that the string ends are not touching each other inside the body of the harp. This is a major source of buzzes.
Wire strings do not stretch so they need to be given enough slack to allow them to wrap around the pin neatly with 2-3 turns. More than that will not benefit your harp. A good rule is to thread it up through the tuning pin, allow slack so you can pull it back 1 octave plus 1-2 strings (and no more!) then turn slowly to allow for a neat inward wrap on the tuning pin.

Know when to change strings.
A new set of strings every year for professionals and every 2-3 years for non professionals. Good quality strings make for a livelier, happier resonance. 
Change wire strings- yearly for the professional and every 2-3 years for students or non professional harpist. New wire strings give the harp a much fuller and bigger sound. It also brings clarity and better general intonation.
Change 1st and 2nd octave strings- every 6 months for professionals and every year or so for amateurs. Your harp is only as good as its strings. Strings stretch over time thus making the string thinner. The disk then does not grab as tightly, causing the string to sound flatter or buzz. We especially notice intonation problems in the top 2 octaves. Regular changing of 1st and 2nd octave strings will help to keep a better intonation and the strings will have a more solid sound.

Always tune with the pedals in the flat position.
This will make for the best tuning since the string will stretch evenly over its length and it will avoid excess wear on the string where it hits the disk. If you tune with the harp in the natural (or sharp) position, the string is dragged over the disk causing it to wear and stretch unevenly.

Be sure to push in on tuning pins as you tune.
This will insure that they hold firmly in place and there is no slipping. Sometimes it is necessary to back off and grind the tuning pin back and forth in towards the neck as you turn, to be sure it is tightly set in the neck.

Regular Regulations to keep mechanism in order. 
Yearly for the professional and every 2-3 years for the non professional. New pedal felts, new wires and 1st & 2nd octave strings will insure the best possible regulation and that everything works smoothly, free of buzzes and with good intonation.

Excerpt originally published in the AHS Journal, Summer 2008- What’s the Buzz?!: The Art of Harp Maintenance by Karen Gottlieb. (See Publications)

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