Chris Caswell, Harp Maker
Master-Designed, Artisan-Made Since 1977
729 Heinz Ave. #15, Berkeley, CA 94710
Toll Free 877-463-4014
NOTE: There will be a modest price increase on the SweetHarps on April 1st.
NEW CASWELL HARPS PHONE NUMBER! TOLL FREE 877-463-4014
Hear & See My Harps on
YouTube
Just got this feedback from
a recently delivered Sweetharp:
“Chris, I just tuned up "Violetta" and spent a good hour
playing and all I can say is "Holy Cow!" Man, you
have a winner here. I have had 10 harps now,
and currently have five, but the Sweetharp has the
biggest voice of all. The richness of its tone
easily compares to my Dusty Strings FH-36S, and I think
surpasses my Timothy Niamh ( a harp three to four
times the cost of the Sweetharp, although the same
size. I actually played the two, one after the
other, to compare. The Sweetharp was much
louder and clearer in tone.) I think in a blind
harp tasting I know which one I would pick...the
Sweetharp.
I played "Pachabel's Canon in D" (the Sylvia Woods Easy
version for a 27 string harp) on the Sweetharp, and its
given me pause. I have two weddings to do this
summer and I would usually take my FH-36S because of its
deep rich tone and volume, but now the Sweetharp is
making me think twice! It sounds just as good, if
not better, it's much easier to transport, and plays and
looks just as good!
If this little gem is only going to develop a better
voice as time goes on, I can't even begin to
imagine! The problem with most small 'affordable'
harps is the loose tension. They are awful to
play. This one plays like a dream. I honestly
never imagined the quality, beauty, richness of tone and
volume from such a harp.
Thanks again Chris. I"ll be singing the praises of
the Sweetharp for a long time to come.” -
BD
A look at
the the redesigned SweetHarp 29 CS (center
strung).
(Shown in Purple and Cerulean Blue)
I am VERY happy with the way it worked out. It ABSOLUTELY fixes the tendency of a neck to warp towards the strings! The thing is dead true.
(Shown in Dark Blue and Natural)
The newly redesigned FairyHarp15 - $129.00
(shown in Natural and Violet (rear)
(shown in Purple and Forest Green)
As you may know, one of the inherent problems with the new category of “light” harps is that they warp towards the strings over time (see my poster to the left to see what I mean), some so badly as to make them unusable after even a few years.
Part of my success with the SweetHarp design has been to minimize that warping by using several devises. I’ve created a new “region” where the pillar meets the curve (where the rosette is) for example, and a generous, mechanically locking "T" across the front of the pillar. This has allowed me to use "grown up" string lengths and therefore get the great sound and feel the SweetHarp has.
But I've seen that I want to do even more to preclude the harp warping at all (especially in hot, humid climates). I was designing a brace to go on the far side of the curve when I realized that if I were going to do that I might as well go all the way and make the harp center-strung. Based on my success with my Butterfly model I've designed a simple center-stringing for the SweetHarp.
This has also solved several other issues for me. Not only is the harp stronger and more stress-balanced than before, but I can use geared tuners on it all the way up. The tuners I had been using on the SweetHarp were of two types. The bass end used a straight-through geared tuner like on banjos, and the treble end was using a non-geared tuner such as used on ukuleles. The banjo tuners are expensive and heavy, and the ukulele tuners, thought adequate (and perfectly appropriate for the smaller harps), just aren't as cool as the geared tuners.
By going to the center-stringing, I can use the same tuners as I use on the Butterfly harps. They look good, work great, and are even color-coded to tell you where your Fs and Cs are (knob colors may vary slightly from harp to harp). AND…You can see your tuners and tune on the fly very easily. No more craning your neck to the far side to see which tuner to grab!
This moves the SweetHarp even more into a class of its own - without increasing cost and addiing only an ounce or two in weight. But it does change the look slightly. The curve is slightly narrower and more graceful now in the treble (since I don't have to do the double row of tuners). The tuners now have their knobs peeking above the curve instead of on the far side. That's pretty much the only visual difference. In all other ways the SweetHarp looks exactly the same! There is one more benefit: In their new position, the tuners are less likely to get banged, and possibly broken, in transit (again, on the smaller harps, this is not so much an issue).
I had thought of making this an option and charging extra for it, but that would make production crazy-making, so I decided to just offer it at the same price. Also, I feel so strongly about the numerous benefits this provides that I will not be offering the older style any longer.
(The ElfinHarps and FairyHarps will continue to use the banjo and ukulele tuners. Warping isn't a concern with the smaller harps.)
Please contact me if you have any questions about all this.
(shown in Natural and Rust Brown)
Renowned Harpist and Composer
Diana Rowan Test Drives the SweetHarp
“This is a real instrument, not a compromise harp.”
Questions?
Testimonials & Reviews
What others are saying:
“...if there is a more elegant design, I haven't seen it in a small, beautiful and affordable 29 string. It is like actually owning the product of 30 years of artistry and I can, by gosh, afford it!”
(NOTE: If you have any problems
ordering while I’m updating the shopping cart,
please email me! - Chris
Caswell)
(shown in Natural and Rust
Brown)
(shown in Teal Blue with a
Natural soundboard)
(shown in Purple and Forest Green)
are here!
Check out the SweetHarp Video and the ElfinHarp Sneak Preview
The SweetHarp29 qualifies for Interest-Free-Rent-To-Own (domestic sales only)
I've designed my harps to fill nearly every need in
the traditional and light classical harp world:
The FairyHarp 15 The perfect
trainer harp. from $129.00
The ElfinHarp 19 Not all those
who wander are lost. from $269.00
The SweetHarp 29 The most
entry-level harp for the money anywhere! from
499.00
The Butterfly 29 &
33 The revolutionary small harp with the big harp
sound. from $895.00
The Conservatory
The Conservatory is still under wraps
The Rhiannon 33 &
36 The definitive neo-Celtic harp.
from $4790.00
The Gwydion 32 &
34 Possibly the finest bronze-strung harp
available. from $4190.00
NEW!
Online, Skype, Group, and Private Lessons - ALL LEVELS
Sign up at TeachStreet.com. (Scroll down
for some reviews.)
Here’s what some folks have said about their lessons:
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08 Jenny Plucks Pears MP3
New Photo Galleries (click on the pics)
See what I’m up to
(For more on Chris Caswell's teaching & performances, visit ChrisCaswell.net)
Order here, by phone,
mail, email, or from one of my fine dealers.
Caswell
Harps, 729 Heinz Ave., Suite 15, Berkeley, CA 94710
866-99-HARPS (42777) harps@sonic.net
These harps are the culmination of my over
thirty years of harp making. They represent both the
traditional, in my Bardic Harp Series,
and the innovative, in my Hybrid Harp Series,
SweetHarps and Fairy Harps.
Explore them, get a feel for them. Then contact me with
your wish list! Go to the Yes You Can page to view all
the ways I have to help you afford your new harp.
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