Caswell
Harps Frequently Asked Questions
• Do you make these harps? go
• How does the harp work? go
• What are the red and blue strings for? go
• Do I need any musical background to play the harp? go
• Do I need to be able to read music? go
• How long does it take to get a harp? go
• Which harp should I choose? go
• I am interested in purchasing a harp, but have never played one before. Being an absolute beginner, I wonder if it is wisest to purchase a 29 string harp or a 19 string harp. I have read that larger harps are easier to learn to play. Do you recommend levers for a beginner? go
• Where can I get lessons? go
• What’s your Trade-up Offer? go
• What’s your Interest-Free Rent-to-Own Offer? go
• How often does it need tuning? go
• How about fingernails? go
• How about posture and hand position? go
• When do I change strings? go
• Where do I get strings? go
• How about warranty and repairs? go
• Do you do repair work on other harps? go
• What other equipment would I need to get if I got a pickup installed? Would it only be compatible with certain types/brands? Is it really beneficial to have a pickup? go
See also: SweetHarp FAQs and Downloads
• Do you make these harps?
Yes. Chris Caswell began making Celtic harps in the early ‘70s at the very beginning of this wave of the folk harp revival. These harps are the culmination of his experience of nearly 40 years and 1000 harps.
• How does the harp work?
It’s like the white keys of the piano turned sideways and plucked kind of like a guitar.
• What are the red and blue strings for?
That’s how we keep our place (pianos have the black keys as a pattern to guide from).The red strings are Cs and the blue strings are Fs.
• Do I need any musical background to play the harp?
No. Music is a human birthright for which we all have the basic skills. Even if you’ve never learned a musical instrument, many of the basic concepts of music are already in you as a listener. Think you’re tone deaf? Only about .001% of the population is. Everyone else is trainable. Someone tell you that you have no talent? Can you type? Drive a car? Does music move you? You’re trainable.
• Do I need to be able to read music?
No. Music dwells in the ear, not the eye. Reading is an important and useful skill and can be necessary depending on what sort of music you want to do, but most of the world’s music lives quite happily without the written page.
• How long does it take to get a harp?
The waiting time for each model varies and we’re happy to give you a current estimate. Caswell Harps are built to order in small batches. As a small shop, we pride ourselves in providing harps whose designs continually improve, reflecting both the input of our clients, and the insights of master harp maker Chris Caswell. The more production-oriented designs, such as the SweetHarp and the Butterfly, move more quickly through their batches. The larger artisan-made harps such as the Rhiannon take much more time. What you get at the end is magic in the form of wood and strings made just for you.
• Which harp should I choose?
Get the one that calls most deeply to you. It is that passion which will make you play. Over time, most people want more bass notes, so choose one with the lowest bass string you can afford. (There are many fine harps available, and though we hope you will choose a Caswell, we are available to give you honest feedback on any harp you may be thinking of buying. But please avoid the cheap Pakistani and Chinese harps on eBay and similar. They don’t play well and your enthusiasm may wither and die. I’ve seen this happen and don’t say this of any other harps. We want you to have a long and joyful relationship with whatever harp you finally choose!)
• I am interested in purchasing a harp, but have never played one before. Being an absolute beginner, I wonder if it is wisest to purchase a 29 string harp or a 19 string harp. I have read that larger harps are easier to learn to play. Do you recommend levers for a beginner?
Speaking as a teacher and someone who truly wants people to succeed in their relationship with the harp, I recommend that folks get the biggest range and fullest sound they can within their budget. If you have special considerations - size, weight, travel, etc., then one can adjust to those, But all else being equal, go for good, even stringing, a generous box (not too wide at the top), a rich, even sound, and decent ergonomics. These are the qualities which will support your passion for the instrument (an important factor, especially during the beginning "honeymoon" stage).
It's not so much that larger harps are easier to play, but that they are more stable. One common problem with smaller harps is that they wobble around a lot when being played, which makes it hard to be free with your hands and arms, and comfortable in your body (and that causes emotional tension as well). The SweetHarp is stable and comfortable to play, either on its legs or the lap brace.
Regarding levers, it's a good idea to think about what you want to learn to play on the harp. If it's simple Bach, or you're wanting to play with fiddlers, etc., then you will want some levers. As a beginner, the "starter" levers (Fs and Cs) will give you a lot of flexibility. Half or full levers give you more choices, of course, but it could be years before you work your way into using them. This is where knowing your eventual needs comes in. For example, I tend to sing in F, so I often tune my harp with an open B flat, thus making it necesarry to have B levers so I can get back to C. But in terms of using your budget to its best ends, I would rank number of levers below going for a harp that is intrinsically rewarding to play. If the harp has a limited sound and awkward feel, who cares how many levers are on it?
People tend to buy harps because they like the way they look - a bit of Celtic carving or a clever detail. And don't get me wrong, beauty is important. But for me it's sound and playability, sound and playbility, sound and playability. When you're playing late into the night, a few candles lighting the room, a few friends scattered about listening, when the muse descends and all about seems to become one with the music, you want to able to rise to that state of grace. The harp should meld into your body, dance lightly under your fingers, and effortlessly fill the room. That's the true beauty of the instrument.
Besides, any maker who can produce that level of sound from an instrument is more than likely also in touch with those aspects that make it physically beautful as well. That's the kind of harp you can rely on and trust–and that's as important to the beginner as the seasoned player.
• Where can I get lessons?
Chris Caswell teaches at his home in Oakland, as well as holding group classes in Marin, Santa Cruz, and the North Bay. Also, through our Try-a-Teacher offer, we pay for your first lesson. If we don’t have a teacher in your area, we’ll help you find one. If you are able to pick up your harp in person, Chris gives a free orientation and beginning lesson.
• What’s your Trade-up Offer?
Within a year, if your harp is in good shape, you can trade it in towards a larger Caswell Harp for what you paid for it (less taxes, shipping, etc). We reserve the right to make adjustments if the harp requires more than normal maintenance to be made saleable.
• What’s your Interest-Free Rent-to-Own Offer?
A 20% deposit secures your order. When the harp is ready, we ask for 20% of the balance due, and then monthly payments for up to eighteen months (minimum $100 payment). The purchase of a case is required and there is a simple agreement to sign. Here’s a look at the Interest-Free Rent-to-Own process:
• How often does it need tuning?
Once a new harp has settled in, a little is needed every time you play - about like a guitar. Avoiding big changes in temperature and humidity helps. A new harp, or new strings, require more tuning.
• How about fingernails?
Fingernails are optional. Those of a classical background don’t use them. Those of a traditional background sometimes do. Both styles use the finger pads, and if you use nails they catch the string also, giving the sound a bit more attack to the sound (using nails also reduce calluses).
• How about posture and hand position?
Let your body learn how to play. A relaxed torso, arm and hand will find the most natural way. The thumb stays above the fingers so they can get under it. When in doubt, listen to your muscles.
• When do I change strings?
When they break. Maybe one or two a year. Sometimes a bit more when the harp is new, at the change of seasons, or if there is a severe emotional stress in your life (strange but true).
• Where do I get strings?
We are master string makers. Our Telynar Harp Strings are always available for your harp. We also do custom strings for all harps, providing some of the latest developments in string design.
• How about warranty and repairs?
Our harps are warranted for 5 years, except for the Fairy, Elfin, and SweetHarps, which are for 2 years. If you are out of the area we work with your local musical instrument repair person. Otherwise, we do it in-house whenever possible. We reserved the right to decide when a harp should be repaired or replaced.
• Do you do repair work on other harps?
Yes, and we also provide strings and hardware (in many cases) and, if we can, we’ll gladly refer you to someone who can help you if we’re not able to do the work. Some examples of recent repairs include replacing the blade levers on an older harp with Loveland levers, repairing a cracked back, and re-gluing a lifted soundboard. We try to keep repair costs down and will consult with you as to possible approaches.
• What other equipment would I need to get if I got a pickup installed? Would it only be compatible with certain types/brands? Is it really beneficial to have a pickup?
It's good to have a pickup if you're going to be playing gigs on a regular basis where you want to plug into an amp or a sound system.
The pickups can stand alone. They produce a signal at line level. But, depending on what you're plugging in to, and what the venue you're at has, you may need a DI (direct input box).
A DI connects a high-impedance, line level, unbalanced output signal to a low-impedance microphone level balanced input. In simple terms, it goes from the line level of your pickup (like the pickup on an electric guitar - a "low" signal) to a mic level (a much stronger signal). Some amps have line level inputs. Others want mic level. Some have both. A good sound system at a pro venue will likely want a mic level (and they will likely have a DI to borrow).
It's not a "brand" thing. It's pretty standardized in the sound biz. The one I sell is great (especially for harps), but there are lots out there.
Top of Page
Previous Page
• Do you make these harps? go
• How does the harp work? go
• What are the red and blue strings for? go
• Do I need any musical background to play the harp? go
• Do I need to be able to read music? go
• How long does it take to get a harp? go
• Which harp should I choose? go
• I am interested in purchasing a harp, but have never played one before. Being an absolute beginner, I wonder if it is wisest to purchase a 29 string harp or a 19 string harp. I have read that larger harps are easier to learn to play. Do you recommend levers for a beginner? go
• Where can I get lessons? go
• What’s your Trade-up Offer? go
• What’s your Interest-Free Rent-to-Own Offer? go
• How often does it need tuning? go
• How about fingernails? go
• How about posture and hand position? go
• When do I change strings? go
• Where do I get strings? go
• How about warranty and repairs? go
• Do you do repair work on other harps? go
• What other equipment would I need to get if I got a pickup installed? Would it only be compatible with certain types/brands? Is it really beneficial to have a pickup? go
See also: SweetHarp FAQs and Downloads
• Do you make these harps?
Yes. Chris Caswell began making Celtic harps in the early ‘70s at the very beginning of this wave of the folk harp revival. These harps are the culmination of his experience of nearly 40 years and 1000 harps.
• How does the harp work?
It’s like the white keys of the piano turned sideways and plucked kind of like a guitar.
• What are the red and blue strings for?
That’s how we keep our place (pianos have the black keys as a pattern to guide from).The red strings are Cs and the blue strings are Fs.
• Do I need any musical background to play the harp?
No. Music is a human birthright for which we all have the basic skills. Even if you’ve never learned a musical instrument, many of the basic concepts of music are already in you as a listener. Think you’re tone deaf? Only about .001% of the population is. Everyone else is trainable. Someone tell you that you have no talent? Can you type? Drive a car? Does music move you? You’re trainable.
• Do I need to be able to read music?
No. Music dwells in the ear, not the eye. Reading is an important and useful skill and can be necessary depending on what sort of music you want to do, but most of the world’s music lives quite happily without the written page.
• How long does it take to get a harp?
The waiting time for each model varies and we’re happy to give you a current estimate. Caswell Harps are built to order in small batches. As a small shop, we pride ourselves in providing harps whose designs continually improve, reflecting both the input of our clients, and the insights of master harp maker Chris Caswell. The more production-oriented designs, such as the SweetHarp and the Butterfly, move more quickly through their batches. The larger artisan-made harps such as the Rhiannon take much more time. What you get at the end is magic in the form of wood and strings made just for you.
• Which harp should I choose?
Get the one that calls most deeply to you. It is that passion which will make you play. Over time, most people want more bass notes, so choose one with the lowest bass string you can afford. (There are many fine harps available, and though we hope you will choose a Caswell, we are available to give you honest feedback on any harp you may be thinking of buying. But please avoid the cheap Pakistani and Chinese harps on eBay and similar. They don’t play well and your enthusiasm may wither and die. I’ve seen this happen and don’t say this of any other harps. We want you to have a long and joyful relationship with whatever harp you finally choose!)
• I am interested in purchasing a harp, but have never played one before. Being an absolute beginner, I wonder if it is wisest to purchase a 29 string harp or a 19 string harp. I have read that larger harps are easier to learn to play. Do you recommend levers for a beginner?
Speaking as a teacher and someone who truly wants people to succeed in their relationship with the harp, I recommend that folks get the biggest range and fullest sound they can within their budget. If you have special considerations - size, weight, travel, etc., then one can adjust to those, But all else being equal, go for good, even stringing, a generous box (not too wide at the top), a rich, even sound, and decent ergonomics. These are the qualities which will support your passion for the instrument (an important factor, especially during the beginning "honeymoon" stage).
It's not so much that larger harps are easier to play, but that they are more stable. One common problem with smaller harps is that they wobble around a lot when being played, which makes it hard to be free with your hands and arms, and comfortable in your body (and that causes emotional tension as well). The SweetHarp is stable and comfortable to play, either on its legs or the lap brace.
Regarding levers, it's a good idea to think about what you want to learn to play on the harp. If it's simple Bach, or you're wanting to play with fiddlers, etc., then you will want some levers. As a beginner, the "starter" levers (Fs and Cs) will give you a lot of flexibility. Half or full levers give you more choices, of course, but it could be years before you work your way into using them. This is where knowing your eventual needs comes in. For example, I tend to sing in F, so I often tune my harp with an open B flat, thus making it necesarry to have B levers so I can get back to C. But in terms of using your budget to its best ends, I would rank number of levers below going for a harp that is intrinsically rewarding to play. If the harp has a limited sound and awkward feel, who cares how many levers are on it?
People tend to buy harps because they like the way they look - a bit of Celtic carving or a clever detail. And don't get me wrong, beauty is important. But for me it's sound and playability, sound and playbility, sound and playability. When you're playing late into the night, a few candles lighting the room, a few friends scattered about listening, when the muse descends and all about seems to become one with the music, you want to able to rise to that state of grace. The harp should meld into your body, dance lightly under your fingers, and effortlessly fill the room. That's the true beauty of the instrument.
Besides, any maker who can produce that level of sound from an instrument is more than likely also in touch with those aspects that make it physically beautful as well. That's the kind of harp you can rely on and trust–and that's as important to the beginner as the seasoned player.
• Where can I get lessons?
Chris Caswell teaches at his home in Oakland, as well as holding group classes in Marin, Santa Cruz, and the North Bay. Also, through our Try-a-Teacher offer, we pay for your first lesson. If we don’t have a teacher in your area, we’ll help you find one. If you are able to pick up your harp in person, Chris gives a free orientation and beginning lesson.
• What’s your Trade-up Offer?
Within a year, if your harp is in good shape, you can trade it in towards a larger Caswell Harp for what you paid for it (less taxes, shipping, etc). We reserve the right to make adjustments if the harp requires more than normal maintenance to be made saleable.
• What’s your Interest-Free Rent-to-Own Offer?
A 20% deposit secures your order. When the harp is ready, we ask for 20% of the balance due, and then monthly payments for up to eighteen months (minimum $100 payment). The purchase of a case is required and there is a simple agreement to sign. Here’s a look at the Interest-Free Rent-to-Own process:
|
Model |
Retail
|
1st Deposit |
Balance Due
|
2nd Deposit
|
New Balance
|
# Months
|
Payment
|
|
Rhiannon 36
|
4790.00
|
960.00
|
3830.00
|
766.00
|
3064.00
|
18
|
170.72
|
|
Rhiannon 33
|
4190.00
|
840.00
|
3350.00
|
670.00
|
2680.00
|
18
|
148.88
|
|
Gwydion 34
|
4990.00
|
1000.00
|
3990.00
|
798.00
|
3192.00
|
18
|
177.33
|
|
Gwydion 31
|
4290.00
|
860.00
|
3430.00
|
698.00
|
2732.00
|
18
|
151.77
|
|
Butterfly 33
|
1095.00
|
220.00
|
875.00
|
175.00
|
700.00
|
14
|
50.00
|
|
Butterfly 29
|
895.00
|
180.00
|
715.00
|
143.00
|
572.00
|
11
|
52.00
|
|
SweetHarp 29
|
469.00
|
100.00
|
369.00
|
69.00
|
300
|
3
|
100.00 |
• How often does it need tuning?
Once a new harp has settled in, a little is needed every time you play - about like a guitar. Avoiding big changes in temperature and humidity helps. A new harp, or new strings, require more tuning.
• How about fingernails?
Fingernails are optional. Those of a classical background don’t use them. Those of a traditional background sometimes do. Both styles use the finger pads, and if you use nails they catch the string also, giving the sound a bit more attack to the sound (using nails also reduce calluses).
• How about posture and hand position?
Let your body learn how to play. A relaxed torso, arm and hand will find the most natural way. The thumb stays above the fingers so they can get under it. When in doubt, listen to your muscles.
• When do I change strings?
When they break. Maybe one or two a year. Sometimes a bit more when the harp is new, at the change of seasons, or if there is a severe emotional stress in your life (strange but true).
• Where do I get strings?
We are master string makers. Our Telynar Harp Strings are always available for your harp. We also do custom strings for all harps, providing some of the latest developments in string design.
• How about warranty and repairs?
Our harps are warranted for 5 years, except for the Fairy, Elfin, and SweetHarps, which are for 2 years. If you are out of the area we work with your local musical instrument repair person. Otherwise, we do it in-house whenever possible. We reserved the right to decide when a harp should be repaired or replaced.
• Do you do repair work on other harps?
Yes, and we also provide strings and hardware (in many cases) and, if we can, we’ll gladly refer you to someone who can help you if we’re not able to do the work. Some examples of recent repairs include replacing the blade levers on an older harp with Loveland levers, repairing a cracked back, and re-gluing a lifted soundboard. We try to keep repair costs down and will consult with you as to possible approaches.
• What other equipment would I need to get if I got a pickup installed? Would it only be compatible with certain types/brands? Is it really beneficial to have a pickup?
It's good to have a pickup if you're going to be playing gigs on a regular basis where you want to plug into an amp or a sound system.
The pickups can stand alone. They produce a signal at line level. But, depending on what you're plugging in to, and what the venue you're at has, you may need a DI (direct input box).
A DI connects a high-impedance, line level, unbalanced output signal to a low-impedance microphone level balanced input. In simple terms, it goes from the line level of your pickup (like the pickup on an electric guitar - a "low" signal) to a mic level (a much stronger signal). Some amps have line level inputs. Others want mic level. Some have both. A good sound system at a pro venue will likely want a mic level (and they will likely have a DI to borrow).
It's not a "brand" thing. It's pretty standardized in the sound biz. The one I sell is great (especially for harps), but there are lots out there.
Top of Page
Previous Page