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Keeping your harp in good repair.
Common Harp Needs
Whether you play lever or pedal harp, there are important care tasks to preserve the tone and stability of your instrument. Here are some of the most common maintenance and repair needs for the average harp.
Restringing
On occasion, strings break — this is normal! String tensions on most harps range from 15 - 60 lbs per string, so they tend to wear out over time. Even if they don’t break, the quality of sound produced can degrade, or a string can go false from uneven stretching. Some harpers replace strings as they break, others do a full restringing every year or two — decide what is right for you, your needs, and your budget.
Regulation
Over time, the tension of the strings causes the soundboard to deform and the neck to warp. This deformation changes the vibrating length of each string, causing the levers or disks to be out of tune when engaged. Regulation is the process of adjusting the sharping mechanisms to accommodate the changing shape of the harp, so that it is fully in tune in any configuration. A full regulation is ideal when the levers or disks are noticeably out of tune, typically every year or two.
Tuning
Regularly tuning your harp will help maintain its stability. A new string can take up to 50 tunings before it will hold its pitch consistently. A string that has been left out of tune for too long may need similar stretching to reestablish pitch. Consistent tuning also helps the structural integrity of the harp body, as it minimizes changes in tension across the soundboard.
Environmental Control
As with most solid-wood instruments, harps are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. While there are known ideal conditions for the longevity of your instrument, it is more important that the environment be stable than perfect. In general, try to keep humidity between 40% - 50% and temperature comfortable — if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your harp! Store your harp where it is least likely to be knocked over.
Let’s talk repair.
If your instrument is damaged or needs a bit of regular maintenance, please reach out for a repair estimate. Estimates are free, but do require a physical inspection. We may be able to advise you on work required via email, but cannot guarantee an accurate estimate through pictures alone. If you have any questions or need extra accommodation to secure an estimate, please contact us below.
We look forward to working with you!