Travel harp: Harpsicle vs Blevins Harps

[Markus Faller]

I have a Harpsicle (Fullsicle) and do travel a lot with it, the width (14 cm) is very small; that is a great plus for carrying it in the public transport! The Belvins harps I don’t know but here is a review of the Belvins Featherlight 28 and even a lighter one the Belvinsong 20 Therapy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJQV-TkLnHw

You can compare the dimensions and weight of the mentioned harps (all full levered):

Harpsicle 26 / Belvins Featherlight 28 / Belvinsong 20 Therapy

3.5 kg 3.1 kg 2.6 kg

94x52x14 cm 81x56x21.5 cm 73x45x20 cm

I hope this could help you a little bit.

[Claire Lécuyer]

Hi Markus, thanks for your help! Yes I had found this video as it seems to be the only one on Youtube… But I also finally found more information about thes harps on Blevin’s website where you can listen to a short sound sample of each harp. It’s difficult to really hear the true difference of sound, it sounds good but I won’t say it’s better than Harpsicle or not…. Though Blevin seem much more expensive!

[Elizabeth Dexter]

I think if money isn’t a limiting factor you will be happier with the Blevins harp

[Claire Lécuyer]

I think so… but unfortunately money is definitely a factor 😅

[Eileen Korby]

@Claire I don’t like this Blevins video you posted. What’s missing? — People playing their harps! Big deal, people are biking with it or walking with it. ***What do they sound like?*** That’s the question! There’s something odd about Blevins in that there are hardly any videos of people playing them. I am sort of wanting a Blevins, too. A big one – the Tempest 40 – because I want a full range of strings. But it really, REALLY bothers me that there are no videos and only one sound clip of it. In any case, I am nowhere near ready to buy a big harp.

As for a lap harp, I just today purchased a MusicMakers Sonnet lap harp (www.harpkit.com). It has 29-strings, is made to sit on your lap, and weighs 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg). You can choose A-A or C-C. There are lots of videos on YouTube with people playing the Sonnet. Especially a woman named Tracie Lin. And also Stephanie Claussen.

Good luck in your search. It’s hard to choose by video and not by trying it.

[Claire Lécuyer]

Hi Eileen, you’re totally right about the lack of harp sound in this video!

I finally found that on their website https://www.blevinsharps.com/ you can listen to a short audio recording for each harp. But it’s not that much… They should do some short demo videos just as other manufacturers do.

I’m also considering the harp kits, sound like a good deal… I’m still thinking about it! Thank you for replying!

[Claire Lécuyer]

Oh and yes, the Sonnet lap harp looks very well designed, maybe more comfortable to play than the thin harpsicle! Are you happy with yours?

[Eileen Korby]

Still waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting…………….. I think I may get it around Thanksgiving (end of November). Listening to Tracie Lin play hers on many videos made me want one. I had originally ordered a Triplett Zephyr (22 strings) for a levered small harp. But they had me waiting SO, SO long that when I decided I liked the sound of the Sonnet, I canceled my Triplett order and ordered the Sonnet. Triplet is another company with very few videos of their harps. But better than Blevins. Blevins really ought to invest some money in making videos of their harps being played.

[Dawn Wenzl]

I have a 26 string Christina by Triplett. I went through quite a few harps including a couple of Blevins harps and a harpsicle before I found this gem. I have had mine over 10 years and I am very pleased with it. It is easy to carry and I have had many compliments on the sound.

[Claire Lécuyer]

Oh, I didn’t knew about this one, added to my bookmarks; but quite expensive for a 26 strings too 🙁

Though the sound seems very nicer than Harpsicles (based on the few videos I found on their website and youtube)!

[Barbara Irvin]

Do you think your Marini harp would fit in an airplane overhead bin? The harpsicles, Lewis Creek Nightingale and Jesse harps, and I think the 26-string Blevins harps do, but many of the smaller harps are likely to be too tall or too wide.

[Laura Bunch]

It has a wider sound board than the Harpsicle, so I doubt it would fit. It’s the bass lap harp with 28 strings, but the 26 string might be small enough. I don’t know. They both have that wide soundboard. With the way planes and overhead storage are so crowded these days, I don’t think I’d put any harp in the overhead. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

[Barbara Irvin]

Thanks so much, Laura. I figured the Marini would be too wide, but I had to find out, so really appreciate your response!

[Katharina Kleidosty]

Hi @Claire , I didn’t see your post while it was new… are you still looking for a lighter travel harp?

I’m currently on the waiting list for a Gimli harp by Klaus Regelsberger in Germany, which weighs 3 kg and has 28 strings. https://www.artefakt-musik.de/Gimli.html

It’s also less expensive than the Blevins Featherlight.

[Claire Lécuyer]

Wow, it looks beautiful! Great choice 🙂

But it’s still expensive for my budget… I wish I could meet someone owning a Harpsicle so that I could try it. No matter, for the moment I don’t have any money for this, and I should better practice again and again on my 34-strings, I had been waiting this for so long but now I don’t play as often as it would deserve!

[Claire Lécuyer]

Hello,

I just finally read replies to my post, sorry ^^

Thanks for your advise, I checked Weissberger harps and they look beautiful, a lot of personality in these designs, but they are quite expensive… I think I’ll go for something a bit cheaper, moreover as it’s intended for travelling, I would be too afraid to scratch it!

By the way, I found more informations about Blevin harps on their website, and they are pricey too… Maybe a Harpsicle will still be the best option.

[Nina Lenoir]

I have a SE Fullsicle and it is definitely very portable. I am looking to upgrade to a 34 string hopefully within the next few months, but I have every intention of keeping my SE Fullsicle. It’s insanely light at only 6 lbs/2.72 kg so it is incredibly easy to take anywhere.

[Claire Lécuyer]

Hello Nina, thank you for your feedback. Indeed less than 3kg is really light! I wish I could try a Harpsicle before buying one, but it seems to be impossible to find here in France 🙁

[Laura Bunch]

I sold my Special Edition Fullsicle and got the Marini Made Bass Lap Harp. It is more expensive, but I like the sound and string spacing much better. It is a bit heavier and wider than the Fullsicles. Here’s the website link below. And there are quite a few videos with Anne Crosby-Gaudet playing hers.

https://www.marinimadeharps.com/index.htm

[Nina Lenoir]

Oh that’s really cool and not that much more expensive really. Just a few hundred dollars between it will full levers and the Special Edition Fullsicle. That’s a very tempting switch! How and where did you sell yours?

[Claire Lécuyer]

I already came across the Marini Bass when looking for a travel harp, and I love the idea of having lower strings (I almost NEVER play the higher ones of my Bardic 27). But it’s still quite expensive for me, and the other thing that annoys me is I’m really not a fan of its design… this is very personal, but important too!

[Laura Bunch]

I posted my harp on Facebook marketplace and the FB groups: Harp Rent, Sell or Buy and Sell or Buy Preowned Harps. Someone there messaged me and bought it.

For my Marini harp, I did get the Camac levers. I like them a lot better than the Rees levers.

[Laura Bunch]

I hope you find what you’re looking for!! It can be so hard to find just the right harp. I do worry that after playing your Camac harps, you might not enjoy the sound or feel of some of the travel harps. My preferences changed greatly after playing my Lyon and Healy. Good luck on your journey!

[Nina Lenoir]

I’m not a fan of Rees levers either. They push the string out of alignment. It’s not by a huge amount, but it’s enough to be noticeable.