Choosing Your Stoney End Harp:
The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
Finding the right harp is a deeply personal journey. At Stoney End, we want to ensure your instrument feels like an extension of your musical voice. Whether you are a traveling therapist, a folk musician, or a student, this guide will help you navigate our collections, materials, and configurations.
Understanding the Instrument: Anatomy & Styles
Before choosing your model, it helps to understand the basic “geography” of the harp and how our instruments differ from those in an orchestra.
The Parts of Your Harp
Every Stoney End harp is composed of four main structural areas:
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The Soundbox: The hollow body of the harp that amplifies the vibration of the strings.
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The Pillar: The vertical “post” that supports the tension of the strings.
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The Neck: The curved top of the harp where the tuning pins and sharping levers are located.
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The Soundboard: The flat face of the soundbox. This is the “engine” of the harp; as the strings vibrate, the soundboard moves air to create the tone you hear.
Lap Harps vs. Floor Harps
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Lap Harps: These are smaller, lightweight instruments (usually 22 to 26 strings) designed to be held on the lap or played with a strap while standing. They are the ultimate choice for travel and music therapy.
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Floor Harps: Larger models (29 to 34 strings) that come with a base or legs. These sit directly on the floor, providing a larger soundbox for deeper bass and more volume.
Lever Harps vs. Pedal Harps
At Stoney End, we specialize in Lever Harps (sometimes called Folk or Celtic harps).
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Lever Harps: Pitch changes are made manually by flipping a small lever at the top of the string with your hand. They are lighter, more portable, and have a beautiful, clear tone perfect for folk, traditional, and contemporary music.
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Pedal Harps: These are the massive, heavy harps found in symphony orchestras. They use a complex internal system of rods and foot pedals to change pitch. Stoney End does not manufacture pedal harps, as we prefer the portability and handcrafted resonance of the lever harp tradition.
The New Player’s Cheat Sheet
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String Tension: This refers to how “tight” the strings feel when you pull on them. High tension (like the Celtic) feels firm and requires more finger strength but produces a louder sound. Light tension (like the Gothic) feels soft and easy to play, which is great for beginners or those with smaller hands.
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String Spacing: This is the physical gap between the strings. Wide spacing gives your fingers more “room to breathe,” while Tighter spacing means you don’t have to reach as far to play chords or fast melodies.
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Sharping Levers: Think of these like the black keys on a piano. A harp is naturally tuned to one key (usually C or Eb). By flipping a lever up, you shorten the string slightly to raise the note by a half-step (e.g., turning a C into a C#). Without levers, you would have to manually retune the string with a wrench every time you wanted to play a different key.
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Cross Strung: While most harps use levers to get “extra” notes, a Cross Strung harp has two rows of strings that overlap like an “X.” This gives you every single note (sharps and flats) available at all times without needing to flip levers while you play.
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Double Strung: This means the harp has two identical rows of strings side-by-side. It’s like having two harps in one! It allows you to play the same note with both hands at the same time for a beautiful “shimmering” or echo effect.
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Bridge Pin Tool & Lever Adjustment Tool: Over time, your harp might need a little “tune-up.” These tools allow you to adjust the small metal pins that the strings rest against, ensuring that when you flip a lever, the note is perfectly in tune.
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Abrasive Cord: This is a specialized “cleaning string.” You thread it through the levers occasionally to clean out any tiny bits of dust or oxidation, keeping your levers moving smoothly and sounding clear.
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Tuning Wrench: This is your most important tool! You place it on the tuning pins at the top of the harp and turn them (just like a guitar) to keep the instrument in tune.
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Strap Buttons: These are small metal pegs on the back of a lap harp. They allow you to attach a guitar-style strap so you can play while standing or walking around.
1. Explore Our Collections
Each of our five collections offers a distinct aesthetic and physical “feel.”
- Gothic: Elegant with tighter string spacing and lighter string tension. These are ideal for players with smaller hands or those who prefer a delicate, effortless touch.
- Celtic: Our “powerhouse” line. These feature our widest string spacing and higher string tension, providing a traditional feel and robust volume for those who like to “dig in.”
- Cross Strung: Fully chromatic with two intersecting rows of strings. Because every note is available, no sharping levers are required to play in any key.
- Music Therapy: Designed for ergonomics and healing environments. The Eve Song is our lightest model, specifically engineered to be carried easily for bedside work.
Continental: A sophisticated hybrid of styles, offering modern lines with a versatile, balanced tonal profile.
2. String Composition & Tension
The “feel” under your fingers is a result of the materials and spacing we use.
String Materials:
All models feature a combination of Nylon (treble/mid) and Wound Nylon (bass) strings.
Extended Range:
On our higher string count models, we include Steel Wound strings in the lowest octaves to provide a deep, clear resonance.
Spacing & Tension:
- Gothic: Tighter spacing, lower tension.
- Celtic: Wider spacing, higher tension.
3. Configurations & Models
- G to G: Standard for lap harps; excellent for folk, hymns, and traditional music.
- F to F: Provides a deeper bass floor, often preferred for contemporary or jazz arrangements.
- Cross Strung: Features two rows of strings that cross in an “X” shape, allowing you to play every sharp and flat (chromatic notes) without using levers.
- Double Strung: Two parallel rows of strings tuned to the same notes. This allows for echoing effects and complex arrangements in a compact frame.
- Note: Double stringing is available only on the Brittany, Eve, Loraine, and Prairie Song models.
4. String Counts & Weight
The Golden Rule: The higher the string count, the higher the weight.
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String Count |
Use Case | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Strings |
Ultra-portable “traveler” range; approx. 3 octaves. |
8.5-10lbs |
| 26 Strings | The most popular mid-size; remains very “lap-friendly.” | 9.5-15lbs |
| 29 Strings | The “Goldilocks” size—full range for most music but still portable. | 17-20lbs |
| 34 Strings | A true floor harp with a deep, resonant bass and professional presence. |
25lbs |
5. Selecting Your Wood
The body wood “colors” the sound and significantly impacts the weight of the instrument.
|
Wood Type |
Weight |
Sound Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Maple |
Heaviest |
Bright, clear, and very articulate with great projection.
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| Walnut | Medium |
The warmest and mellowest of the three. It has a rich resonance with beautiful overtones, providing a “chocolatey” bass and a soft, rounded treble. |
| Cherry | Lightest |
Often described as “sweet” and “balanced.” It sits right in the middle of the tonal spectrum—not as sharp as Maple, but with a bit more “boldness” and clarity than Walnut. |
6. Sharping Levers
Levers allow you to change keys quickly by raising the pitch of a string by a half-step.
- Loveland: The industry standard—reliable, lightweight, and easy to maintain.
- Camac: Professional-grade French engineering for the smoothest action and truest tone.
- Featherlites (In-House): Our custom take on the Truitt-style design. Low-profile and lightweight with a crisp, mechanical “snap.”
7. What’s Included With Every Harp?
We want you to be ready to play the moment your harp arrives. Every purchase includes:
- 5-Year Limited Warranty
- 1 Tuning Wrench
- 1 Music Tutor Book
- 2-inch Abrasive Cord (for maintenance)
- Hardware: Lap harps come standard with strap buttons and a strap. Floor harps do not come with straps, but the removable bases are included.
8. Accessory Package Options
Bundle your essentials and save. We offer two convenient accessory packs to complete your setup:
Standard Accessory Pack
- 1 Extra String Set
- 1 Standard Gig Bag: Classic Green with carrying strap and handles; features one large flap pocket.
- 1 Tuner
- 1 Bridge Pin Adjustment Tool
- Lever Adjustment Tool(s)
Deluxe Accessory Pack
- 1 Extra String Set
- 1 Deluxe Gig Bag: Extra padded for maximum protection. Available in Black, Navy, Green, Purple, and Burgundy.
- 1 Tuner
- 1 Bridge Pin Adjustment Tool
- Lever Adjustment Tool(s)
Ready to find your perfect match?
Check Out Our Available Harps
Don’t want to wait for a custom build? We maintain a selection of handcrafted harps right here in our Red Wing showroom, finished and ready to ship to their new homes today. Browse our current inventory to see which models are waiting for you.
Design Your Dream Instrument
Have a specific vision in mind? From choosing the perfect wood grain to selecting your preferred string configuration and lever brand, we love bringing custom instruments to life. Use our custom order form to select your specifications, and let’s start building your Stoney End harp together.