Advice on choosing a clarsach and how to keep your celtic harp in great condition.
Which harp... Some harpists know exactly which model they are looking for usually through playing or hearings someone else's Starfish harp. Of course the best way to choose between the different harps is to come and have a play and listen to them ei…
Track 1, (Tàladh Bhrìde-Bridget's Lullaby) is the same for all the harps so you can compare the different sounds they make and Track 2 is a tune that suits that particular harp.
We use Camac on our harps: Camac This lever has become the industry standard across the lever harp world. It uses a neat mechanism to move a pin horizontally against the string which is pushed into a grooved barrel behind. This is a smooth …
Over the years we have experimented with different timbers for the harps, and now offer all harps in a choice of three woods. Wood is an organic material and while a cherry Glencoe sounds like another cherry Glencoe, no two pieces are quite the sa…
All our harps are made to order so there is a waiting list. Please check with us as it varies depending on our workload. We ask for a 25% deposit to confirm an order (unless you are purchasing it through a school). The balance is payable when the …
There are many great musicians playing our harps. We are proud to feature a few of them here.
Each of our harps is made entirely by hand by one maker from start to finish. Because our harps are made to order we know who we are making the harp for and so it becomes a personal thing. This gives us ownership of the work and a pride in the fin…
Starfish have been making instruments since 1987 and in the unlikely event that you should experience any problems with your harp, we will deal with it quickly and efficiently. Your harp is guaranteed for five years from the date of purchase. The …
Harp Care Harps like to be kept in fairly constant conditions of temperature and humidity. Try to avoid exposure to extremes; a loft, conservatory or a car can get very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Central heating dries the moisture out o…
Because of the general climate in the UK we don’t see many harps with dryness related problems. But for our customers in other parts of the world and those traveling to differing climates (and even for those living in the UK) a bit of knowledge abo…
Harps occasionally develop buzzes which can be hard to trace. Here is a checklist with some of the common causes: Check that the buzz really is coming from the harp If it’s a metal string, check that the winding isn’t loose; this usually oc…
Purchasing a harp through the School If you are thinking of buying a harp for your child, and they are at a local authority school, it would be worth looking into HMRC's Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme. This allows you to purchase the harp th…
Starfish Clarsach – Student Model (2009) Beautiful Starfish Clarsach in excellent overall condition, built in August 2009 (Model: Student, No. 1014). The Clarsach has been kept in its original padded case in a smoke-free and pet…
