Roosebeck 22-String Heather Harp With Levers

Sounds great! Very pretty to set in a room & it’s a tad heave when sitting & playing it but I’m kind of a small gal. I’m still learning how to play but it has beautiful sound! I love the style of it!

The quality is good, the decorative engravings are beautiful. Very satisfied with this for my first harp. It is 22 strings. The tuning levers and extra strings were inside the instrument in the sound box. Took me awhile to find them

The Roosebeck is the best of the inexpensive lap lever harps on the market.

This is the third lap lever harp I’ve purchased. I returned the first two and kept the Roosebeck. I’ll discuss the failures first, then why I kept this one.

The first harp (Deura brand) was returned. The levers appeared to be machine-stamped thick sheet metal and were stiff to the point of unmovable. The wood finish was sloppy, the stain job uneven, the strings cheap. It literally could not be played, since the levers could not properly sharpen the strings and in extended position pulled the strings out of alignment. The case was cheap un-padded canvas that fit the harp poorly. To the seller’s credit the refund was quick and friendly, so I gave the seller a 5-star rating regardless. The seller wasn’t to blame for manufacturing issues, though I would recommend they start selling a brand that actually works.

The second harp– a no-brand ‘Pakistani’ harp about $100 less than the Roosebeck, appeared to be made by the same company as the Deura. It used the exact same type of bad-quality levers, had the same poor stain and finish, and one of the strings arrived broken upon opening the box. Although the sales photo showed levers on all strings, levers were missing from the top 5 strings. The remaining levers were sloppily installed with some of them actually overlapping one another, causing the strings to have uneven spacing. When a lever was used (if one could get it to move)– it pulled the string out away from the other strings, making the strings even more uneven. This harp too was unplayable. It was returned– but at this time I still have yet to hear from the sellerregarding that return.

THE ROOSEBECK. I have no affiliation with Roosebeck. I’m a long-time Amazon customer, and this is a no-hype, honest review. I bought the harp myself.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The box was quality and well-padded for shipping. It opened easily and there was no problem removing the harp and setting it up.

THE HARP. The wood finish and decorations are pristine– what I would expect from a $430 to $500 instrument. The stain work is even, the wood carving consistent, the harp made of quality wood. The sound is mellow (for this size of harp) and pleasing to the ears.

CHELBY LEVERS. Roosebeck sellers really, really stress Chelby levers… and for good reason. I wish when I was first shopping I could have found more information on the lever issue. The difference between Chelby levers and the machine-stamped levers is similar to comparing a Porche with a broken down VW bug. The Chelbys are smooth, functional, easy to maneuver. They sharpen the note perfectly (which is great in case one needs to change a note on-the-fly). The levers make all the difference.

STRINGS. The strings are Dupont brand, and while I don’t know the process of manufacture, they are superior to the cheap strings sent with the other two harps. ALL of the strings are solid mono-filament (no ‘wound’ strings to unravel). They tuned well and quickly. Even the treble strings don’t sound ‘tinny’. One should allow about a week for a new set of strings to “set in”, tuning at least 2-3 times a day during that period, at which point they should hold their tuning and the quality of sound will be 100% better than when the harp arrives.

NO GIG BAG. Unfortunately the Roosebeck doesn’t come with a travel case or gig bag. That’s a downside that might influence the initial purchasing decision (it did with me and influenced my initial purchases). A gig bag is going to cost you another $80 or so (if you plan on transporting your harp). But the harp itself is so superior to the other harps that the lack of gig bag becomes a back burner issue. Save your pennies and buy a gig bag later. Buy a *good harp* first. : )

SUMMARY. This harp is superior to the other two harps in every way. The Roosebeck is playable. The wood and finish is excellent. The sound is fine and Chelby levers really are everything the sellers claim. So if one is purchasing a first harp and wondering whether to buy that $330 cheap harp or pay $100+ more for a Roosebeck– seriously, go with the Roosebeck. Unlike the others, it’s worth owning.

This is a “Celtic lap lever harp” class instrument priced under $500. It can’t be compared with $1000+ harps and certainly not with a concert pedal harp, but it is a beautiful instrument to play.

So I hope this helps first-time buyers and saves you the testing-out / return issues I had with the first two. As is often the case, quality costs a bit more. This harp is definitely worth the extra hundred or so.

Beautiful soon. A very well made harp. Good for beginners. Perfect as a gift. Clear instructions came along with it. I am very happy.