Resources
One of the best things about Harp·E is that you can truly make it your own.
Get to know it by assembling it yourself. Customise it with paint, markers, stickers... Reinvent how it sounds with electronic effects.
Assembly manuals
View the paper manual
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
We've just started a facebook group for Harp·E owners to exchange tip & tricks, suggestions, recommend each other effect pedals, amps, hacks etc:
www.facebook.com/groups/harp.e/
Customise your Harp·E !
Whether you are assembling it yourself, or getting it Plug & Play, the Harp·E is a blank canvas for you to make your own.
Collapsible content
Adding to Coated packages
Standard Harp·E coating is an eco-friendly 2k Oil which protects the wood from the elements. It’s easy to add paint, varnish, decals or stickers to this. All Harp·E packages come in Black, White, Mahogany or Natural Wood colours, the latter being a transparent coating. Through each of these colours you can still see the beautiful beech wood patterns underneath.
Because the 2k Oil coating has soaked a bit into the wood, you don’t notice scratches and you can still sand or polish it to become as smooth and shiny as you like. This also means you can still add layers on top of the coating. There are thousands of paints, varnishes, sparkles, etc out there that will work, just check with your supplier it’ll stick on a 2k Oil. Oil based products are your safest bet. You could do a little test on a non-visible bit first, like the inside of the frame.
Coating the DIY Uncoated
This option is for those that feel confident adding the entire wood coating themselves, offering the greatest degree of freedom. You could for instance laser cut patterns into the wooden parts before coating and use any kind of wood paint, stain, oil, varnish or paint and combinations of those.
Important notes on coating
Altering / adding coating is at your own risk, so make sure you know what you are doing. Seek advice from your DIY savvy friend or join the Harp·E community.
Make sure you don’t alter the functionality of the moving parts too much. Adding paint or sanding down changes part dimensions. The lever mechanism has been designed to be able to cope with some thickness variations by adjusting the regulator bolts, but best to be conservative with those. The surface of the levers should be smooth and non-sticky for them to work well. Best not to paint any metal parts.
Altering / adding to the construction
The Harp·E is a deliberately transparent design, allowing you to fearlessly modify it. You could assemble the whole harp mirrored to create a left-handed harp, you could combine 2 Harp·E to create a double-strung harp, you could integrate or bolt-on further electronics in the open spaces of the frame. The wood is strong, flat beech ply which allows for drilling additional holes. The unique centralised lever mechanism means there aren't a lot of bending forces going on, even though the strings are highly strung. This means altering the structure - within reason - is pretty safe. You can join the Harp·E community to bounce ideas off others that have gone before you.
We’d absolutely love to see how you’ve customised your Harp·E! Please tag us on Instagram or TikTok @harp_e_harp
Harp·E basics - tutorials
FAQ
Do I have a version 2 or 3 of Harp•E?
Check the levers:
- If your levers are flat on both sides, you have a version 2.
- If your levers have a step on the right side, making their end thinner, you have a version 3.
Or, check the strap buckles:
- If they have a snap button making them detachable from the bolts, you have a version 2.
- If the strap buckles are not detachable from the harp without unscrewing the bolts, you have a version 3.
Also, if you bought your harp before May 2022, you most likely have a version 2. If you bough your harp later than May 2023, you most likely have a version 3.
I’m hearing string buzzes when I play - how can I fix that?
Check out the videos below:
How can I make the levers easier to move?
Everyone likes their levers differently. Some people like them more rigid, others more smooth. Some players find our levers a bit too rigid for their taste compared to other harps. Below is a hack to make them easier to move:
First, make sure all levers are aligned with the metal fingers, making sure that every lever only operates one metal finger.
To make them run smoother, make sure the top of the levers that run against the metal fingers are smooth. If they're not, you can take some sandpaper and lightly sand it until it’s smoother. If you want the levers even more smooth, you can add some paraffin wax (candle wax) to the top of the levers.
There’s a gap in my lever mechanism, is that normal?
Yes, this is normal. A little extra breathing room for the levers allows them to move with less friction. Make sure that each lever only operates on one metal finger.
Even after screwing in the regulator bolt all the way, the string pitch is not going down a whole step. What can I do?
This can happen when the strings haven’t been given enough time to settle. We recommend waiting another week to give them more time to stretch and try regulating again. If after waiting that extra time some strings are still being stubborn, and check out the video below:
Where do I get spare strings? And can I use other strings?
Some spare lengths are included in the DIY and String & Go Packages for most strings.
You can find spare Harp·E strings in the Shop > Strings page.
Using other strings than our standard SilkGut string set will affect the sounds and we don't recommend it. You're of course free to experiment though and prove us wrong!
Can I take Harp•E on a plane?
Yes! Its compact size and robust design makes it perfect for travel.
We often receive the question of whether you can take Harp•E as carry-on luggage. This is possible, but it varies by airline. Please check your airline for the allowed dimensions. The dimensions of the Harp•E bag are: Length: 91 cm, width 52 cm, height 11 cm.
Other questions
If you have any questions our FAQ doesn’t cover, feel free to contact us at this email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible: support@harpeharp.zohodesk.eu
