To harp or not to harp...

[vandy]

I am thinking about selling my harp(s). I currently have a version of this harp (with sharping levers, but not on every string):

Made by my grandparents' barber from the kit by music maker. I also have one of these:

I keep thinking about digging them out and messing around with them, but I haven't played them in a really long time. They need new strings. I hate tuning the damn things and have avoided it for years at this point. They are sitting around being ignored and un-played which makes me sad. I don't have a lot of space. We will have even less once we move.  And I think that it may be time for something new. If I sell them, maybe they can help pay for a hurdy gurdy, which is smaller, and is something that will be new and interesting, something I really want, and hopefully I will get around to playing it. I am still not sure if I can afford a decent hurdy gurdy if I sell the harps, but there is also still the possibility of making one. It would be so refreshing to just be able to buy something for a change though. I also have a set of bagpipes that I will probably never actually play. They have some sentimental value, having been a gift from a family member, but they are also sitting around unused. I have no idea what they are worth, though they probably need a new bag. Sigh. How many musical instruments that I don't ever play do I need? Not this many. They are nice to have around, but I think it is time to let go.

Anyone have advice on selling musical instruments? Especially of a less usual variety?

Update: I also have a pretty nice bodhran that I never use. This too should go.

 

Comments

[ladymairwen.livejournal.com]

I have no advice but questions...how difficult is it to learn to play a harp? As I would love to.

So I guess...how big are they? And how much do you think you might be selling them for?

[ladymairwen.livejournal.com]

I would be more interested in the smaller one. Very sad to have it sitting in a box. My (former) in-laws gave me a nifty guitar that is sitting in it's case till I can find someone to teach me how to play it.

[aelfgyfu.livejournal.com]

I don't think learning to play the harp is particularly difficult - like anything else it just takes practice. And luckily harp music generally sounds so beautiful that the practice is relatively painless for you and those around you (vs. bagpipes for instance). The gothic harp is 31 strings, and is pretty large - I prop it on the floor while playing.

I have to figure out what is reasonable on pricing, since I just started thinking about this yesterday. At least $2000 for the gothic since it is well constructed and has sharping levers. Here is the website the kit is from: music maker website (http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=gothfin&Category_Code=goth&Product_Count=0)
I have yet to price the small harp, but it is a fairly inexpensive imported one so probably around $150 to $200 depending on how I feel about it when I get it out of the box (yes, it is languishing in a box- SO sad).