West Coast Harps
  • HOME
    • About West Coast Harps
    • About Owner Alison Vardy
    • Harp Notes Archives
    • Blog
  • HARPS
    • Choosing a Harp
    • Lap Harps (24-26 strings)
    • Smal Floor Harps (26 - 32 strings)
    • Large Floor Harps (34 - 38 strings)
    • Custom Order Harps
    • Used Harps & Accessories
    • Price Chart
    • Buy Harp Strings
    • Buy Harp Accessories
  • DULCIMERS
    • Choosing a Hammered Dulcimer
    • 12 / 11 Dulcimers
    • 16 / 15 Dulcimers
    • Chromatic Series
    • Piano Dulcimer
    • Used Hammered Dulcimers
    • Buy Dulcimer Accessories
    • Buy Dulcimer Music
    • Price Chart
    • Bowed Psalteries
  • SALES INFO
    • Pricing and Quotes
    • Payment Methods
    • Shipping
    • Shipping Bases and Terminals
    • Warranties
  • LEARN TO PLAY
    • Harp Lessons and Rental
    • Printable Harp Lessons
    • Community Harp Lessons
    • Canada Teacher List
  • RESOURCES
    • Celtic Harp Sheet Music
    • CD Purchase
    • Care of Your Harp
    • Our Instrument Makers
    • Resource Links
    • Amplification of Harps
  • CONTACT US
    • Harp Notes Archives

Our Instrument Makers

West Coast Harps only imports harps from premier North American harpmakers. Our chosen makers provide consistent workmanship, quality materials and innovative design. Importing harps is a major undertaking and trusting our harp suppliers to be professional with good quality control is very important for us. We choose select models from each maker that we believe offer the best value. 

West Coast Harps also selectively stocks or custom orders Dusty Strings hammered dulcimers and Noteworthy bowed psalteries. 
Here's more information on our favourite luthiers!
  • Dusty Strings
  
  • The Harpsicle Harp Co. 
  
  • Noteworthy Woodworking
  
  • Another Era Lutherie Harps
  
  • Triplett Harps
Picture of many Dusty Strings harps and hammered dulcimers

 Dusty Strings Instruments

Dusty Strings is one of the premier instrument-building companies in the USA and for good reason! Their top of the line harp models, the FH36H and FH36S are skillfully designed with beauty, function and sound all a top priority. Exceptionally finished from selected hardwoods with spruce/mahogany soundboards, and string spacing that is "concert" and of medium tension. 

The Ravenna 26 and 34 are newer models introduced for affordability and transportability. The Ravennas have significantly reduced the price of owning a harp without sacrificing quality. They are compact, extremely well-constructed, durable, attractive and "show off" with a big voice and a bright even tone throughout. Available with partial or full levers [Economy versus Deluxe models] and in a variety of finishes.
Dusty Strings started as a hammered dulcimer maker when they began instrument building in 1979. They have continued to improve their instrument designs, exchanged experiences and ideas with other builders and players, and worked hard to make their dulcimers among the finest instruments available. West Coast Harps is extremely pleased to be able to offer Dusty Strings Hammered Dulcimers to our Canadian customers.

Rees Instruments  / Harpsicle Harp Co.
[Wm. Rees Instruments LLC.]

Wm. Rees is a premier professional instrument maker based in Indiana USA. The Harpsicle Harp Co is a satellite company dedicated to creating affordable lap harps to the same rigorous standards that Wm. Rees Instruments adhere to with their other premium product lines.

Harpsicles™ Harps are great for budget-minded beginning and experienced players needing a highly portable lap harp for travel while leaving their more expensive full-size harp safely at home. The Harpsicle series harps are nifty 26 string super portable harps suitable for hospice, bedside work, workshops, camping or anywhere you want to play harp without hauling around your larger harp.
All of our deluxe Harpsicle, Sharpsicle, Flatsicle, Fullsicle and Special Edition Fullsicle Packages come with carrying case, knee-stick, shoulder strap, book/dvd and tuning wrench.
Picture of purple Flatsicle
The Flatsicle 26
Picture of Alison playing County Kerry 24E
Noteworthy County Kerry 24E in Cherry

 Noteworthy Harps & Bowed Psalteries

Noteworthy Instruments is master luthier Jeff Gaynor of Ravenna, Ohio, USA.  His County Kerry folk harps are  beautifully crafted from cherry or walnut with sitka spruce soundboards. They have a big voice for small harps and their tone is rich, warm and even.  

We sell the County Kerry 24 as a Deluxe (full levers) or Economy (3 levers per octave) package. Both packages include padded carrying case (made by Jeff's wife Cindy!), shoulder strap and tuning wrench.

Jeff also makes our walnut and maple bowed psalteries available in alto, tenor and bass sizes. Bowed Psaltery packages include a handmade cherry bows, carrying bag, resin block and tuning wrench.




 Another Era Lutherie Harps

Another Era Lutherie harps are handcrafted in Kentucky by luthier, Craig Pierpont. These harps are exceptionally well-finished with round-backed soundbox, well-proportioned and attractive neck & pillar (made from a choice of hardwoods) and spruce soundboard. 

Medium to medium high string tension, standard "concert" spacing and sweet, full, big voice. A very transportable harp as the matching legs can be unscrewed and stored in the pocket of the well-padded harp case.

We import Another Era lutherie harps in 3 models - the Irish 32, the Celtic 32 and the Celtic 36.
Picture of Another Era Lutherie Celtic 32 harp
Another Era Lutherie Celtic 32 in walnut
Picture of Triplett Celtic II in bubinga wood
Triplett Celtic II (34 string) in Bubinga with maple marquetry on pillar

Triplett Harps

Triplett Harps offer a range of fine harp models from the 22-string Zephyr to the 38-string Eclipse. They are a family business, based in California and have been designing and building harps since 1980. 

They offer a variety of timbers and specialise in beautiful enhancements such as marquetry, abalone inlay and laser engraving. All Triplett harps use Camac levers and packages include padded case and engraved tuning wrench.

We often have at least one Triplett model in the studio and can custom order any model you wish at a price that is competitive with manufacturer retail. 

Popular models are the Christina Therapy Harp (25 strings), the Sierra 34 in Cherry and the Celtic II Staved in Bubinga.

Triplett crafts the largest harps in our repertoire: the 38-string Eclipse standing at 60 inches high and the Signature 36, popular with many professional players.
Alison Vardy
alison@westcoastharps.com

phone: 250.722.2912 
West Coast Harps 
2235 Hummingbird Drive
Nanaimo  BC  V9X 1G6
CANADA