I love it. I've been unable to play my many guitars due to my hands not cooperating.
This sounds great. A note for people who might benefit from tuning suggestions:
1. Don't rush to tune it the day you get it. Take it out of the box and let it set out for at least a day to get up to the "room temp" in your house. I got a wood looking stand, which is two pieces that you slot together to make a curved guitar or small instrument stand. Works perfectly on the counter.
2. When you go to tune it the first time, know that it is going to take you about an hour to do it. You want to tune it very carefully, in TINY, less than 1/32 of an inch movements.
3. The tuning it "set for" starts with the largest string, on the left, as a "G" string. So, it's:
G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
4. I put my electric tuner, DEAD CENTER of the thinnest part of the lyre, clamped on right behind the strings.
5. Put your tuning tool on the peg, holding it in your hand like you would the handle of a mug of coffee. Put your THUMB on the peg.
6. You want to tune "up" to your note, not down from past your note. NOTE: The very first time you tune the strings, they will be "falling out of tune" quickly, as they stretch to their full length. This is normal. For THAT reason, when you do your first series of tunings, once you have "hit" the note, don't worry or try to "tune it back down " if you went slightly over the perfect center mark on your tuner, into the high side. Why, because, in this FIRST TUNING session, it's going to relax and drop to the low side of the center mark on your tuner. You will fix all that at the end of tuning all the strings. You might be fixing that for a couple days, until the strings have finished stretching.
7. Start on the heavy, "wound" "G" string on the left. Make TINY, TINY, MOVEMENTS. Squeeze your hand tight on the handle of tool, while your thumb rests on the peg. You will feel imperceptible movement on the peg. You do NOT want to give it a sweeping crank. It doesn't take much, once you are in range, to go way overboard. If you crank away in big movements, it's harder to tune and you could break a string.
8. Once you feel movement, remove the tool and pluck the string to see what the tuner says to you. Put the tool back on and repeat until you get the "G" string tuned.
9. Pluck the next "A" string and tell yourself "This is "A" as you run your finger UP the string to the peg. Doing that sounds stupid, but, if you have ever been on the "wrong peg" for the string you are plucking, and you keep cranking away, because, what you pluck and what you SEE on the tuner is not going to be match right if you are plucking the 3rd string but you are cranking away on the 4th tuning peg. I learned that the hard way while tuning a 12 string guitar.
10. So, tune that "A" string, then the next "B" string, the "C" string, the "D" string, the "E, the "F" and the "G" string. If you have trouble believing your tuner, it helps to pluck the strings you have already tuned, up to the one you are working on, to "Hear" where you are.
11. You are next going to tune the first of the thin, "unwound" strings, which is an "A" string. NOTE: The "unwound", thinner, strings, will break if wound too tightly. So, if you give it a bunch of sweeping cranks, instead of imperceptible movements, that might be your result, as the thinner strings require much LESS of an adjustment before they change notes.
12. After you tune that "A" string, go back to the FIRST, heavy, "G" and gently tune your way back all those strings to that "A" string you just tuned. TINY movements, as it doesnt take much pressure to change a note at that point. NOTE: As you retune the thin strings for the SUBSEQUENT times, it takes even LESS pressure, so, be careful.
13. Tune the "B" and "C" and "D" strings.
14. Go BACK to the first string again, and gently bring all the other strings back into tune, clear up to the "D" string you just tuned.
15. Tune the "E" and "F" string.
16. Go BACK to the first string, AGAIN, and bring them all into tune. BY NOW, YOU WILL NOTICE that you ARE able to get dead center on your tuner screen, without wavering over, as the strings are stretching and holding the notes better.
17. Tune the "G" and "A" strings.
18. Go BACK to the first "G" string and adjust the tuning again.
19. Play the instrument for awhile. Then, go back and adjust the tuning again.
20. Put it away on ata stand or some manner of tablet stand, to keep it at from having the bag or anything else accidentally touching the strings, and, allow it to rest at room temp to continue its "New String" stretching.
When you pick it up tomorrow, and, thereafter, you will notice that the strings are staying in tune.
Remember to never CRANK on these strings. Just tightening your hand on the handle, while it's on the peg, will cause imperceptible movements. For me, I would rather tune UP to a note than go back and forth, up and down, trying to hit the note perfectly. Always go up.
The reason I did this, at length, wss because I read a bunch of comments for people who got discouraged or quit trying to tune their instruments, or, thought their instrument was defective. ( I read those reviews cumulatively across all brands of lyre reviews that I read). So, I though this might help somebody with their decision to try this kind instrument.
Harp, AKLOT 15 Strings Mahogany Harp 22 Inch Height for Adult Professional Beginner with Tuning Wrench,Black Gig Bag,Strap (N
4.3 | 964 ratings
Price: 143.99
Last update: 12-31-2024
About this item
【Mahogany Body】This lyre harp has a very warm sound. It's a professional musical instrument, also can be a beautiful decor for your home.
【Special String】This lyre harp has 15 strings. To help you recognize them better when playing, we use blue & red color strings to distinguish them. This also conforms with international convention.
【Strap Lock for Easy Carrying】This lyre harp has two strap locks so that you can play it easier, especially when you take it out for your show or gigs.
【Keep in Tune】Every string has a ball end and steel string post, it will lock the string in place and has a stable tuning. But nylon string needs to be settled down to keep in tune.
【Package】Coming with a carrying bag, strap and tuning wrench, you can start practice when this lyre harp out of the box. NOTE: NO SPARE STRING SET INCLUDED.
【Special String】This lyre harp has 15 strings. To help you recognize them better when playing, we use blue & red color strings to distinguish them. This also conforms with international convention.
【Strap Lock for Easy Carrying】This lyre harp has two strap locks so that you can play it easier, especially when you take it out for your show or gigs.
【Keep in Tune】Every string has a ball end and steel string post, it will lock the string in place and has a stable tuning. But nylon string needs to be settled down to keep in tune.
【Package】Coming with a carrying bag, strap and tuning wrench, you can start practice when this lyre harp out of the box. NOTE: NO SPARE STRING SET INCLUDED.
Product information
| Item Weight | 2.8 pounds |
|---|---|
| Package Dimensions | 23.31 x 18.11 x 8.03 inches |
| ASIN | B093L65Z2R |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars
914 ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #3,721 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #2 in Harps |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | April 26, 2021 |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Color Name | Blue |
| String Material | Nylon |
| Top Material | Mahogany |
| Number of Strings | 15 |
| Size | Harp 15 String w/International Standard |
Top reviews from the United States
Susi VZ
Tuning comments
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2021Jennifer B. Danza
At first.....Disappointed....but Aklot Customer Service is impeccable
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2021
Jennifer B. Danza
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2021
UPDATE: 3/1/21: I wrote Aklot customer service regarding the tuner. I sent photos and within a few hours customer service responded very kindly and worked to quickly correct the issue. The new tuner fits perfect on the lyre and everything works excellently! Now that everything is tuned and working properly it is a fantastic little lyre with very beautiful sound. Perfect for a beginner. Aklot customer service is very, very good and everything was resolved and Im thrilled with my lyre so they get 5 stars. Thank you! :)
Images in this review
ukulelelady
Nice little musical instrument!
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020S
Very pleased with this purchase
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024Ms Demeanor
LOVE!!! ❤️
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024