Donner Lyre Harp DLH-003 With Accessories

I first bought a cheaper one, because I never played lyre harp and felt I needed the letters at the top of the instrument. Now, I know I can just buy them on Amazon. Due to the copper saddle, this instrument stayed almost completely in tune after the first two tunings. This is better than other models because other models use unfinished wood, the strings sink into the unfinished wood and it seems to change the sound. Second the sound chamber is fabulous. As I sat there, it echoed my cough ! When using it it’s very echoing. Third the strings seem to be of greater quality, because they sound so much louder and purer than my cheaper one. This instrument is well worth every penny you spend, even though it’s middle range in price. I found an article saying out of the top ten, this donner instrument was was number 1 out of ten at a 9.9 and they were right.

Bought this for my partner who wanted to learn the welsh harp, but they are a bit big to take camping, so got her this instead. She is over the moon with it and has learned it very quickly and makes so wonderful sounds with it.

At first, I wasn’t impressed. It arrived with a broken string out of the box and no instructions on how to replace it, though there were replacement strings included. However, I was able to replace it and then began the tuning process. Some reviewers have said that it is impossible to tune. That is not true. It is a challenge at first but that it to be expected with an instrument arriving through the mail or a delivery service like Amazon’s. The first few days, I tuned it at least twice a day and now I tune it every couple of days or so and the adjustments are minor. It is much like tuning a harp except perhaps a bit fussier because the strings are shorter.

Thus far, I am finding it easy to learn but am only playing one-handed for now. The sound seems good to my less-than-perfect-pitch ears and I can readily sound out simple songs or read music. My one little complaint is that the strings are not marked as they are with a regular harp but I saw a video that suggested marking C and F with markers. It has worked pretty well and this makes it easier to see where to place one’s fingers if suddenly lost.

In the end, I decided on 5 stars. It’s a nice little instrument for a reasonable price. Often instruments like this are shown being played by children. It is not a toy and a younger child is not going to have a chance when it comes to tuning the instrument. With the aid of a patient adult, however, a musically inclined child might enjoy it but it is fine enough for adults.

Questa lira ha soddisfatto a pieno le mie aspettative, anche l’accordatura dopo ripetute modifiche nel tempo finisce per reggere. Suono estremamente dolce e strumento maneggevole

It was Broken.

Update: This seller has great customer service and I received a new one that was in great condition.

Ok so I am uncomfortable giving really bad reviews but honestly this was a ridiculous amount of problems, to be right out of the box. One of the worst musical instruments I’ve ever bought, literally fell apart. So I don’t if it was poorly made or badly stored for years, but the strings that were on it first were stretched so tight but so out of tune that the first one snapped when I tried to tune it with less then a 1/4 twist. Okay annoying but they sent an extra set and it is normal to replace strings when you first get an instrument anyway so nbd. I take the strings off and the metal bar falls off, there’s really old dry glue visible but very little and completely cracked and ruined the finish by flaking off taking paint with it. Okay displeased but I have gorilla glue and looks are second to function for me and I really really wanted to play the harp so I clean it put the saddle bar back on and wait a day to cure it, I start attaching the strings and at some point the metal hollow pegs that are either glued or friction locked in have fallen out of the smallest two strings holes, but not the others so I don’t notice cause there’s 14/16 still in, so I put the strings in and tighten it a little bit, like 2 turns and the string eats into the wood like it’s paper against a razor blade. Also I am not a wood expert but the “mahogany” fells like press board or something, and is not finished on the inside, though I’m not sure if it supposed to be in the first place. Giving the high rating the product and indeed sellers has I am going to assume this is one of those rare defective product that make it past quality control, and try get it replaced but unless the new one wows me this review stands that I would never buy again and would warn against it.

Broke three strings trying to get to the E4-G5 tuning the book suggests; also it has two F4s, but the right hand one should clearly have been F5. As a result, two of the brass rivets preventing the wire cutting into the wood were damaged too.

Tune it C4-E5 and save yourself some woes. Or better yet, do t buy it