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Regulation Services

A little introduction to harp servicing (regulation)...

Think of your harp like a car; it needs regular services in order to keep it functioning correctly and sounding at its very best. 

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A regulation, or a harp service, is the term used to describe maintenance work which harp technicians carry out to help keep harps sounding and working as best as possible. Just like your car getting its regular service, ideally, your harp should be regularly serviced by a professional technician. Harp strings should also be changed in periodic intervals, by either yourself or a technician, to maintain the best quality of sound.

 

Lever harps have hundreds of movable metal components, and pedal harps have over two thousand moving parts. Additionally, each harp holds hundreds, or thousands, of pounds of string pressure on the wooden frame. A regulation service is done to mediate the changes produced by time and wear from playing. A large component involves pitch/intonation and tone/buzzing improvement. It also includes a thorough check of all parts, and adjusting, lubricating, or replacing parts as necessary.

 

Keeping your harp regularly serviced will not only give you peace of mind, it also maintains the overall heath of your harp: helping prolong the reliability, longevity and value of your instrument.

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How often should I get my harp serviced?

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This pedal harp is well overdue for a service!

A standard pedal harp service (regulation) includes:

  • General inspection of the body, neck, column, frame, action mechanism

  • Check and adjust:

    • Pedal brass

    • Spring alignment & pressure

    • Pedal bars, fulcrums, bushings

    • Pedal rods & connections

    • Base, feet & base bolt bushings

    • Pedal rod length/overmotion

  • Lubricate base mechanism

  • Replace pedal felts, rubbers, slot felts

  • String quality check

  • String disc & nut alignment

  • String centering, grip and sound quality

  • Calibration of action components & strings to achieve correct semitone intervals

  • Action/string buzz noise control*

  • Test play of the harp

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*Unwanted noises (eg. buzzing) may be identified and/or improved during a standard regulation. Additional troubleshooting may be required for persistent buzzes or unusual problems.

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Note: For best regulation results, please read how you can prepare for your service. If your harp needs a full or partial restring, please see my Stringing Services. 

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Action discs and pins need to be checked and precisely re-adjusted every service to maintain optimal pitch and sound quality.

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Pedal felts need to be changed every service to ensure accurate regulation.

An example of installation and initial adjustment of a pedal spring.

A standard lever harp service (regulation) includes:

  • General inspection of the body, neck, column, frame, levers

  • Check and adjust:

    • Base & feet connections

    • Bridge pins, tuning pins

    • Lever tightness

    • Lever alignment & positioning

    • Lever grip and sound quality

  • String quality check

  • Calibration of levers & strings to achieve correct semitone intervals

  • Lever buzz/string noise control*

  • Test play of the harp

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*Unwanted noises (eg. buzzing) may be identified and/or improved during a standard regulation. Additional troubleshooting may be required for persistent buzzes or unusual problems.

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Note: For best regulation results, please read how you can prepare for your service. If your harp needs a full or partial restring, please see my Stringing Services. 

Example: Salvi 'Start&Play' levers

Example: Camac brand levers

Example: Lyon & Healy 'Performance' levers

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