| "I was amazed hearing the internal pickups when amplified. After I play, the sound guys are always first to rush up and find out what I'm using to get such great sound. These guys are the ones that know and who give the system the highest marks. Thank you again for making quality your priority. It shows in every aspect of my beautiful harp."
—Jeannie Page, Albuquerque
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| Pickup discreetly mounted inside |
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| "This pickup is the closest thing to getting an electric harp! It covers the harp's full range and I don't have to worry about internal rattles like I did with my former pickup. When I'm playing with other amplified musicians, I finally feel like the harp is in equal balance with the other instruments. It makes a clean and rich connection with the sound system. If you're in need of a harp pickup, this is the best investment."
—Monica Schley, Seattle
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| Ravenna 26 with pickup |
Most harp players who perform decide at some point that they need to amplify their instruments, so they go shopping for a pickup that will do the job. They soon discover a confusing array of options that can make it daunting to determine what will work best. We've gone through that process ourselves, spending a lot of time testing various pickups on the market. Eventually we took on the project of developing a pickup system specifically for harps that would give the kind of sound we knew was possible. We call it the Dusty Harp Pickup.
Originally designed specifically for Dusty Strings harps, it has since been installed with great success in a wide variety of harps built by other harp makers. If you'd like to install a Dusty Harp pickup in your harp, you'll want to be sure that your soundbox is large enough to accommodate it. The small size (24-30 string harps) is 27” long, the large (32-40 strings) is 30” long, and the pedal harp pickup is 35” long.
Using three (small pickup) or four (large pickup) carefully selected and placed piezo elements, our pickups achieve a clean, focused, natural and lush sound. The rich, full bass notes balance and blend with the clear, musical mids and high notes. It's simply the sound of the harp, only bigger. This pickup works at any volume level without feedback, which can be a concern when playing at high sound levels.
The pickup is discreetly mounted inside the soundbox, invisible to the audience. A single jack mounted on the back of the harp makes for true "plug and play" ease of use. A single guitar cable allows you to plug your harp straight into any amplifier and most PA systems, with no need for a preamp box or complicated connections. If you are playing in situations requiring very high volume, you may want to add a preamplifier to the system. In addition to boosting the signal, it will give you direct control over your volume and tone if you aren't near your amplifier. With some amplifiers it will also sweeten and smooth out your sound.
We can install the Dusty Harp Pickup for you in any new or existing Dusty Strings harp for $100.00. It can also be easily installed by harp owners who are handy with tools or by any instrument repair technician. Installation involves attaching mounting clips to the internal braces or sides of the harp, snapping the cable harness into the clips, gluing the elements in place, and drilling a hole and mounting the jack in the back of the harp. There are detailed instructions. The only tool you will need is a ½-inch brad point drill bit, available at most hardware stores or through Dusty Strings. If you prefer not to drill a hole, you can simply connect to the jack through the bottom soundhole on your harp. There is a template for placing the elements in Dusty Strings harps; if you are installing it in another make of harp, it is good to experiment with the element placement to confirm the best sounding attachments points.
Installation Instructions
Curious about the installation process? Download the instructions:
Small Harp Pickup Installation
Ravenna 26 Pickup Installation
Large Harp Pickup Installation
Ravenna 34 Pickup Installation
Price
- Small Pickup (27" long; for 24—30 string harps): $275.00
- Large Pickup (30" long; for 32—40 string harps): $295.00
Harp sizes vary quite a bit; please call to discuss your needs.
- Installation in Dusty Strings harps: $100.00
- ½-inch brad point drill bit: $14.95