Overview
- 34 Strings, 4¾ octaves, low C to high A
- Solid wood construction in choice of 5 woods
- Comfortable and compact staveback design
- Full set of Loveland levers included (Camac levers optional)
- Removable stand with 5-inch legs included (8-inch optional)
- Deluxe case included
The staveback FH34S is our lightest-weight 34-string harp. Its sleek, petite shape, weight-saving details, and removable stand make it easy to transport. The 34 strings give it a satisfying playing range, and the solid wood construction produces the sophisticated sparkle that is characteristic of the Dusty FH line. It's a highly flexible and fun-to-play instrument that will shine on stage, in your living room, at the therapy bedside, or in a pub session.
The sound is sweet, warm, and beautifully balanced, with a full bass and clear, singing treble. It has the classic Dusty resonance and brightness with some more distinction between the notes and a slightly more focused sound than its larger siblings. The mid and treble strings are one gauge lighter than our other FH harps - just enough that your fingers will dance over them with ease, but you can still dig in without distortion.
The soundbox is a full, faceted, arched staveback shape, and the top of the soundboard is a comfortably narrow 4 inches. The harp nestles cozily into your shoulder, and you'll reach the lowest strings with ease. Options for different legs mean you can tailor the height to your particular preference.
The lightest weight combination of options is walnut wood with Loveland levers, weighing in at an average 17½ pounds, plus or minus a pound or so. The density of solid wood can vary from tree to tree, so the exact weight of any particular harp isn't something we can predict in advance. Camac levers are three quarters of a pound heavier than Lovelands, and choosing a different wood species will add up to a few pounds more. (We'll post weights for other wood species as soon as we have some more harps to weigh!)
Range
- 34 strings
- 4¾ octaves
- Low: C two octaves below middle C
- High: A 2¾ octaves above middle C
String composition
- Treble and upper mid-range: nylon monofilament
- Lower mid-range: nylon core with nylon wrap
- Bass: steel core with metal wrap
Lever options
- Full set of Loveland levers included
- Camac levers available
Woods
- Sides, back, neck and pillar: sapele, walnut, maple, figured cherry or bubinga
- Soundboard: solid mahogany in the mid and upper ranges and spruce in the bass, overlaid with book-matched figured hardwood veneer and bordered with purfling and edge binding
Weight
- Sapele: approximately 19 pounds
- Walnut: approximately 17½ pounds
- Maple: approximately 22 pounds
- Figured cherry: approximately 19 pounds
- Bubinga: approximately 24 pounds
- Stand adds 2-3 pounds
- Case adds 7 pounds
- Camac lever option adds ¾ pounds
Note: the overall weight can vary by a pound up or down, depending on the density of the particular tree from which the harp was made.
Approximate Dimensions
- Height at back of harp: 44 inches
- Height at front of harp: 48¾ inches
- Stand adds 6 inches
- Maximum soundbox width: 13 inches
- Minimum soundbox width: 4 inches
- Widest part of harp (front to back): 27 inches
String Spacing
This is mostly within the range of what's considered to be "concert spacing," though the bass string spacing may feel slightly narrower.
- Lowest octave: about 4-1/8 inches
- Highest octave: about 3-3/4 inches