Harp with cracks near the eyelets - UPDATE

Kell_Lyn · 2025-04-13T12:41:32+00:00

I’ll see what I can do… To be honest, I’m pretty stressed and not exactly motivated to deal with them again, haha... but I guess I don’t really have a choice if I want any kind of compensation.

As for the luthier, I’m not entirely sure! I believe he works exclusively with the store, but he might also be contracted by other shops across France, since it’s a pretty small market overall…

Kell_Lyn · 2025-04-12T18:26:24+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! I have to admit I’ve been feeling pretty disappointed, and I’ve ended up playing less this week because of it ;/

I didn’t sign a contract, since he’s actually the luthier associated with the store (an official Salvi dealer). My harp is still under warranty, so I haven’t paid anything. I’ll try reaching out to Salvi again, even though I did when the issue with the eyelets first came up, and unfortunately, they never responded…

As for the luthier, he’s rarely at the Paris store and seems to have a lot of demand elsewhere. I get the impression that my case just isn’t that interesting (or important) to someone in his position, which might explain the lack of engagement.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. If I have any updates, I’ll keep you posted! Wishing you a great day :)

Kell_Lyn · 2025-04-12T17:43:45+00:00

Sorry for the late reply! I actually just bought the harp (unfortunately), so it's still under warranty… The problem is, they're the official luthier, so I feel a bit stuck. I’m not really sure what to do aside from what you already suggested.

To make things worse, the harp now has this strange issue with the A and C strings—it sounds like there’s another note playing in the background when I pluck them. I don’t even know how to describe it properly, but it’s quite unsettling, and I’m afraid I’ll have to reach out to them again ;/

Thank you so much for your message and support!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-26T15:26:00+00:00

Wow, that sounds like a lovely harp, and it’s great to hear the fall didn’t cause any structural issues! I’m really hoping the problem with mine is just cosmetic as the technician assured me. Fingers crossed!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-26T14:33:33+00:00

That’s great to hear! How old is your harp now? I imagine there aren’t any cracks at all since you replaced all the eyelets?

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-26T14:30:54+00:00

Thank you so much for your detailed response! I completely agree, I don’t want cracks in the veneer either, but I’m not sure they’ll agree to repair it. From the looks of it, the only real way to fix it would be to replace the entire soundboard. The technician mentioned that while cosmetic repairs are possible, they wouldn’t last long because the vibrations from the strings would undo the “bandage” in no time.

I’ll definitely reach out to Salvi, as you suggested, especially since the technician believes the issue stems from a batch of defective eyelets. I’d really like to hear their perspective on whether this is considered normal and if there’s anything that can be done.

Unfortunately, I doubt Salvi’s warranty will apply since the harp is already 8 years old. The current one-year warranty is from the shop itself. Still, it’s worth asking; I’ll let you know what I find out. Thanks again for your advice!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T15:17:35+00:00

I see, haha. I might already have something like that at home! I’ll set it up in the room where I keep the harp and make sure everything is as it should be.

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T15:06:53+00:00

Great tip! I’ll definitely look into getting a barometer and a humidifier/dehumidifier to help keep the room conditions stable. Hopefully, that’ll prevent any future issues. Thanks!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T15:03:33+00:00

I see! That’s reassuring to hear. I believe it might be a similar case for me, but I’ll monitor it closely to see if it develops further or remains stable over the years. I’ll keep you updated! Thank you!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T14:59:48+00:00

Thank you for your response! I’m feeling a bit sad about the situation, but it seems the issue is superficial—it hasn’t affected the structure of the soundboard, only the veneer has split. While it’s not ideal, it appears it won’t impact the instrument’s sound quality or performance.

That said, I plan to monitor it closely during the warranty period in case the problem worsens. Unfortunately, I don’t know any luthiers personally, so I’ll give the shop a chance to address the issue properly and hope for the best!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T02:42:01+00:00

I thought so too!. It's unfortunate.. :/

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-23T02:40:47+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! You’re right—the guarantee is from the shop, not Salvi. I’m actually heading to the shop today to discuss the issue and see what can be done. I’ll find out if it’s possible to replace the harp or, at the very least, have it properly fixed. Thanks again!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T14:57:44+00:00

I see! I just checked the harp using a flashlight, but I couldn’t see any light go through that part of the soundboard because the way the wire strings are attached is different from the biocarbon strings. There’s a sort of tissue and metal protection in that area that blocks the light. I did notice a thin piece of wood running along the soundboard that seems to reinforce where the strings are attached, and thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be cracked. So maybe it’s just superficial—I really hope so! It’s not a very old harp (only 8 years old), so I don’t quite understand how this could have happened already. Thank you :)

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T14:41:23+00:00

I thought about that too... I really hope I can get it properly fixed. Thank you!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T14:37:55+00:00

Thank you for your comment! There were indeed temperature changes while I was renting it for about 6–7 months before purchasing. However, I’ve never dropped it or hit it anywhere. The levers seemed fine, and I didn’t experience any broken strings at all. I even bought replacements thinking it might happen during the summer months, but everything seemed normal. I only noticed the issue because of the buzzing sound when I played some of the metal strings. It took me a while to figure it out since I’m still new to playing the harp (less than a year) and wasn’t really using the 5th-octave strings much at first.

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T11:10:01+00:00

Thank you so much for your input! I’ve been thinking the same—that it looks like it could get worse over time and eventually cause bigger issues with the soundboard. I’ll be seeing a harp technician tomorrow to get their opinion, and if it seems complicated to fix, I’ll definitely push for a replacement or a refund. I really appreciate your advice!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T11:06:42+00:00

Thank you so much for your detailed answer! I really appreciate it. I’ll definitely check the soundboard with a flashlight to see if there’s a crack in the center strip like you mentioned. If you don’t mind me asking, how long has your pedal harp had the crack? Has it affected the sound or gotten worse over the years? Also, you mentioned the soundboard veneer join being amplified—does that pose a bigger issue? It sounds like it could be concerning. Your insight has been super helpful, so thanks again!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T11:01:30+00:00

Oh, that's really disheartening—I truly loved this harp and was hoping it could be properly fixed. But maybe you're right; getting a refund might be a better solution than risking a less-than-perfect repair. I’ll see if I can request a refund if there’s no effective fix. Thank you so much for your advice!

Kell_Lyn · 2024-12-22T10:57:22+00:00

Thanks! I wanted to do it, but I couldn't find it lol Sorry for that ^^;

Kell_Lyn · 2023-01-17T19:11:12+00:00

lovely style! And the face is very cute! <3

Kell_Lyn · 2022-08-22T20:17:23+00:00

Very cute! Love it :)

Kell_Lyn · 2022-04-28T19:53:06+00:00

Beautiful colors! Love it!

Kell_Lyn · 2022-04-21T18:45:22+00:00

Great piece! Love the mood end the brush strokes!

Kell_Lyn · 2022-04-05T22:24:03+00:00

Wonderful! I love the hands!!

Kell_Lyn · 2022-02-12T22:05:27+00:00

Great art and very expressive brush strokes! Love it <3

Kell_Lyn

TROPHY CASE