| Our
Harp Models Updated
February 13, 2013
This page gives you an overview of the 5 harp models
we offer. Each model also has its own page for more details.
  
The Swan, The Cygnet, Serenade
and
The Newest addition to the Thormahlen Family
 the Clare and
the Ceili 
(pronounced
Kay-lee)
We now make 5 models of harps. The Swan, Cygnet and Serenade
have 36 strings and the Ceili-Mor and Ceili have 34. They are all
fully levered with Camac levers, come with a case and a tuning key.
Read a summary of each harp model below or click on the
above links for model details with pictures.
See our Comparison Chart for all
of our harp models
See our videos on line
Our experience in working with classical and folk musicians from the
novice to the professional player has led us to our current harp
designs. All of our harps are designed for even string tension and
concert spacing (the same string spacing found on most pedal harps).
This medium string tension produces a full, rich tone that is balanced
throughout the range of the harp, resulting in a harp that is responsive
and inspirational to the player.
 THE
SWAN is
our premium model. Starting at $5895. Shipping is $400 to
anywhere in the US 48 states
- It has a staved back soundbox made of solid hardwood. Choices of
woods include maple, walnut,
cherry, and mahogany;
and the exotic woods: bubinga, and koa.
Other woods may be available upon request.
- It has a solid wood soundboard of spruce or cedar.
- The solid wood pillar is curved with a T-brace that is matched
to the soundbox wood.
- The neck is piano pin block (also used on pedal harps) sandwiched
between bookmatched pieces of wood that match the soundbox.
- This harp can be made with concert gut, folk harp lever gut or
nylon strings. The spacing is standard and the tension is medium-high,
with concert gut strings having the highest tension, and folk harp
lever gut strings having the lowest.
- It stands 57 inches tall and weighs between 23-28 pounds depending
on the choice of wood. If you'd like we can shorten your harp by cutting
the legs down by 2 inches. Compare the Swans in the photo above with
the waterfall to the Swan in the photo at the top of the page (which
has shorter legs).
- This harp can be adorned with inlay around the soundboard or on
the pillar. See inlay options.
- All of our harps come with a padded Cordura
case,
a full set of Camac Levers, a tuning key,
and an owners
manual.
See details of
the Swan
and Cygnet models and
endorsements of the Swan
Hear Joanna
Mell play a Thormahlen harp. All tunes except 4 are played
on her Cherry Swan.
 THE
CYGNET is
a baby Swan with the same number of strings (36) and the exact
same staved back soundbox as the Swan. (starting at $5495. Shipping
is $400 to anywhere in the US 48 states
- The solid hardwood options for the staved-back soundbox are the
same as for the Swan: maple, walnut, cherry, and mahogany, and the
exotic woods: bubinga, and koa. (See wood links above).
- The soundboard options are also the same as the Swan: spruce or
cedar.
- The bass wires on the Cygnet are slightly shorter than on our Swan
allowing us to use a shorter neck and pillar arrangement thus creating
a smaller harp.
- The neck has the same construction as the Swan, the pillar has a
slight S curve.
- We make this harp with concert gut, folk lever gut or nylon strings.
The tension is slightly lighter than the Swan especially in the lower
end of the harp.
- Standing at 52 inches and weighing 22-25 lbs, this harp is ideal
for those who just want a smaller, lighter harp with slightly lighter
tension, for those who play in hospital settings, for smaller adults
and children or for someone looking to fit a full harp into a small
car.
- This harp can be adorned with inlay around the soundboard or on
the pillar. See inlay options.
- All of our harps come with a padded Cordura
case, a full set of Camac Levers,
a tuning key, and an owners
manual.
See details of the Swan and
Cygnet models and
endorsements of the Cygnet
THE Clare 34 is
our newest addition to the Thormahlen Family. It
has 34 strings and has an almost identical staved back soundbox as
the Swan. $5995. Shipping is $400 to anywhere in the US 48
states.
- The solid hardwood options for the staved-back soundbox are the
same as for the Swan: maple, walnut, cherry, and mahogany, and the
exotic woods: bubinga, and koa. (See wood links above).
- The soundboard options are also the same as the Swan: spruce or
cedar.
- The bass wires on the Clare are slightly shorter than on our
Swan allowing us to use a shorter neck and pillar arrangement thus
creating a smaller harp.
- The neck has the same construction style as the Swan, the pillar
has a slight C curve.
- The Clare comes with Folk Gut strings.
- The Clare is 51 inches tall and weighs 21 lbs. It will fit in just
about any car you might own. It is ideal for the harp player who
wants to play in the Irish style.
- The string spacing is slightly narrower than our other harps and
the folk gut strings give the harpist a light tension and a warm
sound.
- The feet are the same as those used on the Cygnet. Taller feet
are available (add $200)
The relationship of this harp to the Ceili (described below) is the
same as the relationship of our Cygnet to our Serenade (the same shape,
but different construction)
See details of the Clare
Hear
Annalee play
her Chestnut Ceili
 THE
SERENADE has
the same neck and pillar design as the Cygnet with a flat-back
or semi staved back soundbox made of laminated Okume, which is
an African Mahogany. The neck is maple piano pin block, and more
recently, to keep the weight at 20lbs, we have started making
the pillar out of mahogany. starting at $3595, shipping is $400
to anywhere in the US 48 states
- The Serenade uses the same nylon string set as the Swan and Cygnet
and has the lighter tension like the Cygnet. The Serenade is available
with nylon or folk gut strings (add $300 for gut).
- The Serenade is 51 inches tall and weighs 20 lbs. It will fit in
just about any car you might own. It is ideal for the harp student
who wants to start with a less expensive and very nice instrument,
for those who just want a smaller, lighter harp, for those who play
in hospital settings, for smaller adults and children or for someone
looking to fit a full sized harp into a small car. It
 would
be a  joy
to any harper for a long, long time.
- There are six staining options on this harp: natural blond, amber,
chestnut, and walnut, a very striking black stain (add
$200) and an elegant indigo stain (see photos below).
- Notice the new Cygnet style feet in the photos to the right that
now come on all of our Serenades. Taller feet are available (add
$200)
The Serenade options:
This harp can come with a flat back or a semi
staved back
This harp can be adorned with maple binding or
pearl inlay on the
pillar or around the soundboard. We
also have a special Serenade called The
Black Pearl harp with soundboard inlay.
If you're tall, you can get taller
feet.
See details of the Serenade and endorsements of
the Serenade
 
The Serenade and Ceili are so light you can carry
them by the pillar.
The flat-back box fits very comfortably against
your shoulder, however, because it was requested, we have designed
a semi-staved
back for
this harp as well which gives even greater comfort. We have also
just started making this harp with taller
feet for the taller player.
 THE CEILI 34 has
the same neck and pillar design as the Clare with a flat-back or
semi staved back soundbox made of laminated Okume, which is an African
Mahogany. It is similar to the Serenade in its construction and materials
used. $3895 with folk gut strings and $4095 with
Flourocarbon strings, Shipping is $400 to anywhere in the US 48
states
- The Ceili comes with Savarez Flouocarbon strings
- The Ceili is 51 inches tall and weighs 18 lbs. It will fit in just
about any car you might own. It is ideal for the harp player who
wants to play in the Irish style.
- The string spacing is slightly narrower than our other harps and
the Savarez strings give the harpist a light tension.
- The construction of the soundbox is the same as the Serenade, the
neck and pillar shape is different but construction is the same.
- There are six staining options on this harp: natural blond, amber,
chestnut, and walnut, a very striking black stain (add
$200) and an elegant indigo stain (see photos below). These
are the same options as for the Serenade.
- The feet are the same as those used on the Serenade. Taller feet
are available (add $200)
The Ceili options:
- This harp can come with a flat back or a semi
staved back
- This harp can be adorned with maple binding or
pearl inlay on
the pillar or around the soundboard.
- If you're tall, you can get taller
feet.
See details of the Ceili and
endorsements of the Ceili
In summary:
- The Swan, the Cygnet and the Clare have the same full staved
back solid wood soundbox. The Serenade and Ceili are available with
a flat-back or a semi-staved
back.
- The Cygnet and Serenade have the same neck and pillar geometry
although the Cygnet neck is made like the Swan neck in construction
with bookmatched wood sandwiching the piano pin block.
- The Clare and the Ceili have the same neck and pillar geometry
although the Clare neck is made like the Swan neck in construction
with bookmatched wood sandwiching the piano pin block.
- The Ceili
and the Serenade neck and pillar are made out of the same materials
although each has its own neck and pillar design and
construction.
- The 7 lowest bass wires are the same on all 5 models no matter
what string type you order.
- We can shorten the feet on our Swan model or we can make taller
feet for the Cygnets, Clares, Serenades and Ceilis.
- All of our harps come with a padded Cordura
case, a full set of Camac Levers,
a tuning key, and an owners
manual.
 We
have had some requests for cloth harp covers. Here is a link for some
very nice ones made by sisters Julianne and Coralie. They
cleverly call them jackets, gowns, and tunics.
Harp
Couture
 Read
what our customers have to say about our harps on the endorsement
page.
Here's a side trip you can take to learn more about shopping
for a harp.
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