Waring Harp Kit

$185.00

You can purchase multiple Waring Harps and discounts do apply!

Price Grouping
1 Waring Harp Kit: $185.00
5 or More Waring Harps Kits: $170.00 Each

Fully built harps available on special order.

Description

A short time to build, the rest of your life to play!
All harps come in kit form with all parts included. (Additional option to purchase assembled kit.) Hardwood components attach to a sturdy, corrugated sound box. You will only need very basic tools. Instructions are clear and easy. Decorate your own. Great for family fun! Includes strings & tuning wrench.

The only items necessary for building the easy to assemble harp kit are glue and a screwdriver. There are two basic parts of the Waring Harp: the frame that defines the triangular shape of the harp, and the sound box for resonance. The sound box is die-cut in one piece from 3-ply corrugated cardboard. When painted, it is resistant even to rain. Treat it like any musical instrument and it will last many, many years. The hardwood frame is comprised of the string rib, pillar, and neck. Nineteen strings allow for over a two-octave range, enough to accommodate the playing of most any song. Zither pins (with tuning wrench) will provide tension for tuning the nylon strings.

  • Waring Harps are true instruments and sound better than many all-wood harps.
  • Costs a fraction of the price of equivalent all-wood harps.
  • Features nineteen strings beginning with G below middle C.
  • Easy to tune to any scale or mode for accessing familiar melodies and chords.
  • Perfect for both child and adult beginners. Accomplished players love it too.
  • Practical for harp classes, workshops, and educational pedagogy.
  • Well-suited for music therapy, hospice, and the healing arts.
  • Easy to transport and store. Sits upright without a stand. Weighs only 3.5 lbs.
  • Made from high quality sustainable materials.
  • Extremely durable, resistant to heat, cold and dampness.
  • Strings and string spacing meet modern standards.
  • Decorate to your own tastes.

Kit Contents

  • Clear, step-by-step instructions
  • A three-piece hardwood framework
  • High quality, eco-friendly corrugated sound box
  • Screws and clamping bands for assembly are provided
  • Zither pins and tuning wrench included
  • One full set of high quality nylon harp strings

Standard Harp dimensions – 29” tall, 11” wide, 20” deep, weighs 5 lbs.

Additional information

Weight 5 lbs
Dimensions 20 × 11 × 29 in

Endorsements

“It was a pleasure to meet Dennis Waring at the Somerset festival in New Jersey, and to put a face on the man who is behind the wonderful cardboard harps. The first time I put my fingers on one of your incredible “cardboard harps”, I could not believe what I was getting from such a cleverly-designed light and affordable harp. I was so enthusiastic about it that I could not resist to open my performance by playing a few tunes on it in Tasmania in March 2011. I was proud to show the audience that a musical instrument does not need to be heavy, sophisticated and expensive to enjoy making real music. I will never forget how the audience was amazed by the possibilities of such a small harp. This was certainly one of the highlights of the evening. Congratulations for such an achievement, your design democratizes the harp to a greater public.”
~ Jakez Francois, President of Camac Harps, France

“I must tell you how much we are enjoying your wonderful music creations! They continue to save my sanity and intrigue me musically on a daily basis. It has been a delight to work with you.”
~ Ellen Cree

“You are an absolute genius, Dennis Waring. Your professionality is breathtaking, your enthusiasm is heartwarming. Just incredible.”
~ Minea Alvsten from France

“Wow. Just finished assembling and tuning the harp and I am quite impressed. Full disclosure: I own a 39-year-old L&H Troubadour (that was bought new for me when I was a teenager) and a 2003 Harpsicle. My purpose in buying your harp was to put it in my office. I am a computer science professor at Tufts University. I already have two cardboard banjos made by “backyard music” in my office. This will add a cardboard harp to the display. Students already know there are free banjo lessons available at my office hours; adding harp lessons will not be a major change! I tell my students that the instruments in my office save lives. Any time someone sends me an obnoxious email, I just play the banjo a while and then I don’t want to strangle them any more. While few harps can stand up to the L&H, your harp is better designed than the harpsicle. The upper strings are all reachable with my large hands, and the wooden bridge does away with the problem of aligning the harpsicle strings. As for how it sounds, the two harps are pretty much equivalent in sound, which is saying something since the harpsicle costs 3x as much. Many thanks!”
~ Alva L. Couch

“I just wanted to let you know that I love my Waring Harp. Thank you for making the kits, they really are easy to assemble, and it has brought a great joy into my life.”
~ Qaiel Peltier, Transition Age Youth Division, County of Humboldt, California

“I have played harp since I was a tiny thing, and the only draw back is that it’s really difficult to cart around– makes playing around a campfire or an impromptu jam session with friends basically impossible. But not anymore, thanks to your glorious cardboard sound box!  It doesn’t hurt that I have an intense affinity for all things made of cardboard. I’m so happy to have a harp I can take with me so easily. Thank you, thank you.”
~ Kristen

“The harp tasting at the Somerset Harp Festival was interesting and your little harp showed up a few wooden, and much more expensive harps.”
~ Larry Fisher, Master Harp Maker, Winnipeg, Manitoba

“The sound is much nicer than on the Mid-East harps of a similar size. It’s nice and light – a perfect travel harp. Yesterday we had some family visit us, including a four-year old grand niece. She was fascinated by my harps, and I was so glad to be able to let her play one: your prototype! I sat her down on the sofa with ‘her own’ harp and gave her a first lesson. She loved it, and I am hoping we have started something with her….I would have been reluctant to let a four-year old play my big Dusty, and it would have been way too big for her – but your little harp was perfect!”
~ Gerry Serviente, Organizer of the Somerset Harp Festival

“Everyone I have played the harp for is blown away by its sound! It’s so much fun to watch their jaws drop.”
~ Cindy-Ellen Morgan, Editor of the Harplight Journal

“The instructions in the kit are wonderfully clear and the harp was a fun and relatively easy project to complete. Now I am having fun playing it! Thanks very much. I’ve been wanting a folk harp for a long time but did not want to pay a pricey figure in order to determine if I enjoyed playing one. With your kit I have discovered that I do very much enjoy the harp, have a natural affinity for it, and will pursue playing.”
~ Melanie Crowley, San Jose, CA

“I might have to revise my ideas of where this harp lives. My wife picked it up last night and successfully learned to play Greensleeves as a duet with me. While I have given her plenty of opportunity to learn to play one of the many instruments around the house (and there are tens of instruments available, in every conceivable design), she has not played a musical instrument since high school band 40 years ago. One reason she is interested in your particular harp is that her back often hurts and she can play your harp while laying down! (She is also very much intrigued by your “trash to tunes” program. There is very much in common between that and the way she teaches science based upon exploring the properties of found objects.)”
~ Alva L. Couch

“I have my harp all put together now and I am so excited to play it! I have had my first lesson too. I can now play Twinkle Twinkle, Mary Had a Little Lamb and Frere Jacques. I love my harp! I also love seeing the look on people’s faces after they HEAR a harp made of cardboard! It has a beautiful sounds. I wouldn’t have been able to learn the harp if it hadn’t been for Waring Harp kits. Thank you so much for giving me an affordable instrument alternative to learn on.”
~ Heather Moffatt Rosen

“The instructions were very easy to follow, the kit was very well organized and the harp sounds great! I highly recommend your company to all my colleagues.”
~ Kari Staab, Music Therapist, University of Kansas

“I’m so grateful for your harp kits. It has been quite a journey the past few years discovering the beauty that playing the harp has brought into my life.”
~ Oliver Seary

“I want to tell you how much I love my little harp, Astra. We are having a great time together. I love the tone and how well it balances/stands by itself. That makes it great to take to gigs where the kids (of all ages) can come by and play with it. Plus, I have a Little Free Library in my yard so for Halloween I was the Book Fairy and passed out books and treats to the kids. It was a huge hit.”
~ Beth Stockwell, Editor of The Folk Harp Journal

“When people see my Waring, I always affectionately refer to it as “The Harp That Can’t Be Killed”. It has survived small children, children with various disabilities, a major household move, and of course, being dropped, pushed, compressed and being piled under without having its beguilingly sweet tone disrupted one bit”.
~ Sherry Lenox