Orchestral & Folk Strings Buying Guide

What Separates an Orchestra-Grade Pedal Harp From Everything Below It

V Rated by Vincent Vandegans · Updated Sep 2026

A concert pedal harp is one of the most mechanically complex acoustic instruments in regular use — seven pedals, each controlling multiple discs per string, allow rapid key changes that orchestral and advanced repertoire demands. This mechanical sophistication is exactly why quality construction and proper maintenance matter more here than almost any other instrument on this site.

The ten harps below are real, currently-listed professional pedal harps, checked for seller reliability and priced against comparable recent sales.

At a Glance — Our Top Picks

Editor's Top Pick

Harp String Lyon & Healy Artist 5th Octave D * 1 string white nylon NEW

Score 95/100 · $45.00 · Used

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Best New

3rd Octave G No. 20 Pedal Harp Single Length String Natural Gut Lyon & Healy

Score 95/100 · $22.17 · Open box

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Best Used

Concert Grand Lyon and Healy Harp Traveling Case

Score 84/100 · $1,495.00 · Used

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Top 8 Orchestral & Folk Stringss on eBay & Amazon

Ranked and rated by Vincent Vandegans — verified you can buy.

Concert Grand Lyon and Healy Harp Traveling Case

Rating Score: 84/100 · $1,495.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Lyon & Healy
Length: 78 in.
Color: Brown
Instrument: Harp
Height: 25 in.
Finish: Natural

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (52 ratings)
•No returns accepted

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1955 Wooden Concert Grand Lyon and Healy Style 30 Pedal Harp

Rating Score: 81/100 · $15,000.00 Used

2 photos

Bundle Description: comes with original paperwork
Custom Bundle: Yes
Color: Black
Year Manufactured: 1955
Material: wood
Vintage: Yes

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (21 ratings)
•Free shipping
•No returns accepted

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Concert Grand Lyon and Healy Harp Traveling Case

Rating Score: 10/100 · $1,100.00 Used

2 photos

Brand: Lyon & Healy
Instrument: Harp Case

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 0.0% positive (0 ratings)
•Free shipping
•No returns accepted

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Harp String Lyon & Healy Artist 5th Octave D * 1 string white nylon NEW

Rating Score: 95/100 · $45.00 Used

4 photos

Country of Origin: United States
Brand: Lyon-Healy
Color: White
Model: 5th Octave
Instrument: Harp
Material: Nylon

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.8% positive (2342 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Lyon & Healy Folk Harp Model 2133

Rating Score: 74/100 · $2,200.00 Used

4 photos

Brand: Lyon & Healy
Type: Folk Harp
Color: Brown, Natural
Instrument: Harp
Model: Lyon & Healy The Folk Harp 2133
MPN: 182, 2133

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (2 ratings)
•Shipping: $1,000.00
•No returns accepted

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3rd Octave G No. 20 Pedal Harp Single Length String Natural Gut Lyon & Healy

Rating Score: 95/100 · $22.17 Open box

2 photos

Brand: Lyon
Type: Adjustable
Number of Strings: 1
For Instrument: Harp
Material: Natural Gut
Item Length: 53 in

•Condition: Open box
•Seller rating: 99.8% positive (6009 ratings)
•eBay Top Rated Seller
•Shipping: $6.95
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
•On sale: 40% off (was $36.95)

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The Lyon & Healy Harp. 1916 By Lyon & Healy. [Leather Bound]

Rating Score: 95/100 · $99.93 Brand New

4 photos

Country of Origin: India
Pages: 70
Book Title: The Lyon & Healy harp. 1916 by Lyon & Healy. [Leather Bound]
Topic: Reprint Leather Edition
Format: Leather Bound
Original Language: English

•Condition: Brand New
•Seller rating: 99.6% positive (7387 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
•On sale: 15% off (was $117.56)

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The Lyon & Healy harp. 1916 by Lyon & Healy. [Leather Crafted]

Rating Score: 95/100 · $42.67 Brand New

4 photos

Country of Origin: India
Author: Lyon & Healy.
Book Title: The Lyon & Healy harp. 1916 by Lyon & Healy. [Leather Crafted]
Language: English
Topic: History
Publisher: Facsimile Publisher

•Condition: Brand New
•Seller rating: 99.4% positive (1847 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)
•On sale: 17% off (was $51.41)

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Buyer's Guide: How to Pick the Best Orchestral & Folk Strings

What to understand before buying a pedal harp secondhand.

Pedal Mechanism Condition

This is the single most important — and most expensive to repair — aspect of a used pedal harp. Ask specifically about the mechanism's service history and whether all pedals engage smoothly through their full range without buzzing or sticking discs.

Soundboard Aging

Like a fine violin, a harp's solid wood soundboard develops richer resonance with age and playing — a well-maintained older instrument can sound better than a new one, provided the mechanism itself is sound.

String Count and Range

47 strings is the standard full concert range — fewer strings means reduced range, a consideration mainly for advanced repertoire rather than general playing.

Orchestral & Folk Strings FAQs

Is a pedal harp practical to own without a dedicated space? +

It requires genuine dedicated space and climate stability given the size and mechanical sensitivity — this is not an instrument to store casually in a closet between uses.

How much does pedal harp maintenance cost? +

Beyond routine tuning, a full mechanism service every few years by a qualified harp technician is a real and non-trivial cost — factor this into total ownership cost, not just the purchase price.

Can I learn pedal harp as an adult without prior harp experience? +

Yes, though it's genuinely one of the more demanding instruments to start from scratch given the pedal coordination required — prior keyboard or lever harp experience helps but isn't required.

What is a fair secondhand price for a professional pedal harp? +

Genuinely professional concert pedal harps typically run well into four and low five figures secondhand — a serious investment reflecting the instrument's mechanical complexity and craftsmanship.

Top Sellers Rank

Rank	Seller	Price vs. average	Rating
#1	gyan_books	-96% vs. avg	★ 5
#2	deals-wild	-99% vs. avg	★ 5
#3	corky2888-4	-98% vs. avg	★ 5

Why Should You Trust Us?

Every harp here is cross-checked against live eBay listings, with pedal mechanism condition and service history noted from the listing description where available before inclusion.

Written by Vincent Vandegans

Vincent has spent years buying, selling, and researching gear across live marketplaces. He personally tests a portion of the products featured on this site — hands-on with the exact model, checking build quality, sound, and feel for himself. For the rest of the lineup, each pick goes through the same in-depth research process rather than being taken at face value from a listing photo.

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How this guide was researched

Hands-on testing, when possible

Whenever Vincent owns or can source the exact model, he tests it directly — evaluating build quality, sound, playability, and how it holds up against the manufacturer claims.

Technical spec sheets, compared side by side

For every other pick, the manufacturer datasheets, manuals, and published specifications are read in full and compared against competing models in the same price range — not just skimmed from a listing summary.

Real owner reviews, mined from blogs and forums

Vincent digs through long-running gear forums, owner blogs, and marketplace review threads to find recurring, repeated feedback from real buyers after months of actual use — not just the top review snippet or a manufacturer-friendly quote.

Live marketplace data, checked at publish time

Price, seller reputation, condition, and availability shown on this site are cross-checked directly against live eBay and Amazon listings, so the ranking reflects what is actually being sold, not a historical average.

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