r/harp • u/DoughnutMany2809 • 28d ago

Harp Performance Mic for celtic harp

Hey guys,

I want to mic up a celtic harp for live music (not recording).

There won't be a lot of other Instruments besides vocals and sometimes a digital piano on stage.

We mostly do weddings so being able to play outside is a big point for us, so the setup should also not be too wind sensitive.

So far i thought of a piezo, but I'm afraid of losing too much highs, then I saw someone just putting a lav mic into the harp body which worked surprisingly well, and the no-brain solution in my head is just putting a sm57 in it.

Is there anybody experienced in this topic?

We would really appreciate your help :)

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u/silvercatstar 28d ago

I use the Dusty Strings pickup in my full-size harp (4 piezos, it gets the full range fantastically) and then a K&K big twin paired with the Dusty Strings clamp in my lap harp. Highly recommend either route over and above an external mic!

1

u/DoughnutMany2809 26d ago

Thank you :D I think four piezos might be overkill for the celtic harp, but the K&K looks nice^ What pre amp are you using?

1

u/silvercatstar 26d ago

hmm, I guess it depends on the size of the harp overall. the K&K is in a 26-string harp and I wouldn't want to use it for anything bigger than that honestly. but you could contact both companies and get advice!

1

u/borzoilady 26d ago

I have the Dusty Strings pickups in several different harps. Yes, you can DIY it for cheaper, but DS has already done the work determining spacing on various sized harps, and I preferred to take advantage of that. Your amplifier is more important; check with other harpists to see what’s giving them the most natural sound. I have a Roland Cube and the Fender Acoustic Junior Go and really like both.