PREPARING FOR A HARP SERVICE

Seeing the technician? Yay! Your harp will love you for it. Now, let's make the most of everyone's time spent together:

ALWAYS -
Arrange your appointment with the technician well in advance. 
Know the make, model and serial number of your harp.
Be sure the harp is holding pitch before your appointment (unless holding pitch is a reason for the service).
Bring your extra strings to your appointment.
Leave the technician with a phone number in case he/she may need to contact you while servicing your harp.
Be sure the technician is aware if the appointment is for a warranty regulation or repair. 

APPOINTMENT AND TIME ALLOWANCE -
Please be sure to arrive on time for your appointment. Being late effects the next appointment scheduled.  If you know you may be late, contact the technician as soon as you can.  

Allow a minimum of three hours for a regulation or other repair. If necessary, discuss with the technician if you may arrange to drop your harp off earlier than the scheduled appointment. Once your harp has been diagnosed, the technician will let you know when the job should be completed.

STRINGS -
Before your appointment, look at your harp’s strings. If any seem worn, frayed or dirty, change the strings two to four weeks prior to your regulation date. This allows the strings adequate time to settle down and stay relatively in tune. Generally speaking, strings in the upper three octaves should be changed if they are more than two years old.

COMPLETE RESTRINGING BEFORE REGULATION -
If you would like the technician to completely restring your harp before regulation, normally, the instrument will need to be left with the technician three to five days prior to your regulation appointment. Be sure to tell the technician if you plan to bring replacement strings to the appointment. Always use the freshest strings possible when restringing for a regulation.

If you plan to restring the harp yourself, be sure and do so at least two to four weeks prior to your appointment. Really, you will have a happier harp if you give new strings time to settle in before a regulation. Again, use the freshest strings possible when restringing for a regulation.

BASS WIRE RESTRINGING -
The technician can replace your wire strings during the regulation process. Please verify what his costs are to do so. Let the technician know if you plan to bring replacement wires to the appointment.

HILA is happy to order you a string set, bass wire set or octave sets to be drop-shipped to your home. If you purchased your harp from HILA, we offer an additional 10% discount on your string order (please allow delivery time of 2 weeks for string orders). Email or call Heidi for more information.

MAKE A LIST, THEN PLAY IT TWICE -
Before your appointment, play and listen to your harp. Try  the pedals in various configurations to check for noise, slipping or stiffness. Look at your harp for any cracks or stress marks. Make note if there are particular issues you would like checked out.

When you pick up your harp after being serviced, allow time to play the instrument and discuss with the technician what has been done. Ask if there are any recommendations or suggestions for future repairs and when you should schedule your next regulation.

Take note if your bass wires were replaced and what other strings might have been replaced because you do keep a list of when and what strings have been replaced on your harp, right?

DON'T FORGET YOUR DOLLY -
Label covers and string packs left with your harp, with your name and contact info. Do not leave your dolly behind unless the technician requests you do so.  

If you need a cover or dolly for your harp, give HILA a call or e-mail, we can help.

CANCELLATION -
Discuss with the technician his cancellation policy and possible costs.

PRICES AND FORMS OF PAYMENT -
Verify with the technician the costs for his services and forms of payment he accepts.

If you have any questions or wish to know more about taking care of your harp, please visit your technician's web site or contact HILA, we're happy to be of service.