Named after the capital of ancient Lydia
Sardis, Flat Back
€3,250
The flat-back version of our full-size 36-string Sardis: strong, durable and comfortable to play, with a big, round, balanced voice — a wonderful lifetime harp.
- 36 strings — equivalent in range to many 38–40 string harps
- Flat solid back — robust, comfortable, economical
- High-quality brass levers on every string
- Custom bronze bass strings; gut or synthetic gut options
- Fits on the back seat of an average car
All sales are invoiced and prices include VAT; shipping is not included. Harps are delicate instruments — we prefer personal handover where possible. Contact us to discuss delivery options for your location.
About this instrument
Sardis comes in two versions. The original is the stave back — a rounded body of solid wood. The flat-back model was designed later to answer the need for a more economical large harp.
While the stave back is a rare, specialist building technique, the flat-back body is a little heavier — and in return it is robust, comfortable to play, and an excellent lifelong companion for a student. In a side-by-side comparison it gives nothing away to a pedal harp: a big, round, well-balanced sound.
Our 36-string model can be considered equivalent to other makers’ 38- or 40-string harps. Other brands reach those counts by giving up bass strings, adding trebles, and squeezing the treble spacing tightly together. Sardis instead gives up the very top strings that are almost never played — so the harp stays a manageable size, string spacing stays comfortable, and everything remains playable. The harp fits exactly on the back seat of an average car.
Unbreakable, high-quality brass levers are used throughout. Stringing combines custom-made antique bronze and specially wound bass strings, break-resistant synthetic gut in the mid range, and standard lever-harp strings in the top octaves. Full gut or full synthetic-gut stringing is available on request.
