Base Height Recommendations
The Marion includes your choice of base, designed for comfortable playing posture:
Under 5’5” → 6″ base
Over 5’5” → 8″ base
Custom Base Height also available upon request.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Answer: The Marion 34 is designed for serious students, advanced players, and professional harpists who need extended range and concert-level sound quality. It's ideal for:
Advanced students preparing for conservatory auditions or professional work
Professional performers needing pedal harp-like projection without the size and cost
Classical harpists playing intermediate to advanced repertoire
Celtic harpists wanting the fullest possible range for traditional music
Teachers and studio musicians requiring versatility across multiple genres
Experienced players transitioning from smaller harps who need more octaves
This is not typically a beginner's first harp—the 34-string range, higher string tension, and professional price point make it better suited for committed players with clear musical goals.
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Answer: The Marion 34 produces surprisingly pedal harp-like tone quality while remaining a lever harp:
Similarities:
Comparable string tension and dynamic response
Rich, resonant bass from metal-wound strings
Clear, singing treble register
Strong projection suitable for concert settings
Full, professional sound quality
Differences:
Lever harps have slightly different harmonic characteristics than pedal harps' longer strings
Pedal harps offer 7 pedals for instant key changes vs. pre-set levers
Pedal harps typically have 40-47 strings with even greater range
Pedal harps' larger soundboards produce more volume in the largest performance halls
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Answer: Maple is specifically chosen for the Marion 34 to optimize its sound characteristics for this larger instrument. Maple produces bright, clear tone with excellent projection—essential qualities when you're filling larger performance spaces or playing in ensemble settings. The wood's structural properties also handle the higher string tension well, ensuring long-term stability. While some players prefer the aesthetic warmth of walnut or cherry available on smaller harps, maple's tonal clarity and power make it the ideal choice for a concert-level instrument like the Marion.