19-String Lyre Harp with Tuning Wrench - Professional Musical Instrument for Beginners & Adults - Perfect for Home Practice, Meditation & Gift Giving

I have been playing a 16-string lyre for a few years now. I have returned several other lyres in the last few months for lacking quality. This 19-string lyre beats anything I have owned or played by a factor of "wow". Let me explain: this lyre is the exact size and shape of my 16-string Stiller Music lyre, but the strings are perhaps 1mm-2mm closer to each other. I will get used to it. The Stiller lyre had excellent sound quality. But the Lomuty surprised me. The echo box is superior (and I like the little stag cut-out). The strings ring like bells and the sound is blended and carried far better than my old one. I was astonished. This Lomuty lyre is superior, even above the Stiller to which I compared all others! The sound rings clearly and maintains a long, beautiful and haunting echo with each string or chord that I pluck. If you are looking for a GREAT (not good, but GREAT) instrument, this should be your number one choice. The extra strings, the case, the cleaning cloth, the tuning wrench and the picks are all nice additions that come with the lyre. The booklet that comes with the lyre is marginal at best. It's obvious that it was written by someone who is not a native English speaker. It will give you a chuckle, but is of little value... Now, a few caveats for everyone:1.) NO lyre arrives tuned. New lyres need a settling-in period. DO NOT try to tune it immediately. Let it sit where you will normally keep it in your home for 24 hours before you even think about tuning it. Use a good electronic tuner which you can either buy or download free from the internet. I use PANO TUNER on my mobile phone.2.) The first tuning is going to be frustrating. Go slow and please be patient. The strings must stretch and this takes DAYS not hours. So even if you get your lyre in tune, it will slip out immediately. And it will continue to slip out of tune quickly for 2 - 3 weeks. THIS IS NORMAL. Once your strings are properly stretched and your lyre is acclimated, you will only have to fine-tune it every couple of weeks. It wont be far off the mark. DO NOT initially over-tighten the strings to try and stretch them faster. You risk breakage. Please take time.3.) Differing weather conditions, temps, humidity and climates will throw the lyre out of tune. Even if I drive somewhere and the lyre has been in its case in my cold car, just that change in temperature will cause it to slip out of tune. THIS IS NORMAL. It's wood, and wood reacts quickly to the surroundings. If you come in from the cold to a warm room, dont try to tune the lyre until it has acclimated. Let it come up to room temp. I know that sometimes, especially if you are performing, the wait time is nearly impossible, but bear in mind how much ambient climate affects the instrument.4.) Dont give up!! Unless there is a mechanical issue with a tuning peg (rare but not unheard of), I promise your lyre will eventually settle in and keep its tune. All you will have to do is a fine-tuning from time to time. This is when the real enjoyment begins! When you can pick up that harp and play whenever you wish and it sounds heavenly, your reward is the lovely music you will play.Enjoy. You have made a great purchase.