What Triplett Harps does

Triplett Harps, Incorporated is a privately held, founder-owned US manufacturer of handcrafted Celtic lever harps, established in 1980 by Steve Triplett in San Luis Obispo, California. The company designs, builds, and sells custom-made nylon-strung and wire-strung harps across 17+ models ranging from the 22-string Zephyr travel harp ($1,325) to the flagship 38-string Eclipse ($7,295), using traditional luthiery techniques, sitka spruce soundboards, hardwoods including maple, walnut, cherry, and bubinga, and proprietary construction methods such as staved-back bodies and composite spruce soundboards. Camac levers from France and Dusty Strings electro-acoustic pickups are integrated as standard or optional components, and customers can further customize instruments with marquetry, abalone inlay, laser engraving, and wood veneer selection priced from $50 to $800 per enhancement.

The company operates on a made-to-order direct-to-consumer model with no inventory and a typical 12-week lead time. Sales are conducted via phone, email, and the company's website (triplettharps.com), with worldwide shipping on all models and dedicated Christina/Zephyr shipping at $150 or less. Pricing ranges from $1,325 to $7,295 for harps plus $50-$700 for accessories and custom enhancements, all backed by a 7-year warranty. Triplett serves a diverse customer base including professional harpists (Lisa Lynne, Anne Roos), touring performers (OMNIA), therapy harpists in hospitals and nursing homes across multiple countries, and hobbyists; the company's instruments have appeared on Grammy-winning recordings. Marketing is anchored by the website, Facebook/Instagram presence, customer testimonials, and earned media including a 2007 CBS News segment on the Christina Therapy Harp.

The business is run by a 1-10 person team with no external institutional investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed acquisitions or funding rounds. Triplett Harps emphasizes 100% American-made materials (cases, strings, components) and sustainable forestry practices without polyester lacquers, differentiating on craftsmanship, brand heritage, and customization depth rather than on technology platforms or recurring revenue.

Name

Triplett Harps

Legal name

Triplett Harps, Incorporated.

Website

https://triplettharps.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Triplett Harps is a US handcrafted Celtic lever harp manufacturer founded in 1980, selling custom-made nylon and wire harps ($1,325-$7,295) directly to professional harpists, therapy practitioners, and hobbyists worldwide with a 12-week lead time.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acoustic Musical Instruments

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (459140)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrument Repair, Maintenance & Luthier Services (CRALAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrument Accessories & Consumables Retail (Strings, Reeds, Sticks, Cables) (CRALAEAE), Instrument Rental & Backline Services (MPAIAJAI), Instrument Rentals & Leasing (Band/Orchestra Programs) (CRALAEAG)

Keywords

• Handcrafted Celtic harps
• Lever harp manufacturing
• Wire-strung harps
• Custom acoustic instruments
• Luthier harp building

Headquarters

HQ city

San Luis Obispo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Harp Sales: One-time purchase of handcrafted custom harps. Each instrument is made to order with customer-selected wood types, custom enhancements (marquetry, abalone, laser engraving), and accessories. No recurring revenue model - single transaction per instrument.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Triplett Harps is a custom manufacturer of handcrafted Celtic lever harps built to order in San Luis Obispo, California. The product line spans nylon-strung and wire-strung models from 22 to 38 strings, including specialty therapy harps, with extensive customization options such as wood selection, marquetry, abalone inlay, and laser engraving. All instruments are made from American-sourced materials and backed by a 7-year warranty, with worldwide direct-to-consumer shipping.

Product overview

Triplett Harps is a custom harp manufacturer offering a portfolio of handcrafted Celtic lever harps, primarily nylon-strung and wire-strung instruments, along with comprehensive accessories and custom enhancement options. The product lineup spans from entry-level travel harps (Zephyr 22) to the flagship professional model (Eclipse 38), with sizes ranging from 22 to 38 strings. Core products include the Sierra series (designed for ergonomic reach), the Celtic/Catalina series (traditional designs), specialty therapy harps (Christina), and wire harps (Luna, Avalon, Irish). Accessories include cases, wheels, tuning wrenches, levers (Camac), and electro-acoustic pickups. Customization options feature marquetry, laser engraving, and abalone inlay. All products are handmade in the USA with American-made materials and backed by a 7-year warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eclipse 38

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Camac Harps (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationCamac levers from France are the standard lever choice for all Triplett nylon-strung harps. Chosen for their tonal qualities, elegant appearance, and ease of adjustment. Truitt levers available by request.
• Dusty StringscoreTechnology or IntegrationTriplett offers the Dusty Harp Pickup system which features 4 piezo elements spaced along the soundboard for balanced amplification. This pickup system is embedded inside the soundbox and priced at $395 for all models.
• Tina Tourin (International Therapy Harpist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhile attending a music show, Steve Triplett met with international therapy harpist Tina Tourin to discuss therapy harp design. This collaboration contributed to the conceptual development of the Christina Therapy Harp designed for both player and listener benefit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camac Harps: French harp manufacturer and Triplett's lever supplier. Camac produces a wide range of Celtic lever and pedal harps at scale, directly competing for the same professional and amateur harpist customers globally.
• Camac Harps: French harp manufacturer and Triplett's lever supplier. Camac produces a wide range of Celtic lever and pedal harps at scale, directly competing for the same professional and amateur harpist customers globally.
• Dusty Strings: US-based harp and hammered dulcimer maker and Triplett's pickup system partner. Dusty Strings offers lever harps in the same price band and customer demographic, with a stronger e-commerce and music school presence.
• Pilgrim Harps: Small UK Celtic and medieval harp maker producing custom instruments. Comparable scale, customization model, and beginner-to-intermediate customer overlap with Triplett.
• Rees Harps: UK-based handcrafted Celtic and wire harp maker. Comparable artisan positioning, custom-built approach, and overlap with Triplett's wire harp and professional recorder/performer customers.
• Stoney End Harps: Small-batch US lever harp manufacturer serving beginners and intermediate harpists. Comparable custom-made model, similar price points, and overlapping therapy and folk music customer base.

Emerging players

• Heartland Harps: US-based small-batch harp manufacturer focused on lever harps for beginners and therapy applications. Comparable custom-order model and music therapy positioning, though smaller scale.
• Venus Harps: Small US-based harp maker specializing in Celtic and folk lever harps with custom options. Comparable niche positioning and direct-to-consumer sales model.

Broad incumbents

• Salvi Harps: Italian harp manufacturer producing both pedal and lever harps for worldwide distribution. Established global brand with broader category presence competes for premium Celtic harp customers.
• Lyon & Healy: Historic Chicago-based harp manufacturer with the most recognized brand in pedal harps and a lever harp line. Broader product portfolio and dealer network make it the dominant incumbent Triplett competes against in professional tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Triplett-Harps-92416989496
• Instagraminstagram.com/triplettharps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/triplett-harps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Triplett Harps