Dusty Strings built its reputation in the Celtic and folk harp world — and built it exceptionally well. The Boulevard 34 is the company's deliberate departure from that tradition: a lever harp designed from the ground up for the classical player, the conservatory student, and the pedal harpist seeking a portable secondary instrument. When we first heard the Boulevard demonstrated in-house, the reaction was immediate and unanimous: this is a serious classical instrument.

What Makes the Boulevard Different

The defining characteristic of the Boulevard is its string configuration. Where most lever harps in the 34-string category use nylon or low-tension synthetic strings optimised for Celtic and folk idioms, the Boulevard is strung with concert-tension gut strings — the same class of stringing found on instruments like the Lyon & Healy Prelude 40. This single decision transforms the character of the instrument entirely. The result is a tone that is warm, full, and richly resonant, with the shorter sustain and more immediate response that classical repertoire demands. Notes speak cleanly and decay at a pace that suits intricate classical passages rather than the long, shimmering sustain of a folk harp.

Ergonomics & Playability

Dusty Strings engineered the Boulevard around comfort as much as tone. The staveback body — a rounded, contoured back panel — sits naturally against the shoulder, distributing the harp's weight ergonomically and reducing fatigue during extended playing sessions. Players consistently describe the Boulevard as one of the most physically comfortable harps to sit with, regardless of session length. The instrument's total weight is just 21 pounds, placing it among the lightest concert-tension harps available anywhere in this string count — a meaningful advantage for players who travel regularly.

Construction & Hardware

The harmonic arch and pillar are crafted from solid beech, providing structural integrity and tonal stability. The soundboard is laminated birch — a material chosen for its consistency and resonance characteristics — while the overall construction is based on the proven Ravenna 34 platform, adapted to accommodate higher-tension stringing. The Boulevard comes fully equipped with a complete set of Loveland sharping levers, a T-handle tuning wrench, a four-legged removable stand (5-inch legs standard, 8-inch optional), and a deluxe CD34 cordura case with foam padding and shoulder strap. This is a complete, performance-ready package.

Who Is the Boulevard 34 For?

The Boulevard serves three audiences exceptionally well. Classical students and conservatory players who want a lever harp that genuinely replicates the tension and response of a pedal instrument will find it the most natural transition available in this format. Pedal harpists seeking a lightweight, portable complement to their primary instrument will appreciate how little reorientation is required. And players who simply prefer a warmer, less bright sound — regardless of genre — will find the Boulevard's tonal profile immediately appealing. It is compact enough to travel, powerful enough to perform, and refined enough to satisfy musicians who will accept no compromise on tone.

Vermont Violins' Assessment

We were initially cautious about the Boulevard, given that high-tension classical instruments are not Dusty Strings' traditional territory. That caution dissolved the moment we heard it played. The Boulevard does everything a classical lever harp should do, and it does it with conviction. For a 34-string instrument at this weight and price point, it is one of the most impressive performers in our entire harp inventory.