One crucial factor you must consider is the price when buying a handpan. This guide will assist you in knowing how different factors affect the price of handpan so that you can make the right decision.
Factors Influencing Handpan Prices
Material Quality
The cost of the handpan depends on the type of material used to construct it. Handpans can be made of nitrided steel, stainless steel, or brass, depending on the specifications the producer might want to incorporate. Materials of higher quality are better for sound resonance and tend to be very durable, although they will cost more.
Handpans are usually created by talented workers who work with metals. One must go through several time-consuming steps and use his/her skills to make a handpan, influencing the cost. Luthiers with background experience and a long history of making handpans will likely set higher prices for their instruments.
Brand Reputation
Older brands with a reputation for creating excellent handpan tend to set high prices. Such brands can justify such a premium by establishing reputation and trust with clients.
Tuning and Sound Quality
The tuning process is in itself very sensitive and even delicate. Handpans with better sound quality and perfectly tuned are more expensive. The instrument's tone is determined by the specialty of each handpan, which is an essential attribute of its price.
For those that are custom-made handpans, switching out scales, artwork, and additional options will be slightly more expensive than standard sizes. Customization brings more pride as you end up with an instrument that is ultimately one of a kind.
Factors Influencing Handpan Prices
Manufacture
As we learned, creating a handpan is a process that may take several months. These are selecting the right blend of metals, bending and cutting the metal sheet, stamping the notes, tuning the instrument, and putting to heat treatments. The most important factors that add a great price to the handpan are the skilled craftsmanship and the time used to make the handpan.
Supply and Demand
In handpan production, the supply is scarce while the demand is high, raising prices. Only a few competent artists are into producing handpans; thus, the rate is equally high due to the level of craftsmanship.
Delivery
Transport costs are likely to be high when purchasing a handpan online since it is a significant and heavy instrument. Nevertheless, some stores may provide free standard delivery.
The number of notes and specifications is as follows:
Handpan costs differ by design, including the number of playable notes on the instrument. It is also important to point out that the cost of the product increases with the quantity of the notes included in the handpan. For instance, a 7 to 9-note handpan costs between £1,000 and £2,000, and a handpan with more notes is between £1,500 and £3,500. Greater than £3,500 are booked for top-of-the-range or tailored models.
Price Range Overview
A Handpan can differ greatly; they usually cost between one thousand and three and a half thousand pounds. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect at different price points:
Affordable Handpans (£1000 – £2000)
These are introductory handpans, especially for students appearing in their preliminary tournaments. They provide reasonable sound and are built from good materials but are not as fine-tuned as more expensive ones.
Mid-Range Handpans £1,500 and £3,500.
This is somewhat better quality than the low-end options, but they are relatively cheaper. They are designed well, have good sound quality, and use suitable materials from well-known companies or systematically trained individual artists.
High-End Handpans (£3,500 and above)
Contemporary gongs are luxurious and, as a result, are manufactured from the highest quality materials and possess precise workmanship to boot. These instruments provide higher vocal tones and accurate tempering; they can be acquired from reputed makers already familiar with the handpan market.
Additional Costs to Consider
Shipping and Import Fees
Taking price into account, if you are buying the handpan from an international maker, there will be shipping costs and, at times, import charges. These can escalate your total cost by a very big percentage.
Accessories
Think of the costs of other equally critical accessories like the protective case, stands, and maintenance tools. These items assist in maintaining the condition, thus enhancing the durability of the handpan.
Maintenance and Repairs
Some things are good to know concerning the care and maintenance of your handpan to ensure it lasts long and stays in the best condition. Discuss the intervals for at least partial tuning and possible repairs if the person practices with the instrument often.
Buying Options
Direct from Manufacturers
Getting the handpan directly from the responsible manufacturers ensures a quality instrument. The piece's original design and maker can easily be consulted when it comes to fine details and personalization. This is often the most comforting as you get the details from and interact with the actual sellers.
Online Retailers
There are different choices in specialized music shops or employing web-based stores where only handpan-selling companies are located. They are usually very descriptive and may contain reviews and, at times, samples of the sounds you may want to create. Some may be of below-average quality or imitation, so avoid products labeled as being too cheap, as they may be fake.
Music Shops
A few music shops specializing in handpans offer instrument demonstration and consult with the salespeople. However, for this reason, these shops are rare and provide the additional convenience of trying the instruments before the purchase.
Second-Hand Market
You can find cheaper used handpans on the internet such as Craigslist, Rakuten, Ebay, and on the Facebook groups. But be even more careful to distinguish a musical note that is out of tune, a fake instrument, or anything that is an ornament.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing a handpan is a critical decision for the buyer; therefore, knowing what factors affect the price is essential in this decision-making process. Concentrate on the quality, workmanship, and sound of whatever handpan you decide on, regardless of whether you are at the recreational or advanced level.
