One of the perks of presenting the lyre harp to a new audience through my website is that sometimes companies will reach out to you to try out their products! Who doesn’t like to get a free instrument now and then? I know I do! That’s how I ended up with not one, but three different and beautiful Hanagos from Koaura!
About the Hanago
The Hanago is a 16-string instrument featuring a single-fret design that allows players to create semitones easily. It was designed by the South Korean company, Koaura, in 2021. The founder aimed to create a simple and intuitive instrument for everyone to enjoy.
Fun fact: The company’s name, Koaura, combines the words “Korea” and “aura” – a fitting name for a company that makes these lovely instruments! They have sent me three different Hanagos to try and play, and they have become some of my favorite instruments!
The Choices
The Hanago comes in three wood-top flavors: spruce, mahogany, and dark mahogany. Each one brings its own unique aesthetic to the instrument.
Craftsmanship
The instruments themselves are well constructed, and all of the top woods look stunning. The Hanago’s compact size also makes it versatile for many playing styles. It is comfortable to play while holding it like your typical lyre harp, lying it on a table, or with both hands like a kalimba. A lot of thought has certainly gone into this instrument!
The Hanago resembles a lyre harp with one catchy little feature: the ability to play semitones on each string! There is a fret that allows you to raise the pitch of each string by one semitone when you press the string down on the fret, giving you 28 notes with 16 strings. Clearly-placed markers are also found behind the fret under certain strings to help you find the notes you wish to raise depending on the melody you want to play.
For those who want to get loud, the instrument also features a pickup with a 1/4″ jack on the side. The jack placement is also unobtrusive. I do, however, wish that there was a volume knob on the instrument so that I can control the level from the instrument rather than from the amplifier.
The Hanago also features a cover over the tuning keys, protecting them from being bumped accidentally. The cover also allows you to rest your wrist on the instrument to play it. To change the strings, remove the cover by undoing the four screws.
Tuning Process
The instrument is tuned using a hex wrench to turn the keys. Tightening the string raises the pitch while loosening the strings lowers it. The cover itself doesn’t interfere with tuning, as the keys are accessible with it on.
The instrument arrived with its tuning pretty much intact. This is probably due to the fact that the cover protected the keys.
As with new instruments, new strings will need daily tuning to settle in. After a few days, you’ll notice that the instrument will hold its tuning much more easily.
Sound Quality
The Hanago has a surprisingly full and very clear sound! The notes are quite articulate, while the strings ring out with a lot of sustain.
While there are some differences between the three kinds of wood (dark mahogany, mahogany, and spruce), they are very slight and subtle; the casual player will likely not hear a difference. The dark mahogany had the fullest sound, the mahogany had a slight dip in the midrange, and the spruce had the brightest tone.
When plugged into an amplifier, the Hanago maintained a loud and clear sound through an amplifier. Just note that you will need to control the volume directly from the amplifier or with an external volume controller (such as a volume pedal), as the Hanago has no onboard volume knob.
Accessories
The Hanago comes with a beautiful cover that protects the instrument from dust and the elements.
The instrument also came with a tuning wrench with a beautiful wood handle that is easy to hold, even with the most petite hands. There are also four small silicon pads that you can stick onto the Hanago if you’re the type of player who uses it while it’s lying on a table.
Everything came delivered in a well-packaged box that protected the instrument as it was shipped.
What I like about it
- The single-fret design gives you double the notes, allowing you to play more melodies than a typical lyre harp!
- The sound is excellent!
- Its small size makes this the perfect travel instrument!
- The additional pickup is a great option to have!
What can be improved?
- The names of the notes are not inscribed on the instrument, unlike some other lyre harps.
- The Hanago’s I received did not come with extra strings, which would put me in a bind if I broke one and had no replacements.
- You will need to remove the cover to change the strings, meaning you will need a screwdriver handy.
- The strings are hard to push down to get a positive connection with the fret. It’s best to use the pad of your finger, rather than the tip, to fret the notes. However, after a bit of time, this will become easier.
- There is no volume knob on the instrument.
In Conclusion
With its 16 strings, 28 notes, compact size, available pickup, and clear sound, the Hanago is an impressive and excellent instrument! If you’re looking for something different from your traditional lyre harp, the Hanago is a great instrument! You can get one on Amazon. Here’s a link to one of their models.
Thank you to Koaura for sending me these lovely instruments to play!
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This is an item I use and love, and I review products independently. If you purchase through one of the affiliate links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
