FAQ

Quartzophone Lyres and Harps

Our quartz crystal lyres and harps are the result of 12 years of research and development by their inventor, Gaudry Normand. Our patented mallets and mechanisms promote the emission of sustained, clear, and warm sounds with rich vibrato and a wide dynamic range. A simple tap of the mallet on a tube envelops you in incredible pure, celestial, and lasting sound waves—with no disruptive attack sound.

We ensure secure shipping and offer a warranty. Our thoughtfully designed mechanisms also allow you to easily repair your instrument in the event of an accident.

Some of our customers say that Quartzophone lyres and harps deserve to be displayed in museums. Just imagine the effect of a Quartzophone lyre or harp sitting on a shelf or piece of furniture in your home…

Imitations

To respect our patents, imitators must design their instruments differently. In many of the imitations we have examined, a string or elastic band is tightly wrapped around the tubes, which chokes the sound. Weaker and flatter, the notes fade quickly. As for the mallets, they often produce unpleasant attack sounds.

The stringing methods used by many manufacturers do not allow customers to repair the instrument themselves. When it is possible, it is often much more difficult than with ours. If a customer is forced to return an instrument to the manufacturer for repair, shipping to China, Russia, Poland, etc., is often at their own expense.

We’ve even found some manufacturers who offer neither product warranties nor after-sales service. And many don’t insure their shipments, even though we’ve seen packaging that poses a serious risk of damage during delivery.

Important : If “Quartzophone” is not engraved on a crystal instrument, it is not a Quartzophone instrument.

Just as a bow affects the sound of a violin, the mallet influences the tone and vibration of a crystal harp.

Our mallet protects the tubes and produces no unpleasant sounds. Refer to the previous questions to understand why the enchantment is complete.

Canada

We ship our Quartzophone instruments to all Canadian provinces and territories from our workshop located in Sherbrooke. To place an order, go through our online store or contact us by email. Please ensure your email address is correct so we can respond to your request.

We offer free shipping within one week and use Canada Post services. Certain restrictions may apply in special cases. If you choose an express shipping option, the cost will be at your expense.

Other countries

We have a network of authorized retailers in several countries. To find an authorized retailer near you, please contact us by email and we will direct you to the nearest distributor.

If you wish to become an authorized retailer, get in touch with us.

Our mallets are safe for use with our quartz crystal instruments. They are made with material of the appropriate hardness and are covered with felt. Since a light tap is enough to make our tubes resonate, normal use won’t damage them.

If an accident occurs—for example, your cat knocks over your crystal harp and a tube breaks—we can send you a repair kit upon request. The inventor of Quartzophone instruments took life’s little mishaps into account: they are designed so customers can easily repair them. Replacing a broken tube takes just about 30 minutes.

Additionally, our L1 and H2 instruments come with a replacement string and instructions. If you need to replace the string in a few years, you’ll already have everything you need.

Each instrument comes with a one-year warranty against material or manufacturing defects. You’ll never need to retune the tubes—their tuning is permanent. It is also very rare to damage a tube through proper playing. The durable string will last for years.

This warranty excludes tubes, strings, accessories, normal wear, misuse, negligence, damage during transport (our shipments are insured), accidents, and loss of use of the instrument. Compensation excludes indirect damage and will not exceed the price of the instrument. Any modification made to the instrument voids the warranty.

In case of a warranty claim, Quartzophone will send you the materials and instructions needed to complete the repair. We’re also available to assist if necessary.

Gently tap the quartz crystal tubes with our mallets to produce crystalline, celestial vibrations. Let the sound surround you—or the person you’re working with—but never vibrate a tube near the face or ears.
(Watch the videos on our Home and Quartzophone pages to see how to play.)

Crystal instruments are intended for adult use. Keep yours out of reach of children. If you choose to let a child use it, supervise them and ensure they are instructed on how to play properly.

A crystal instrument is not played like a drum. Excessive vibration can damage it. If damaged, do not use it in any way. Obtain a replacement part to continue playing safely. 

It is possible to play a crystal instrument with your hands for variety, but the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.

While playing by hand can produce interesting sounds, they are much weaker and fade more quickly.

Because playing by hand requires water, over time, corrosion can form on the pegs and mineral deposits on the tubes—damage that is unfortunately irreversible.

To preserve the beauty of your instrument, we do not recommend playing it with your hands.

Simply wipe your instrument with a soft, damp cloth.