AKLOT 16 Metal Strings Lyre Harp Maple Saddle Mahogany Body Lyra Harp with Carved Note Tuning Wrench Pick up Strings

I wasn't quite sure what to expect at this price point, and with all the extra items that would be included.The instrument is very nicely crafted. There are no rough edges, and the strings, pegs and grommets are very nicely spaced and installed. It has a nice sound quality and has metal strings. All the items in the pictures were included. The tuning is a little tight, but not unexpected for an instrument with peg tuners. Initially it will take multiple tunings while the strings stretch, but over time I feel it will stay in tune, once the strings settle in, just fine.The gig bag is nicely made, I just wish it would have a bit of padding and a storage pocket, but for the price I can't really complain. I plan on transporting it in an additional padded bag that also will have pockets for the other items. I would definitely have no problems sharing this instrument with the grandkids.I also like this design, as it allows for the instrument to either be played upright, or to be played flat on a table or lap. A good option for those of us dealing with shoulder and back arthritis. The only thing I would change, and I have to admit that I don't know if it's an option, is that I would pay for this to be placed in an additional box for shipping. It was shipped in the factory box. While this box is sufficient for that purpose of enclosing the instrument and accessories together, it's not quite strong enough to be the main shipping box. During shipping, the box received a hole in it, and the instrument has a ding on it where the box was compromised. At least the ding is on the back of the instrument. Overall, I am quite pleased with this instrument. Good quality for the price.

I love it. I've been unable to play my many guitars due to my hands not cooperating.This sounds great. A note for people who might benefit from tuning suggestions:1. Don't rush to tune it the day you get it. Take it out of the box and let it set out for at least a day to get up to the "room temp" in your house. I got a wood looking stand, which is two pieces that you slot together to make a curved guitar or small instrument stand. Works perfectly on the counter.2. When you go to tune it the first time, know that it is going to take you about an hour to do it. You want to tune it very carefully, in TINY, less than 1/32 of an inch movements.3. The tuning it "set for" starts with the largest string, on the left, as a "G" string. So, it's:G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A4. I put my electric tuner, DEAD CENTER of the thinnest part of the lyre, clamped on right behind the strings.5. Put your tuning tool on the peg, holding it in your hand like you would the handle of a mug of coffee. Put your THUMB on the peg.6. You want to tune "up" to your note, not down from past your note. NOTE: The very first time you tune the strings, they will be "falling out of tune" quickly, as they stretch to their full length. This is normal. For THAT reason, when you do your first series of tunings, once you have "hit" the note, don't worry or try to "tune it back down " if you went slightly over the perfect center mark on your tuner, into the high side. Why, because, in this FIRST TUNING session, it's going to relax and drop to the low side of the center mark on your tuner. You will fix all that at the end of tuning all the strings. You might be fixing that for a couple days, until the strings have finished stretching.7. Start on the heavy, "wound" "G" string on the left. Make TINY, TINY, MOVEMENTS. Squeeze your hand tight on the handle of tool, while your thumb rests on the peg. You will feel imperceptible movement on the peg. You do NOT want to give it a sweeping crank. It doesn't take much, once you are in range, to go way overboard. If you crank away in big movements, it's harder to tune and you could break a string.8. Once you feel movement, remove the tool and pluck the string to see what the tuner says to you. Put the tool back on and repeat until you get the "G" string tuned.9. Pluck the next "A" string and tell yourself "This is "A" as you run your finger UP the string to the peg. Doing that sounds stupid, but, if you have ever been on the "wrong peg" for the string you are plucking, and you keep cranking away, because, what you pluck and what you SEE on the tuner is not going to be match right if you are plucking the 3rd string but you are cranking away on the 4th tuning peg. I learned that the hard way while tuning a 12 string guitar.10. So, tune that "A" string, then the next "B" string, the "C" string, the "D" string, the "E, the "F" and the "G" string. If you have trouble believing your tuner, it helps to pluck the strings you have already tuned, up to the one you are working on, to "Hear" where you are.11. You are next going to tune the first of the thin, "unwound" strings, which is an "A" string. NOTE: The "unwound", thinner, strings, will break if wound too tightly. So, if you give it a bunch of sweeping cranks, instead of imperceptible movements, that might be your result, as the thinner strings require much LESS of an adjustment before they change notes.12. After you tune that "A" string, go back to the FIRST, heavy, "G" and gently tune your way back all those strings to that "A" string you just tuned. TINY movements, as it doesnt take much pressure to change a note at that point. NOTE: As you retune the thin strings for the SUBSEQUENT times, it takes even LESS pressure, so, be careful.13. Tune the "B" and "C" and "D" strings.14. Go BACK to the first string again, and gently bring all the other strings back into tune, clear up to the "D" string you just tuned.15. Tune the "E" and "F" string.16. Go BACK to the first string, AGAIN, and bring them all into tune. BY NOW, YOU WILL NOTICE that you ARE able to get dead center on your tuner screen, without wavering over, as the strings are stretching and holding the notes better.17. Tune the "G" and "A" strings.18. Go BACK to the first "G" string and adjust the tuning again.19. Play the instrument for awhile. Then, go back and adjust the tuning again.20. Put it away on ata stand or some manner of tablet stand, to keep it at from having the bag or anything else accidentally touching the strings, and, allow it to rest at room temp to continue its "New String" stretching.When you pick it up tomorrow, and, thereafter, you will notice that the strings are staying in tune.Remember to never CRANK on these strings. Just tightening your hand on the handle, while it's on the peg, will cause imperceptible movements. For me, I would rather tune UP to a note than go back and forth, up and down, trying to hit the note perfectly. Always go up.The reason I did this, at length, wss because I read a bunch of comments for people who got discouraged or quit trying to tune their instruments, or, thought their instrument was defective. ( I read those reviews cumulatively across all brands of lyre reviews that I read). So, I though this might help somebody with their decision to try this kind instrument.

Very good value for the money. Nice looking, good quality construction. It takes about a week to initially get it tuned and to get the strings properly stretched to stay in tune. It's vital that you understand this with just about any lyre. It's a regular situation and you just have to deal with it whenever you get new strings. This particular model is very nice. I would recommend it as a good starter lyre. Cheaper instruments will be disappointing.

The overall quality is pretty good, and the sound is just magical. I added an amplifier pickup, and it's great fun to play. Goes out of tune too easily, so be ready to spend time re-tuning.

Although the lyre itself is beautiful and feels nice in the hands, the tuning instrument doesn't even fit the metal pegs so it can't even be tuned. The instrument tuner also looked strange or damaged from the factory. There was no company info in the box so unless you know how to play a lyre you wont even know what notes to tune the strings to. I wrote to the company as they should know how their product is being sold and delivered through Amazon sellers. Waiting to hear back from the company, will update....UPDATE: 3/1/21: I wrote Aklot customer service regarding the tuner. I sent photos and within a few hours customer service responded very kindly and worked to quickly correct the issue. The new tuner fits perfect on the lyre and everything works excellently! Now that everything is tuned and working properly it is a fantastic little lyre with very beautiful sound. Perfect for a beginner. Aklot customer service is very, very good and everything was resolved and Im thrilled with my lyre so they get 5 stars. Thank you! :)