Frequently asked questions to ‘KORA manding harps’

0. After having a fisrt look around the website for having first informations…

1. You can contact me by email (my name is Carles) to define what you are looking for: The kora model + any specific needs. I will resolve as many question you need and also I will be making you suggestions according to your comments.

2. We will check together the grand total (instrument, shipping cost, additional items if so).

3. Once all OK with the grand total we can comment the transferring options.

4. I will proceed with the shipping (if it was a kora in stock) or I will proceed to built your kora (the most common case)… and i will be sending you photos of the making process of your instrument till it is ready to be shipped.

5. As soon the shipping expedition has been programmed you will receive an email with the tracking data and the estimated delivery date to your location.
You and me will take care about the delivery process.

6. While you are waiting for the parcel delivery  you will receive a PDF document: “Kora Starting Guide” with very useful informations about you new kora.

6. You can contact me anytime as “lifetime after-sales support”.

. . .

See? From the very start the process will be personalized and I’ll address your questions and needs step by step (before, during and after).

You can hear the sound demonstrations of the koras I built in the page Sound Demos. There you will have a general idea of the quality but not all the records of each of the koras I built as it would be too much work for me.

Based on my experience shipping koras, the shipping costs can vary from approximately 40 EUR to 430 EUR. The final price depends on the following variables:

• The shipping crate (dimensions and weight).

• The distance between the origin and the destination.

• Whether or not your location is within the most frequent flow circuits of courier companies where they can offer lower prices.

• And finally, it also depends on global economic market events (pandemics, wars, import tariffs…).

To check the transport cost I need you to send me the minimum data of (1+2)

1. Postal code number (*)

2. Name of the city/ town/ village of destination.

(*) If there is more than one neighbourhood related to your postal code number you must know it and inform me telling me your specific neighbourhood name to be sure the estimated transport price is based on the right destination.

Once you are OK with the grand total of the order we can comment wich is the preferred/ easiest way for both parts: Payment link, bank transfer, credit card, any of them.

Yes, if you need you can pay the kora in installments and I will not add any fee for it.

Tell me your needs, no problem.

Any acoustic koras in the shop can be updated to electro-acoustic version for +160 EUR. (passive transducer).

Feel free to email me for further details or/and personal needs.

There are no koras for beginners (only little koras for kids or normal ones for adults) and there are no difference, in my koras, between beginners or professionals.
All my koras are built matching a “perfect zone” where professionals and beginners can feel the best feedback.

This being said I always take care if there are some particularities from the customer’s side to arrange here and there if it is needed/ deserved. Ask me questions about this matter if you a need or you think you might need.

To build any of the kora models in the website I need about one month (if the winds are favorable with kora and non kora matters around)… it is not rare that it takes me finally about a month and a half to have the kora finished.

For a SEMIOTNES kora model it takes me two months (if the winds are favorable with kora and non kora matters around)… it is not rare that it takes me finally about two months and a half to have this kora model finished.

This being said any model can be built in less time if i am not too busy with other koras or other non kora business and if all the winds are favorable

I always send photos to the customer showing the work in progresss so this way you will be informed, confi and happy during the exciting wait.

Non, je n’en ai pas. Je ne construis ce type de koras que sur commande du client.

N’hésitez pas à poser toute autre question concernant ce modèle.

When you buy from this official store ‘KORA Manding Harps'” you’re buying directly from the artisan (me). There are no intermediary sales platforms (such as Etsy, eBuy, Amazon, etc.), therefore, no additional fees.

Third-party sales platforms charge fees for the product and for the use of the platform, and the seller is obligated to charge the buyer (you) in order to make a profit from the sale (obviously).

They falsify information to convince the consumer (you) that you’re buying more cheaply, thinking you’re getting significant benefits. For example, you’ll often see them say “free shipping,” when that’s false, since the seller has to include the shipping cost in the price of the item. A whole cycle of nonsense and absurdity (and a waste of time) that only harms both the seller and the buyer.

Thus, by buying from this website (my website), you directly support my work as an artisan without third parties taking advantage of me, so you also benefit from a lower price.

If you purchase directly from this official website, I will explain the price breakdown in detail before you make your decision. This is a 100% secure purchase with direct assistance throughout the process and unlimited after-sales support. Any issues will be resolved positively for the buyer’s benefit.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, no commitment.