Monofilament strings are easy to maintain since it is not necessary to keep a replacement set of individual strings. All
you need is a length of string material for each of the gauges for that harp. The Ancient Muse harp uses six gauges
of phosphor bronze wire for its 22 strings. You don't need 22 replacement strings, you only need six lengths of
wire, one of each gauge. There are eight different gauges of wire on the Ancient Celtic harp
you need is a length of string material for each of the gauges for that harp. The Ancient Muse harp uses six gauges
of phosphor bronze wire for its 22 strings. You don't need 22 replacement strings, you only need six lengths of
wire, one of each gauge. There are eight different gauges of wire on the Ancient Celtic harp
The strings used on all Folc harps are common industrial materials and so will always be available outside the folk
harp world. The nylon strings are of common Tynex nylon that is used in hundreds of industrial applications such
as making toothbrushes. The bronze strings are industrial 80/20 phosphor bronze spring wire that you have seen if
you have ever tried to repair some small mechanical gizmo or the other and had all those little "V" shaped springs go
flying off in every direction.
harp world. The nylon strings are of common Tynex nylon that is used in hundreds of industrial applications such
as making toothbrushes. The bronze strings are industrial 80/20 phosphor bronze spring wire that you have seen if
you have ever tried to repair some small mechanical gizmo or the other and had all those little "V" shaped springs go
flying off in every direction.
The Ancient Echo uses eight gauges of nylon string. If you don't want to dye the strings blue and red yourself, you'd
need a total of 14 different hanks of string in your string replacement kit, the original eight plus three lengths of red
string and three lengths of blue string. The strings are easy to color using Rit Dye with enough extra mordant (salt)
and dying the nylon at the right temperature for a sufficient length of time.
need a total of 14 different hanks of string in your string replacement kit, the original eight plus three lengths of red
string and three lengths of blue string. The strings are easy to color using Rit Dye with enough extra mordant (salt)
and dying the nylon at the right temperature for a sufficient length of time.
The string material in modest quantities is readily available from a number of sources and Folc Harp will soon offer
complete kits of coils of string, extra grommets, and string ends for each harp. Most wire strung Folc harps come
with a length of the two smallest gauges of wire (.016" and .018") since those are the most prone to break. Some
come with a complete set of coils of replacement string material.
complete kits of coils of string, extra grommets, and string ends for each harp. Most wire strung Folc harps come
with a length of the two smallest gauges of wire (.016" and .018") since those are the most prone to break. Some
come with a complete set of coils of replacement string material.
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For wire harps I have found that one gets accustomed to playing by feel rather than sight and so having colored strings
ceases to be a consideration. But until the player gets to that place, here is a way of orienting on the bronze strung
harp. The bright coppery colored strings very quickly tarnish to the color of an old penny, the strings and pennies
both being made of bronze. Polish the C and F strings with a bit of #0000 steel wool, or better still a bit of fiber wool
available at wood working stores. They take on their original shine very readily. Do this polishing, of course, before
tuning the harp and be very gentle with the strings. Too much sideways movement will stress them in exactly the
wrong place. If the lighting is good, the strings will appear in the pattern of dull-dull-dull-bright-dull-dull-bright and it
is easy to place the hands at a glance.
ceases to be a consideration. But until the player gets to that place, here is a way of orienting on the bronze strung
harp. The bright coppery colored strings very quickly tarnish to the color of an old penny, the strings and pennies
both being made of bronze. Polish the C and F strings with a bit of #0000 steel wool, or better still a bit of fiber wool
available at wood working stores. They take on their original shine very readily. Do this polishing, of course, before
tuning the harp and be very gentle with the strings. Too much sideways movement will stress them in exactly the
wrong place. If the lighting is good, the strings will appear in the pattern of dull-dull-dull-bright-dull-dull-bright and it
is easy to place the hands at a glance.