Steel Strings for Lap Harp

[ficali]

I got a lap harp for Christmas which I mentioned in my First post if you remember me.. and some of you suggested getting steel strings to get the Celtic sound. And I was wondering can you buy a set of strings for a lap harp as small as it is? Or *DOES* it have to be the size of a standard Celtic harp?

Comments

[experiment666]

I would think that if anyone had strings for a lap harp it would be lark in the morning. http://larkinthemorning.com They have a thing for odd instruments, I believe they will also electrify any acoustic instrument for a fee upon request. Anyway good luck with the strings.

[ficali]

I didn't really run across any extra harp strings from them, but thanks for the site any way, I have a thing for odd instruments as well.

[antaine1]

watch out with the wire strings, if your harp isn't designed for it you will break the soundboard. They exert a lot more pressure than nylon.

[ficali]

Thanks for the warning. :)

[children_of_lir]

By size, do you mean the thickness of the frame? Because that's why the "true" Celtic harp has a stockier build: to withstand the extra tension of wire strings.

If your harp was designed for nylon/gut strings, it might not be strong enough to cope with metal strings. You don't want the wood to crack.

(In either case I wouldn't recommend steel. Bronze wire sounds better and is more authentically Celtic.)

[ficali]

Oh, I didn't know there were differences besides Nylon and Steel. Would Bronze wire be more suitable for a lap harp?

[children_of_lir]

Bronze wire is what was traditionally used for the Celtic harp in Ireland and Scotland (as opposed to Wales.)

Again, though: if your harp was designed for nylon strings, its frame will be lightweight. Switching to metal strings, period, is not advisable.

[ficali]

Thanks, it came with nylon strings, so I'm assuming it was design for it.

[perruche_verte]

I'd suggest contacting a harp maker like Stoney End Harps with this question. They'd be able to sell you wire strings, if it would be appropriate to use them.

Keep antaine1's concern in mind. You don't want to damage your instrument.

Not all Celtic harpers use wire strung harps, either. Harping traditions have changed over the centuries but the earliest Welsh harps used horse hair strings.

[ficali]

Thanks for the link.

[lowlandscot]

If you are wanting advice on changing strings on a harp I would recommend Robinson:

http://www.robinsonharp.com/

They custom design string sets for all kinds of harps. But as others mentioned -- if this harp was designed to use nylon or gut strings, you will ruin it by stringing it with wire. Did you tell us the manufacturer and size of the harp? I don't remember those details. That would help a lot in giving you guidance.

[ficali]

Thanks for the link, I'll look at it in a bit.
I don't know the manufacturer since it was a gift from my family. I know it came from the Middle East though... but I'm sure that's no help. It came with nylon strings I believe, so I'm sure it is designed for nylon.

[ladyofannwn]

I don't know what "standard Celtic harp" size is; how many octaves is it?

if it looks like this: http://bp1.blogger.com/_-EYnyO71AmE/SDL9013SMLI/AAAAAAAADFs/OMDv_6xc29k/s320/Celtic+Harp.jpg

I think it came from Pakistan. (I'm gonna guess that only because it's one of the most popular things I've seen. ) If it is that one, I really would not recommend messing with it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but while I think there are differences in technique for wire strung harps (some people play with their fingernails, you come back down on the string sometimes, right?) I don't think it will hinder you too much to start learning the basics on nylon.

[ficali]

Well mine is 22 strings.. but it did come from Pakistan. It's blue instead of wood colored and carved.

I don't think I will try to mess with it as since the majority doesn't think its a good idea.