Vanderbilt Classic Gut – best bang for the buck, as the saying goes. They have a warmer tone than Bow Brands. Vanderbilt Music sells both the Classic, Burgundy and Bow Brand gut strings, which makes it easier to compare prices.

I’d get an extra tuning key. The ergonomic ones are very nice and they work if you hold them correctly. Use the handle like a lever; like you’re drawing beer on tap.

Congratulations and enjoy your new harp.

Barbara in CA

I have a Prelude 40 and use Vanderbilt Classic Gut.

If I remember correctly, the Burgandy strings are cheaper because they may have visual imperfections – nothing that’s supposed to affect the sound.

Andy

I used to use Burgundy gut strings for years, when they came from Lyon & Healy. In more recent years, they were of much less quality, not good enough to keep, much more than just visual imperfections. I went back to Bow, despite the cost. I used two sets of Classic gut and found them hard to keep in tune, not clear in pitch, and the protective coating is so thin it wore off very quickly. Pirastro strings may be the best, but soooo expensive. I use Pirastro nylon strings for 0-3 octaves, then Bow gut, and silver/copper wires, no colored strings.

This is interesting, Saul.

It might have been then. I believe that Lyon & Healy originally sold them, and then it was switched over to Bow Brand, as they’ve been around a long time. I used them from about 1985 to 2005.