Burgandy vs Bow Strings, or other

[Barbara Henniger]

I have ordered my first harp ( a Prelude40) and am getting everything in order for its arrival! I am very excited but still looking for more advice.

I have ordered the travel covers and harp but am shopping around for my replacement strings. I am hoping to place the order soon enough to have the strings when the harp arrives. Is there anything else I should also order with the harp that I may not have thought of?

I have come across different brands of strings and want to know what experienced players think about the differences in the different brands. I have been playing a year and practise about 1 hour a day.

[barbara-low]

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

[Jerusha Amado]

I once had my Salzedo strung with Vanderbilt Burgundy gut strings, and they gave it a wonderful sound.

[Donna O]

I have a Prelude 40 and use Vanderbilt Classic Gut.

[paul-wren]

I have never understood what the difference between Bow and Burandy was…. they are both Bow Brand strings. Maybe the only real difference is the price??

Vanderbilt classics are good strings and yes a good bang for the buck! I keep a full set of Vanderbilt for replacements.

[andy-b]

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

Andy

[Jerusha Amado]

Andy,

This is what I have heard as well.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

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.

[Tacye]

I find that some different brands of strings sound slightly different and it often irritates me to have one different string in the middle of an octave.

[Jerusha Amado]

This is interesting, Saul.

[paul-wren]

I have to say that I dont like the Burgandy and wont even waste my money on them.

I have never bought Pirastro’s because of the cost of them, but have heard many harpist that have Salvi harps just love them. Maybe because of the tension.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

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.

[steven-todd-miller]

I’ve mentioned in other posts that I switched my 1 – 3 octaves on my Apollo to nylon (I had Bow brand on before that). About two months ago I got fed up with the things NEVER keeping pitch and having a constantly split right thumb, so I switched again to Vanderbilt Classic. The sound is so beautiful I can’t stop practicing, they’re easy on my hands, they hold pitch like a dream, and my thumb healed within a week. I’ll never stray from gut again, and Vanderbilt will be it!!!!

[Barbara Henniger]

Thank you everyone, for all the feedback. I feel I can make an informed decision now.

My new Prelude40 is waiting in Vancouver for me to pickup and arrived much sooner than I expected. I am thrilled and think of nothing else but my harp right now!

My other concern is what is the shelf life of gut strings and how should I store my spare set?

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