Can I turn my double into a cross-strung?

[Alesha Orton]

I have a Double-strung Stoney End Braunwen (29 string x 2). The strings are parallel and about 3/4 inch apart down the middle of the soundboard. I have no levers and keep to C major (unless I’m feeling wild) as it takes a lot of time to tune 58 strings as is. There are tuning pins on both sides of the top bar.

Today I saw a cross-strung that looked almost like mine, except the string holes were diagonally spaced instead of parallel. I felt inspired to look into trying to cross-string mine. Has anyone here attempted to cross-string a double-harp with parallel strings like this? The thing I think would be a problem is the strings crossing and touching in the middle. Would stringing to an adjacent tuning pin on each opposite side instead of the regular work? I guess I could do a mock with some thread…. Any thoughts? Of course I don’t want to damage the harp and I emailed Stoney End and expect to hear back, but… any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[Alesha Orton]

My mock-up helped me to know this wouldn’t work without other adjustments, as the strings crossed just one inch from the baseboard giving way too little room to play with the other strings that I would have made into flats and sharps. I’m still open to ideas. :1)
Thanks!

[balfour-knight]

I haven’t looked yet, but does Stoney End even make a cross-strung harp? Perhaps they will know more to tell you about yours, and whether this is possible. I would assume that it is probably not feasible, and that you would just have to buy a cross-strung.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

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