changing string type on L&H Folk Harp?

[Lauran Fowks]

I have a 1990’s Lyon & Healy Folk Harp with heavy-gauge concert-tension Bow Brand strings, which is the harp I learned on. Last year I treated myself to a Dusty Strings FH36S with lighter tension strings, and now I’m spoiled – the sound quality of the FH36S is so superior to my old Folk Harp, which sounds very muffled in comparison, and the lighter tension strings are so much nicer to play. I’m wondering if there is any reason why I shouldn’t put new Dusty Strings strings on my old Lyon & Healy Folk Harp, as a way to give it a sound-quality overhaul? I understand why one shouldn’t put higher tension strings on a harp built for light tension, but this is going in the other direction so I wouldn’t think the harp would get damaged. Is there any other reason why this wouldn’t work?

[charles-nix]

It can (possibly) work, but it isn’t that simple.

1) The lever grooves won’t fit the smaller strings, so you’ll need to replace the handles. Loveland still makes them.
2) Regulation will certainly need to be done afterward.
3) The change from metal core to nylon or gut may happen on a different note.
4) Lastly, if the soundboard is thick enough to support the heavy tension strings, the light tension might not energize the soundboard well enough, so you might end up with a light tension but very soft harp.

No matter what, you probably won’t be able to use a Dusty string set directly, but will need a custom set designed for that harp and for the sound/tension you want. Vermont Strings or North Shore Strings or Markwood can help with that, as can several on this board. The string analysis will cost some, but a custom set won’t be appreciably more costly than Dusty’s stock set.

If you’re looking at a brighter sound, I’ve had success with recalculating for fluorocarbon at the same or lighter tension. Being more dense than gut, given a constant tension and length, fluorocarbon will be smaller diameter.

You’ll still have to regulate and change lever handles, though.

How long has it been since the Folk Harp was restrung, especially the wires? If it has been many years, that alone will brighten it up, but they weren’t designed to be as bright as a Dusty.

[Biagio]

I agree with Charles and will add a couple of thoughts.

First, use nylon (or FC) if you want a brighter sound, but keep the tension the same as with gut. Vermont Strings (or others) can figure that out for you.

Second, you could probably convert the harp to metal strung if that idea floats your canoe.

Third, either be happy with the L&H as a second or if you want to spend the $$ replace the sound board with a thinner one.

That’s neither hard nor expensive in terms of materials but the labor would definitely cost a bunch if you went to a luthier. Any decent wood worker however could remove the old one and put on a Finnish ply board, which you could buy at Musicmakers (and again, replace the strings). Costly yes, but you would learn a lot about harp making (grin).

[balfour-knight]

Hi Lauran, Charles, and Biagio,

Great posts here! Lauran, I am a little surprised that you even kept the L&H after you bought the Dusty FH36S and love it so much. The only lever harp I own now is a cherry FH36S, and the only other harp I own that I love as much as the Dusty is a Camac Atlantide Prestige concert grand pedal harp. I sold all my other harps in favor of just these two. It was unfair to expect my former harps to compete with my current two, and I knew I would never wish to play those former harps again, when I could be playing my current two.

If you enjoy the tonal (and tension) difference between the two harps, then play both, by all means. But I am like you, I am spoiled by the Dusty (and the Camac!). I don’t think that changing the strings would make too much of a difference, unless you did what Biagio suggested and also change the soundboard. However you decide, I wish you good luck in this.

Harp Hugs everyone,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Lauran Fowks]

Thank you all so much for your information and expertise. It is a lot more complicated than I had thought.. My FH36S is what I play 95% of the time, but I held on to the L&H to keep at a second location so I wouldn’t need to haul the Dusty Strings back and forth. I’m thinking I should just learn to appreciate the L&H for what it is 🙂 Thanks again!

[balfour-knight]

Hi Lauran,

Have you ever tried out a Dusty Boulevard? They are the pedal-harp tension version of Dusty’s collection. I imagine that the Boulevard is about as different from our FH36S’s as your L&H is. The Boulevard is of course a very nice harp, if you like that more mellow tone.

Wishing you a great day,
Balfour

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