Changing the range on a lap harp

[holly-bowron-hainley]

I just read in another query that someone dropped the low note on a gothic harp from E to C.

[Tacye]

What does your harp sound like if you simply tune it a semitone or tone flat?

[tonya-a]

Holly – that was me who changed the lowest note on my Gothic harp – since the lower notes were already wire-wrapped, the diameter was essentially the same, so it wasn’t much of a leap, altho there was slight sanding required to make that lowest C slide thru.

[Karen Johns]

Well, I wouldn’t try to go too low. I tried to re-string my Irish lap harp (22 string) from the low F to the C below middle C and was really disappointed. Strings were rubbery, way too low tension for my comfort, and the sound was just dull. Also, the thicker the string, the more stress on the soundboard, so you have to be careful about that. My best advice would be to consult the manufacturer for their advice before tweaking.

Karen

[holly-bowron-hainley]

Thank you all for your comments–

[Kate Hopkins]

You could also try talking to Markwood Strings, Laurie might be able to do a string analysis and figure out what arrangement of strings would keep the tension while dropping the notes. Just down tuning the strings may not be the best plan, you harp is designed to have a certain amount of tension on it. Strings need to match the available vibrating length, the diameter of string that will produce that note desired while fitting the length and soundboard hole as well as provide the correct tension. It is a science.

[Tacye]

I am confused, is the Eire strung with pedal nylon or folk nylon?

Unless I have done something stupid in the maths- which is entirely
possible- to keep the tension on a string the same for every semitone
you lower the pitch of the strings you can increase the diameter by 6%.

[holly-bowron-hainley]

The Eire is strung with the Bow Brand nylon Salvi uses for lever harps not pedal.

[holly-bowron-hainley]

Just heard back from

[holly-bowron-hainley]

Alexandra at Salvi Anaheim said what I expected which is– don’t do it– but is forwarding my request to the technical team for an explanation of why.

[Dwyn .]

Holly:

You need to

[holly-bowron-hainley]

Wow!

[holly-bowron-hainley]

Just an FYI update for anyone wondering about changing their string range.

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