Nylgut Strings by Aquila

[balfour-knight]

I had time to look up a suitable scale for the 4th and 5th octaves:

4E–1.24mm
4D–1.28
4C–1.40 Red
4B–1.45
4A–1.50
4G–1.60
4F–1.70 Black

5E–1.80mm
5D–1.90
5C–2.00 Red
5B–2.00 or 2.20 (Aquila does not list 2.10)
5A–2.20 (Aquila does not list 2.30. They do list 2.40, but this would be “heavy gauge.”)

[balfour-knight]

Sid, I know that you have said in the past that you have nylons on your L&H 23 down through the third octave, since they are “brighter” than the gut. These new Nylguts sound like gut, but ring out longer. They do not have the bright nylon sound, but I can pluck them more strongly than nylon, giving a great sound up there in the treble. When I would pluck the former nylons strongly, I did not like the resulting “explosive” sound, which you don’t get with the nylguts. On the other hand, these new nylguts can be played softly, producing that “to die for” gut-strung harp sound. The nylguts are capable of a wide range of dynamics and expression. You don’t have to adjust your plucking technique when you go from the real gut up into the nylgut, and the nylguts stay in tune, requiring very little adjustment. Mine only took 2 or 3 days to acclimate on the harp, and have not stretched very much since then. They run about $3.50 each, with enough length to make two or three strings in the treble, so you automatically have spares. The larger gauges cost a little more, of course.

Hope this helps.

Harp Hugs and best wishes,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

Note to Lever Harpists:

If you are planning to use the New Nylgut (NGH) strings on your lever harp, you need to use smaller gauges than what I have posted here for standard pedal harps. I recommend using one gauge smaller in the First Octave, two gauges smaller in the Second Octave, and three gauges smaller in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Octaves. You will need to specify “red C’s and black F’s.”

The exception to this would be if you have a lever harp with standard pedal harp stringing, such as a L&H Prelude. Also, on lever-gut stringing charts for most lever harps, such as Dusty Strings, you can just use the same gauge for the New Nylgut (NGH) that they recommend for real gut. If you have a gauge for a real gut string, and that exact gauge is not available in Nylgut, just use the next available gauge smaller in Nylgut. That way, you will not be putting too much tension and strain on your harp.

If you have nylon strings and want to convert to New Nylgut, Aquila USA will help you do the conversions. Nylgut gauges are smaller than nylon for the same note, just like real gut.

I hope this information is helpful.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

For lever harpists, I will post a suggested scale, at least a place to start, with the New Nylgut NGH strings by Aquila. The following scale would also work as a “light-tension” alternative for Pedal Harp. If your lever harp uses Lever Gut strings, just go by that stringing chart. Nylgut is the same density and scale as real gut. If converting from nylon, check with Aquila to get the formula! Remember, do not use thicker gauges than your harp can stand!

0G–.42
0F–.44 Black
1E–.46mm
1D–.48
1C–.50 Red
1B–.52
1A–.54
1G–.56
1F–.60 Black
2E–.62
2D–.66
2C–.68 Red
2B–.70
2A–.76
2G–.79
2F–.82 Black
3E–.85
3D–.88
3C–.91 Red
3B–.94
3A–.97
3G–1.00mm
3F–1.08 Black
4E–1.12
4D–1.16
4C–1.20 Red
4B–1.24
4A–1.28
4G–1.40
4F–1.45 Black
5E–1.50mm
5D–1.60
5C–1.70 Red
5B–1.80
5A–1.90mm

[balfour-knight]

Finally, I have a chart for converting nylon harp strings to the New Nylgut NGH strings! It even contains carbon gauges. Enjoy!

AQUILA NEW NYLGUT CODES NEW NYLGUT GUT EQUIVALENT / ACTUAL GAUGE NYLON GAUGES CARBON GAUGES
36NNG 0.36 mm 0.40 mm 0.30 mm
38NNG 0.38 mm 0.42 mm 0.32 mm
40NNG 0.40 mm 0.44 mm 0.34 mm
42NNG 0.42 mm 0.46 mm 0.36 mm
44NNG 0.44 mm 0.48 mm 0.375 mm
46NNG 0.46 mm 0.51 mm 0.39 mm
48NNG 0.48 mm 0.53 mm 0.41 mm
50NNG 0.50 mm 0.55 mm 0.43 mm
52NNG 0.52 mm 0.57 mm 0.44 mm
54NNG 0.54 mm 0.59 mm 0.46 mm
56NNG 0.56 mm 0.62 mm 0.475 mm
58NNG 0.58 mm 0.64 mm 0.49 mm
60NNG 0.60 mm 0.66 mm 0.51 mm
62NNG 0.62 mm 0.68 mm 0.525 mm
64NNG 0.64 mm 0.70 mm 0.54 mm
66NNG 0.66 mm 0.73 mm 0.56 mm
68NNG 0.68 mm 0.75 mm 0.58 mm
70NNG 0.70 mm 0.77 mm 0.60 mm
73NNG 0.73 mm 0.80 mm 0.62 mm
76NNG 0.76 mm 0.84 mm 0.64 mm
79NNG 0.79 mm 0.88 mm 0.67 mm
82NNG 0.82 mm 0.91 mm 0.70 mm
85NNG 0.85 mm 0.94 mm 0.72 mm
88NNG 0.88 mm 0.97 mm 0.75 mm
91NNG 0.91 mm 1.00 mm 0.78 mm
94NNG 0.94 mm 1.04 mm 0.80 mm
97NNG 0.97 mm 1.07 mm 0.82 mm
100NNG 1.00 mm 1.11 mm 0.85 mm
104NNG 1.04 mm 1.15 mm 0.88 mm
108NNG 1.08 mm 1.20 mm 0.92 mm
112 NNG 1.12 mm 1.24 mm 0.95 mm

[balfour-knight]

Sorry the heading above the gauges is not in line with the columns!
1st column–Aquila New Nylgut codes
2nd column–New Nylgut gut equivalent/actual gauge
3rd column–nylon gauges
4th column–carbon gauges

[balfour-knight]

I meant to add that my New Nylgut NGH strings are doing great, since Dec. 24, 2023! I’m so glad I made the change from pedal nylon to Nylgut. The improvement in tone and feel is “awesome,” believe me! Only real gut can compare with Nylgut, but those thin, high gut strings break too often in the top octaves for me.

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

Well, it’s been six months now since I installed my first New Nylgut strings (NGH). They have done very well, have beautiful gut tone, and have remarkable tuning stability, not being affected by humidity changes. Only the top 0G has broken, and that was at the anchor, underneath the soundboard, where I might have kinked it during the installation. It was very easy to replace, from the original long string, and I have enough string left to replace it again! Three strings from that one long string! Aquila still gives generous length, unlike what Bow Brand has recently advertised, that their strings now come in shorter lengths, alas!

I hope more of you will try out these NGH strings by Aquila and post your results here. Go back through this thread to find appropriate scaling and gauge information. You must tell Aquila the mm sizes and color (natural, red, or black) when you place your order. Unfortunately, you can’t just order a “second octave set,” etc., or one string for “3rd-octave B,” for example. However, Aquila makes available many different gauges, so that you can customize your harp strings for high, medium, or low tension, at your discretion and pleasure.

Harp Hugs and best wishes,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

P. S. Remember, don’t ever put higher tension strings on your harp than what your harp was designed for! You could go the other way, putting lower tension strings on a harp designed for high tension, but your harp might not sound as good.

[Gregg Bailey]

Thanks for all the useful information, Balfour! And the “heavy whipping cream” color of the D, E, G, A, and B Nylguts is really apparent in your photo between the tuning pins and the bridge pins with Angelica’s maple behind them; they visually really “pop out”!

-Gregg

[balfour-knight]

That is correct about the nice color of these New Nylgut strings, Gregg! It makes the treble strings of the harp so much easier to see, and I miss that now when I play another harp without that “heavy whipping cream” color distinction! Too bad that nylon is not made for harps in this more visible color. Thanks for your post!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

Update! Since Dec. 24, 2023, only ONE string has broken in the top two octaves of my New Nylgut NGH strings on my Camac Atlantide Prestige. It was the top 0G, and the replacement has stayed on the harp without breaking. These strings need to be used by more harpists, so that their true advantages can become understood and accepted. I am very pleased with all aspects concerning them, and recommend them highly.

Harp Hugs and best wishes,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

There is a nice article “Strings that Ring” in the current issue of HC. Too bad that Hope Cowan hasn’t checked out the New Nylgut NGH strings by Aquila! They are a wonderful substitute for gut strings, as I have said repeatedly above in this column. I have also provided appropriate gauges, so that anyone might try these, to see for themselves. Please let us know here, on this thread, if you are willing to try these. Again, I am not affiliated in any way with Aquila, I just know what has worked well on my harp.

Have a great day,
Balfour

[balfour-knight]

Now, if only the Virginia Harp Center would stock and promote these NGH New Nylgut strings by Aquila! I order all my other regular strings from them.

[balfour-knight]

Attention harpists! This is a great time to order the new nylgut NGH strings from Curtis at Aquila, USA. He just let me know that he is expecting a shipment in mid-December, so get your orders in so that all your strings can be ordered from Italy!
Happy harping,
Balfour

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