Switching to Bow Brand

[HBrock25]

I’ve used Vanderbilt gut strings for many years now on my Venus harp and
never had a problem. I recently ordered L&H Bow Brand since
Vanderbilt has stopped making gut strings, but I’ve had trouble with
string breakage. The two strings I’ve replaced with Bow Brand have
snapped 3-4 times each immediately after I’ve put them in, breaking near
the bridge pin each time. I’m completely mystified as to why this is
happening. The only difference I can tell between the two brands is that
the Bow Brand strings appear to be slightly more “slippery” than the
Vanderbilt. I’m not sure if I just got bad strings, or if I should try
another brand altogether. Any and all advice is appreciated – thanks in
advance!

[Misty Harrison]

I use Bow Brand all the time and like them very much.

[Elizabeth L]

L-H replaces them.

[catherine-rogers]

Any chance you might have gotten the wrong octave string? That would do it.

Vanderbilt also carries Bow Brand; it’s just the Classic gut which they can no longer get.

[Katherine Denler]

I love new bow brands — I think of them as “buttery”.

It does sound like you may have gotten bad strings – let them know and they’ll send you new ones.

Other things to consider — sometimes the inside of the tuning pin can be rough, or if you don’t have it completely vertical as you lace the string it can damage the string. Also, be careful as you tie the string – maybe you accidentally crimped it?

Good luck!

[tony-morosco]

Yeah, I use Bow Brand and have never had any problems with them. The only time I ever had a new string break right after putting it on

[michael-steadman]

bridge pin is the tuning pin? it might have sharp edges in the string hole – I have seen this before. you could ask them for replacements and also a sanding wire.

[barbara-brundage]

>bridge pin is the tuning pin?

Hi, Michael. The bridge pin is the small pin on the action/lever side of the neck over which the string passes before it goes to the tuning pin. Good illustration here:

http://www.harpconnection.com/LapHarpFAQs.html

(Not all harps have them, but all harps that can use any kind of bow brand string will have them.)

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I want to point out that, though I had some bad strings before, I am quite happy with the quality of Bow Brand burgundy strings that I have recently used.

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