Category: Harp Maintenance

Ep. 323 – Dusty Strings “String Buttons” review

A quick review of the Dusty String “String Buttons”. These are something Dusty Strings came out with in 2021 as a way to make putting on a new string easy. The button acts both as a guide for tying the knot AND as the string anchor.

A student sent me some when they first were released and I’ve enjoyed having a few on hand. I continue to use the standard string know, but on occasions where I have a very short length of string, the button is the best way I know of tying a knot. using the least amount of string.

You can learn more about the button on the Dusty Strings page: https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/products/string-buttons

If you’re looking for alternatives, hat-tip to Balfour Knight – he mentioned in a harp column post that guitars already have something similar, search for “guitar string beads”. Could be worth trying if you don’t have access to string buttons?? (If you do try, I’d love to hear your experience).

For more on tying knots and putting on strings, check out https://harptuesday.com/harp-tuesday-ep-10/

And my favourite string trying tutorial:

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Ep. 307 – Fixing a broken disc on a pedal harp

In this episode I show how to replace a broken disc (one of the disc pins snapped off) on a Lyon and Healy pedal harp.

You can order replacement discs from https://www.harp.com/ and I talk about how in a pinch it’s sometimes possible to swap in a nearby low (sharp) disc if that particular sharp string isn’t being used in anything you’re playing.

As I say at the end of the video, I hope you never need to replace any of your discs, but if you do, I hope this proves helpful!

I’ve done quite a few Harp Tuesday episodes on harp maintenance over the years: https://harptuesday.com/category/harp-maintenance/

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Ep. 294 – an example of regulating your pedal harp

In episode 294 of Harp Tuesday I invite you to come along with me as I adjust the positioning of my bridge pin in order to get rid of an annoying twang.

Want to learn more about harp regulation? Check out this episode (plus the list of links).

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Ep. 290 – A new harp! Regulating loveland levers on a Dusty Strings Ravenna

A new year, a new harp! I couldn’t resist a Boxing Day sale on a used, 26 string, Dusty Strings Ravenna. I love the sound and am planning some projects for it, but first I want to regulate the levers and I thought I’d use that as an opportunity to film the process and show that it’s maybe easier than you think!

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For more on regulation, check out episode 126 as well as this livestream.

Dusty Strings has a useful PDF on the process.

Ep 126 How to regulate your harp

Some useful links:

Dusty strings:
https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/harps/accessories-hardware/tools-maintenance
https://manufacturing.dustystrings.com/blog/sharping-levers-camac-vs-loveland

Thormahlen Harps:
http://www.thorharp.com/pages/regulatingcamaclevers.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcLPupXuIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFKYjmmjzvM

Great set of articles about all sort of harp maintenance by Mike Lewis, here’s the link to the article on regulation:
http://www.harptech.com/Articles/Regulation/Regulation.html

Rees levers:
https://reesharps.com/regulating-rees-harp-levers/

Loveland levers (via musicmakers): https://www.harpkit.com/mm5/pdf/Instructions/Lever-1Regulation.pdf

 

Ep. 10 How to change a string

How to change a harp string:

I later did a follow up to this episode, plus an episode on changing wire strings:


And low octave gut strings:

And a review of the Dusty Strings Harp Buttons – a good stress free way to tie knots:

I also did a live-stream of changing the strings on my lever harp:

And finally, I think this video from Amy at the Virginia Harp Center is a fantastic demonstration of TWO different knots:

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Support from my patrons helps make continued Harp Tuesday episodes possible – if you would like to help support future videos you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/joshlayne