Strings

Some helpful links and gauges!

Melody Strings
I use Prim strings and there are two places I get them from:
Pete Rigg – nyckelharpa maker and player
String Zone – online shop


Sympathetic Strings
Each maker will have a different set of sympathetic strings. I will list as many as I can find here.

The Sören Åhker list of sympathetic strings:
D’Addario PB025 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .025 x1
D’Addario PB024 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .024 x1
D’Addario PB023 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .023 x1
D’Addario PB022 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .022 x1
D’Addario PB021 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .021 x1
D’Addario PB020 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Single String .020 x1
D‘Addario XL Nickel Wound .019 Electric Guitar Single String x1
D’Addario High Carbon Plain Steel .016 Single Guitar String x5
Click here for the list in Strings Direct

The Olle Plahn list of sympathetic strings:
Resonance Strings – tune from G# upwards
D’Addario NW024 XL Nickel Wound .024 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario NW022 XL Nickel Wound .022 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario NW020 XL Nickel Wound .020 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario PL015 High Carbon Plain Steel .015 Single Guitar String x3
D’Addario PL014 High Carbon Plain Steel .014 Single Guitar String x3

The Enar Magnusson list of sympathetic strings:
Sympathetic Strings – tunes from G upwards
D’Addario NW022 XL Nickel Wound .022 Electric Guitar Single String x7
D’Addario High Carbon Plain Steel .016 Single Guitar String x1
D’Addario PL015 High Carbon Plain Steel .015 Single Guitar String x2
D’Addario PL014 High Carbon Plain Steel .014 Single Guitar String x2

Enar Magnusson Oktavharpa Strings – check with the maker!
Melody Strings
A = Prim ¼ Cello  C(DO)
D = D (RE)
G = G(Sol)
Bas 0,100 slipad El-gitarrsträng – trying to find this!

Sympathetic Strings – tuned from G upwards
XL Nickel Wound .042 Electric Guitar Single String x2
XL Nickel Wound .040 Electric Guitar Single String x2
XL Nickel Wound .034 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario XL Nickel Wound .030 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario NW024 XL Nickel Wound .024 Electric Guitar Single String x2
D’Addario NW022 XL Nickel Wound .022 Electric Guitar Single String x2


Plahn/Osann Oktavharpa Strings – please check with your maker!
A = D String (D2)
C = G String (G3)
G = C String (C4)
Bottom C = Gold Bel Canto C string

Sympathetic Strings
2x 032
3x 026
3x 024
4x 023


Suggested strings for a Fiddleharpa
E – 0.011, 0.012, 0.013 or 0.014 guitar string – note that I have not tested this!
or an E string for a 5-string viola
Olle says a 0.014 for his fiddle harpa and this has been tested (not by me) and seems to work well.
Prim strings as for the normal nyckelharpa – A, D, G


Moraharpa
Highest Melody D – Orchestral Viola D
Drone D – Orchestral Viola G
Lowest Melody G – Orchestral Viola G



Some FYI – stop lengths
Nyckelharpa = 400mm
Fiddleharpa = 380mm
Oktavharpa = 480mm