rabrams - Posted - 08/30/2020:  16:33:38

Does anyone know how I might obtain a set of strings for my 23-string autoharps?
Dick Abrams

deestexas - Posted - 08/30/2020:  17:05:42

Elderly Music has them. Sets for A and B model as well as individual strings.

Culloden - Posted - 08/30/2020:  17:12:46

Strings by Mail and The Autoharp Store both sell autoharp strings. They only sell standard sets of 36 strings so you will have to just use the ones you need. I doubt you will find a set of 23 strings. That autoharp is either a custom make or a very old model that hasn't been made for years.

stringsbymail.com

autoharpstore.com

Just Strings also sells autoharp strings but they are considerably more expensive.

banjonz - Posted - 08/30/2020:  17:21:27

Don't try restringing one! Its a pig of the job. Buy a new one instead! 

Knows Picker - Posted - 08/30/2020:  18:19:59

It's not that hard really. I got an old one an replaced all the strings springs and pads. Got more money into it in parts than I paid for the instrument. Anyone ever heard that story before?? Still glad I did it though. If you can press a button you can play the autoharp!!

Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 08/30/2020:  18:36:00

Years ago when I was younger and even more foolish than I still am I bought a cracked and falling apart autoharp at the flea market for $5 or $10. I took all of the hardware off it, including all of the strings and pins. Then I made a new soundbox out of birch ply and maple and put all of the hardware back on it. It was a long job, and when I got done I advertised it for $75 and someone actually bought it. They're not that hard to string, I would suggest taking the chord bars off first for easier access. Usually in my experience it's just 3 or 4 screws on each end, and then putting all of the bars and springs in a safe place so they don't get lost.

Banner Blue - Posted - 08/30/2020:  20:10:25

23 string autoharp must be quite old and probably five bar? A modern set of strings would typically be 36 strings? The issues I have seen with autoharps are cracked/warped/sunken frames and sound boards. Chord bars with worn pads and/or (rather often) missing or loose pads. I typically have just replaced individual strings, often borrowing used strings from parts instruments.

rabrams - Posted - 08/30/2020:  22:10:24

Yes, they’re both 5-stringers and in excellent condition. The Schmidt sounds good and doesn’t really need any strings replaced; the Zimmerman is playable but needs several new strings—are there no commercially-available 23-string sets? I have no parts instruments, what about someplace to purchase individual autoharp strings.
Regards,
Dick Abrams

rabrams - Posted - 08/30/2020:  22:32:17

I’ve been to get on Elderly for weeks with luck—what’s your secret?

rabrams - Posted - 08/30/2020:  22:37:33

Mark: I’ll try both places, thanks for the leads. Both my Zimmerman and Schmidt autoharps are essentially identical: 23 strings, 5 bars, and quite old.
Dick Abrams

Mark Ralston - Posted - 08/31/2020:  03:32:09

Dick - hope you're having luck with your search for autoharp strings. I usually make up autoharp string sets from 12-string guitar sets, since I wound up with a bunch of sets. Your post reminded me of a set of Bell Brand autoharp strings that I found at a flea market. They're not for sale, but they were once priced at $3.00 for a complete set. I think the Schmidt Model 73 autoharp was a 12-bar autoharp. Personally, I like the 5-bar autoharps because I never learned to use all of the chord bars on the fancier models.

Here's a set of the antique Bell Brand strings for sale through Reverb:
reverb.com/ca/item/12407550-be...p-strings

......lower cost than the string set at Elderly
elderly.com/collections/autoha...tring-set

 

Culloden - Posted - 08/31/2020:  06:25:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by rabrams

Mark: I’ll try both places, thanks for the leads. Both my Zimmerman and Schmidt autoharps are essentially identical: 23 strings, 5 bars, and quite old.

Dick Abrams

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If you need single strings The Autoharp Store sells them but Strings by Mail only sells sets. Elderly and Just Strings sell individual strings.

Banner Blue - Posted - 08/31/2020:  09:56:55

This little 5-bar autoharps with model numbers like 2 3/4 would probably use a different gauge string for a comparable note on a larger 36 string autoharp. The one time I had to deal with this issue, I used a digital micrometer and matched string diameter, pulling the same diameter string off a parts instrument. Since you have two similar autoharps, you could do this, but you would still need a micrometer and a donor instrument. The gauges are not written on the new autoharp string packages that I have.

G Edward Porgie - Posted - 08/31/2020:  10:21:54

Absolutely what Rob says. You will need a micrometer. Not all strings are the same gauge, and using the wrong gauge will lead to other problems.

Even if a set is not marked as to gauges, they too can be measured and the correct ones used as replacements.

You might also wish to buy some slightly oversized tuning pins. Pins tend to get too loose when they are manipulated in order to change strings.

rabrams - Posted - 08/31/2020:  10:55:48

Many thanks to both Marks and (I loves you...) Porgie, Culloden et al: The set of strings on Reverb had been sold but now I know what to look for. The Elderly website has been unavailable to me for weeks—how do you manage to view it? I’ll be contacting all the other suggested string purveyors later today. I do have a very fine Starrett micrometer that I use for measuring trout leader tippet diameters and will retrieve it from a friend. Pins on both autoharps are solidly in place. If I could just upload an image you would see they are essentially identical: virtually miniature autoharps.
Dick Abrams

Jim Yates - Posted - 08/31/2020:  18:58:10

Here's an old 23 string 'harp that I repaired for a kid in my class about 40 years ago.  I didn't see it again for a few decades when it was gifted to me a couple of years ago.  The missing button has been replaced since this photo was taken.  It plays in C with C, F, G7, and Am chords.



 

I traced the old 'harp before giving it back to the kid and made this one, the same shape and # of strings, but a couple of extra chords.

The black box is an old 'harp that my son found in a flea market in the States while he was on tour.  I did some repair, but except for moving the chord bar assembly towards the string anchorsto give more access to the higher strings, it is stock.

The Appalachian from the mid-sixties is now a G/D semi diatonic.  It has had a lot of modification.

I couldn't get all of the black paint off this one, so I used a black stain.  It's converted to ab E/A semi-diatonic.

Here's an old Bell Brand Autoharp string that I found in my parts box.



The general consensus among Autoharpies seems to be that Fladmark strings are the best available.

Fladmark Strings 

rabrams - Posted - 08/31/2020:  21:46:51

That’s beautiful work, Jim, and the Fladmark link looks excellent—I’ll be contacting them tomorrow.
Regard s,
Dick Abrams

FrLe23 - Posted - 09/01/2020:  09:42:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jim Yates

Here's an old 23 string 'harp that I repaired for a kid in my class about 40 years ago.  I didn't see it again for a few decades when it was gifted to me a couple of years ago.  The missing button has been replaced since this photo was taken.  It plays in C with C, F, G7, and Am chords.



 

I traced the old 'harp before giving it back to the kid and made this one, the same shape and # of strings, but a couple of extra chords.

The black box is an old 'harp that my son found in a flea market in the States while he was on tour.  I did some repair, but except for moving the chord bar assembly towards the string anchorsto give more access to the higher strings, it is stock.

The Appalachian from the mid-sixties is now a G/D semi diatonic.  It has had a lot of modification.

I couldn't get all of the black paint off this one, so I used a black stain.  It's converted to ab E/A semi-diatonic.

Here's an old Bell Brand Autoharp string that I found in my parts box.



The general consensus among Autoharpies seems to be that Fladmark strings are the best available.

Fladmark Strings 

 

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Tom Fladmark is a great man :D, I met him last year at MLAG 2019,  he made my latest autoharp about 2 months ago; it's a jewel; he will definitely help you find what you need :-)

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/01/2020:  13:27:48

La Bella used to be the bargain but apparently, they are no longer offered.  Not selling my sets in case any of my vintage 'harps need to be restrung.

You have to know the difference between A and B stringing. An old 5 bar will be A

Strings by Mail is a lot less expensive for the Oscar Schmidt sets than JustStrings. $75 vs $119.

stringsbymail.com/autoharp-strings-508/

Autoharp Store has Schreiber for $62 and singles as well. The set will save you a lot of money over singles. Schreiber Autoharp Strings were formerly known as Fladmark for Oscar Schmidt.

autoharpstore.com/search.aspx?q=strings

rabrams - Posted - 09/01/2020:  13:53:07

Many thanks for the essential info, Mike, I had no idea about A and B sets.
Regards,
Dick Abrams

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/02/2020:  21:26:07

If you go by the standard descriptions, my "attache case" Autoharps, being made post-1968 should take B strings but they don't. My OS15C and OS30C, like all attache 'harps take A sets, whether USA, Japan or Korea made. These are discontinued but were offered for the education market. They are reverse strung and designed to be played on a stand or table without crossing your arms. The soundboard is part of the case and the case lid is removable for playing.

This is the 21 bar OS30C. The OS15C is the 15 bar version.

If anyone comes across an OS30C with a light brown case instead of black, I would be extremely interested.





 

rabrams - Posted - 09/02/2020:  21:53:35

But I like to cross my arms when playing my reverse-strung attaché harps, Mike!
Seriously, I am the least technical person with regard to autoharps and strings you’ll ever meet. I bought my Zimmerman My Favorite primarily because I liked the beautiful decal and its 5-bar/23 string configuration matched the old Oscar Schmidt that was lying behind a bookcase for so many years my wife had to remind me it was there when I told her I was fixin’ to buy an autoharp again. (Not so for banjos and guitars, of which I’ve bought and sold too many to count.)
Beautiful autoharp you have there, Mike—how much you want for it? (Really, really just kiddin’.)
Regards,
Dick Abrams

mikehalloran - Posted - 09/03/2020:  15:09:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by rabrams

But I like to cross my arms when playing my reverse-strung attaché harps, Mike!

Seriously, I am the least technical person with regard to autoharps and strings you’ll ever meet. I bought my Zimmerman My Favorite primarily because I liked the beautiful decal and its 5-bar/23 string configuration matched the old Oscar Schmidt that was lying behind a bookcase for so many years my wife had to remind me it was there when I told her I was fixin’ to buy an autoharp again. (Not so for banjos and guitars, of which I’ve bought and sold too many to count.)

Beautiful autoharp you have there, Mike—how much you want for it? (Really, really just kiddin’.)

Regards,

Dick Abrams

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Hey Dick, I know you're just kidding but…

I need my OS30C as part of the physical therapy on my crippled left arm.

I don't need my OS15C, however. That's the 15 bar version and mine is in equally fine shape. If curious, send me a PM and let's talk.

John Gribble - Posted - 09/04/2020:  06:31:15

schreiberautoharps.com

Custom string sets available here.

rabrams - Posted - 09/04/2020:  08:58:15

Well, Greg, I need 2 sets for my original 23-string, 5-bar autoharps described above.
Regards,
Richard

rabrams - Posted - 09/04/2020:  08:59:12

Sorry—John, not Greg

rabrams - Posted - 09/12/2020:  21:18:27

Those antique Bell Brand autoharp strings on Reverb were gone, Mark, but miracle of miracles I found another Identical set there for only10 bucks!
Dick Abrams

Mark Ralston - Posted - 09/13/2020:  03:09:29

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