HARP GUITAR STRINGS Specialty strings for sub-basses: Phosphor Bronze

Phosphor Bronze Sub-Bass Strings

for Steel-String Harp Guitars

Updated February, 2010

(including vintage and modern Dyer/Knutsen style instruments, Gibson instruments, and other vintage American instruments and modern instruments. Note: Many vintage guitars had options of being strung with either steel, silk and steel, or gut, and often originally used silk and steel or other compound string sub-basses. Please consult a vintage guitar expert if you are unsure about your instrument)

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Tuning & Gauge Guide

includes:

Stephen Bennett Tuning
Dyer 6-bass Standard
Dyer/Knutsen 5-bass Standard

Sub-bass Sets

Stephen Bennett Tuning
Dyer 6-bass Standard
Dyer/Knutsen 5-bass Standard
Gibson Style U Standard in either D'Addario, John Pearse or new DR color-coded!
New! Long scale Andy McKee set

Sub-bass Singles

from .034" to .100"
in either D'Addario or John Pearse

New! D'Addario acoustic bass singles,
also DR .085" and .105"
(long scale, large ball)

New! John Pearse long scale singles
for Bennett tuning

Have Super-trebles?

Tuning & Gauge Guide (Nominal Phosphor Bronze Gauges [inches] ) Dyer harp guitars and similar instruments
Sub-Bass String (descending)	Vibrating String Length*	Bennett Tuning	String Gauge Range***		Dyer 6-bass Standard	String Gauge Range***		Dyer/Knutsen 5-bass Standard		String Gauge Range***
Sub-Bass String (descending)	Vibrating String Length*	Pitch	Light	Medium	Pitch	Light	Medium	Vibrating String Length**	Pitch	Light	Medium
1	27-11/16"	G,,	0.040	0.044	D,,	0.054	0.059	27-15/16"	D,,	.053	.058
2	28-5/8"	D,,	0.052	0.057	C,,	0.058	0.064	29"	C,,	.057	.063
3	29-9/16"	C,,	0.057	0.062	B,,,	0.060	0.066	30-5/16"	B,,,	.058	.064
4	30-11/16"	B,,,	0.058	0.064	A,,,	0.065	0.073	31-9/16"	A,,,	.063	.070
5	31-3/4"	A,,,	0.063	0.070	G,,,	0.072	0.081	32-7/8"	G,,,	.069	.077
6	33-1/8"	G,,,	0.068	0.076	F,,,	0.079	0.089
* These measurements represent a typical 6-sub-bass Dyer harp guitar (yours may be slightly different). There is about an inch of leeway on these lengths while remaining in a safe tension range (for new or properly restored instruments). These measurements represent the GAL 5-sub-bass Dyer harp guitar plans. Knutsen harp guitars vary greatly by specimen; compare yours against these measurements. * Go lighter if you tune that particular string up a half step on occasion. Go heavier if you tune it down a half step or more. Use this convenient applet to calculate your specific gauges and tension (phosphor bronze only). "Light" gauge range above = approximately 25 pounds of tension (per string); "Medium" = approximately 30 pounds of tension (per string). Please contact us if you are unsure about what gauges to use. NOTICE: These gauges are given as a guideline only. Harp Guitar Music is not responsible for any instrument damage incurred by stringing.

Phosphor Bronze Sub-bass Sets

Harp Guitar Music sub-bass sets are specifically put together by harp guitarist/engineer Gregg Miner for balanced, medium tension to provide optimum tone and feel while retaining a comfortable safety margin for both modern and vintage instruments.

NOTICE: Compare your instrument's string lengths against Gauge Chart above. Harp Guitar Music is not responsible for any instrument damage incurred by stringing. Please consult a vintage guitar expert if you are unsure about your instrument.

Dyer harp guitars and similar instruments

Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set, Bennett tuning
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
.042, .054, .060, .062, .066, .072

$24.95

Harp Guitar Music D'Addario set, Bennett tuning
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
.042, .054, .060, .062, .066, .070

$14.95

Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set, Standard Dyer tuning
(6 sub-basses, balanced light/X-light tension*)
.055, .060, .062, .068, .072, .080
* This set is lighter than I would prefer; limited by currently available gauges

$33.95

Harp Guitar Music John Pearse set, Standard Knutsen/Dyer tuning
(5 sub-basses, balanced light/medium tension)
.056, .060, .062, .068, .076

$24.95

New! John Pearse long scale Andy McKee set (Bennett tuning)
(6 sub-basses, designed for Michael Greenfield's fan-fret McKee harp guitar)
Core is 48" long, winding is 44"
.042, .054, .060, .062, .066, .070

$29.95

Gibson Style U (standard 10-bass model, either floating bridge or attached bridge)

Finally - a balanced phosphor bronze Gibson set that won't destroy your instrument! Gauged slightly lighter than the Dyer sets, at roughly 25 pounds per string for a total sub-bass pull of 250-260 pounds. (Heavier tension set available if desired)

10 sub-basses, tuned (descending, first sub-bass is equivalent to the 4th fret on the guitar's 6th string): G#, G, F#, F (remember, no E string), D#, D, C#, C, B, A#

Jazz up your Gibson!
(and make it easier to play at the same time)

Great tone! Long life! Color-coded!

This set uses state-of-the-art modern strings to emulate Gibson's original silver and copper color-coded bass strings - where every third string is the alternate color for easy visual reference. In this case, every third string is a striking red. Handmade by DR Strings, these are coated phosphor bronze strings (similar to Elixer's). Tone - like all coated strings - is slightly softer (ideal for the Gibson instruments), and, used for sub-bass strings, should last practically forever. Using currently available gauges, this set will also supply very balanced tension. All strings are coated, either with red or clear wrap.

Harp Guitar Music DR color-coded Gibson set

.034. .038, .038-red, .040, .045, .045-red, .048, .050, .054-red, .056

$29.95
Temporarily Out

Harp Guitar Music John Pearse Gibson set

.034. .036, .038, .039, .045, .046, .048, .050, .053, .056

$24.95

Harp Guitar Music D'Addario Gibson set

.034, .036, .039, .039, .045, .047, .049, .052, .053, .056

$19.95

Phosphor Bronze Sub-bass Singles

Gauge	D'Addario Popular fine quality strings at low prices.	John Pearse JP strings offer more gauges and are considered superior in quality by many professionals.	DR Gauges .034-.056 are coated strings, red available on .038, .045 and .054 only. Acoustic bass strings at bottom are uncoated and have a round core.
Gauge	Discount bulk packs of 5 per gauge available by pre-order	Discount bulk of 6 per gauge available by pre-order
.034"	$1.95	$2.45	Clear: $3.30
.036"	$1.95	$2.45	n/a
.038"	n/a	$2.45	Clear: $3.30
.038"	n/a	$2.45	Temporarily Out
.039"	$1.95	$2.45	n/a
.040"	n/a	n/a	$3.30
.042"	$1.95	$2.45	n/a
*New!* .042" long	n/a	$2.70 (44-48")	n/a
.045"	$1.95	$2.45	Clear: $3.30
.045"	$1.95	$2.45	Red: $3.30
.046"	n/a	$2.45	n/a
.047"	$1.95	n/a	n/a
.048"	n/a	$2.75	Clear: $3.30
.049"	$2.15	n/a	n/a
.050"	n/a	$2.75	Clear: $3.30
.052"	$2.15	n/a	n/a
.053"	$2.15	$2.75	n/a
.054"	$2.15	$2.75
.054"	$2.15	$2.75	Red: $3.30
*New!* .054" long	n/a	$3.05 (44-48")	Red: $3.30
*New!* .054" long	n/a	$3.05 (44-48")	n/a
.055"	n/a	$2.75	n/a
.056"	$2.15	$2.75	Clear: $3.30
.058"	n/a	$2.75
.059"	$2.15	$2.75
.060"	$2.15	$3.45
*New!* .060" long	n/a	$3.80 (44-48")
.062"	$2.45	$3.45
*New!* .062" long	n/a	$3.80 (44-48")
.064"	$2.45	$3.95
.065"	n/a	$7.95 (dbl-wound)
.066"	$2.45	$7.95 (dbl-wound)
*New!* .066" long	n/a	$8.75 (44-48")
.068"	n/a	$7.95 (dbl-wound)
.070"	$3.95	$9.95 (dbl-wound)
*New!* .070" long	n/a	$10.95 (44-48")
.072"	n/a	$9.95 (dbl-wound)
.076"	n/a	$9.95 (dbl-wound)
.080"	n/a	$9.95 (dbl-wound)
*New!* Acoustic bass strings of extra long length and large ball (feed in from underneath bridge; drill out tuner - do not try to unwrap outer layers). Single D'Addario bass strings no longer offered by manufacturer - we split sets for you!
.045"	$2.95	n/a	n/a
.065"	$5.95 (dbl-wound)	n/a	n/a
.080"	8.95 (dbl-wound)	n/a	n/a
.085"	n/a	n/a	$11.45 (triple-wound)
.100"	$11.95 (triple-wound)	n/a	n/a
.105"	n/a	n/a	$11.45 (triple-wound)
.130"	$11.95 (triple-wound)	n/a	n/a

Professional players and luthiers (i.e. those who derive all their income from full-time musical activities): feel free to contact us for discount options. We can also supply your standard neck strings in the brands we carry.

PO Box 573155
Tarzana, CA 91357
USA
(818) 340-1434