Changing Autoharp Strings

a how-to series on Doing it yourself

This job can look very intimidating at first glance, but if you take your time ... quite a bit of it if you are inexperienced, you can do the job yourself.

Strings can run you (including shipping in Jan. 2011) between $80.00  and about $135.00 depending on where you shop and what you are looking for.  I am sure you could spend a lot more.  I had a really bad experience attempting to shop with Instrument Alley - so even though they have the best price, their customer service is non existent!

I now purchase all of these strings from Strings By Mail.  They answer the phone or call you back and they return e-mail and even back your purchase completely!  Find them on the web at:  http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/ and tell them Richie Dotson sent you.

This autoharp, as others, has 36 strings.  There are two types of strings for autoharps - loop end and ball end.  This autoharp needs the loop-end strings.  The loops are actually protected, in this case, by brass inserts.  Before we can get to that part, the autoharp needs to be partially disassembled.  You will also need a good, electronic tuner for this job.  I also like the isolation clip.  A strobe tuner is really great for this job, but some of the el-cheapo clip-on tuners may not perform so well for this task.  You will also need a tuning "hammer" that fits your autoharp.  I needed two sizes of Phillips screwdrivers for this job as well.

Click on the pictures for a larger view

The housing that holds your chording bars will need to be removed.  This makes like much easier and will prevent the top from getting scratched up during the re-stringing process.   This one has 6 main screws that hold it to the body of the autoharp.  In order to get the the ones in the middle of either end, the center  chord bar must be removed.  There is a spring on either side of this bar and is only held in place by all the bar, so removing it leaves it venerable to loss, so be careful.

I will set all of these parts aside in a safe place and start changing the strings.  This autoharp is in good condition with the exception of old, funky strings - some of which are missing.  In order to minimize tuning issues and confusion, I will change these strings one or two at a time to maintain tension on the instrument.   I need the tuning hammer for loosening and tightening the strings.  I recommend manually loosening them before removing them by either clipping them or unwinding them in order to remove the old strings.  I like to start on the small string side of the autoharp.

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